The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-07-24
The Arraisnment of Mr.. Beecher

The sorrO vful controversy by which Ply
mouth Church has been so long agltated has
ceased TO be a private quarrel, or mere C. n
gregation scandal As long as it could be so
considered, we held aloof from all discussion
OF it, only printing what seemed due to our
readers as Legitimate and important news.
But when Mr.. Beecher publicly demanded an
investigation of the charges against him. we
gladly hailed the occasion OF what We trusted
would prove his complete vindication, aud
from that hour it appeared that the cause of
religion and decency would be hest subserved
by calling public attention to the final dispo
sition now to be made of disgusting sc sndal
which had lived long enough l. the dark. 1t
was announced that Mr.. Titon had gone be-
fore the Committee and brought forward
nothing ;-that Mr.. Monllnn had merely pro
posed a compromise; and that Mrs. Tilton
had put to rest the vague in 'inuations con-
tanned in her husbaL Ids recent letter By de-
Caring that there had never been the slight
est suggestion of Improperly between her
and Mr.. Beecher. All these statements we
| published, being gratified that the miserable
| contest was drawing near its close.
| On Monday night Mr.. Tilton read to the
| Commi tee full and unreserved statement.
| We print it this morning We have no right
| nor inclination to do otherwise. This case
! now transcends the power of ecclesiastical
| conferences, or OF we'll l-meaning marplots, to
| settle or conceal it, Unless this frighttul ex.
position is answered promptly and iully, the
most famous pulpit the world has ever seen,
| since Paul preached on the Hill of Mars, is
sencad. the lite of the greatest preach her in
the world is ended. 1t is useless to fall back
npon the record of a spotIess and glorious ca
reer. There is no longer safety or dignity in
the proLu silence which would have so well
become the great pastor if there were no
words Of his 3wn to be explained. No man
living, least OF all his currish assaiapts.
would have the right to make him open his
lips in contradiction il his own hand was not
there to bear witness against him. Even yet,
the thousands who tor SO many years have
known and honored him, and the vaster con
stituency to whom, over the whole continent,
his lame has stood as symbol Of geniu :,
piety and every liberal aspiration, will wsit
for his word to give them leave to trust him
as of old. 1t will be an easy task, if he should
undertake it. Ii there be any explanation,
apart from the revolving one given by Mr..
Tton, which will either make clear the ialsi-
ty of these letters, or interpret their humiiia
tim and remOrse, the better sort OF people in
this country will hail it as tidings Of great
joy, ~
er so dwarfs every other figure in this melan-
choly drama tnat it is hardly worth while to
waste tims in dwelling upon the pecuarities
of Mr.. Tilton's extraordinary statement. The
Teverish and unwholesome atmosphere OF
emotion in which ;he lesser peisonages live
and move renders their written and their oral
assertions equally doubtful and untrustwor-
the. Upon any theory OF the matter it is in
expressibly mvufntul to see amid what poi
sonous cloud OF mean passions, temptations,
jeaousies, aDd even devotions as injurious as
Latreds, this great orator and teacher hab.tu-
ally walked. In few days we shall learn
what answer he has to make to these grave
accusations If he can disprove them, his
position will be stronger than ever for this
trial and triumph. II he fails, il is not too
much to say that all Christendom will deplore
loss hardly to be measured by words, and in
his own country his lapse will be regarded as
a wel-Digh irreparable disaster. 1t is not on
y his eloque ice, his fame, his Christian char
acter and example that are here assaled. We
should lose in him the eminent preacher
whom every one knows and admires, and the
ripe and liberal thinker. whose value is only
just beginning to be recognized by cult vated
and thoughtful men. If he should come
alive out of this ordeal, he will be priced
more than ever. If not, the pistol-shot of
Booth caused national sorrow No deeper
and not so hopeless.-N. Y. Tribune.