New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-08-21
RECORD OF THE CONTROVERSY.

A RECORD OF THE CONTROVERSY.
TIE INCIDENTS OF AN EvESTFUL STRUGGLE.
The great rush of events during the past
eight months relating directly otherwise TO the I'll
ton Beecher scandal has made it almost impossible to
keep the various phases OF the affair distinctly in mind
and to attach 70 each incident its relative Importance
The rumors nsnuatons, references and charges whch
40 10 the scandal OF the present have been gaining
greater less currency for dozen years bacK every
business complications every political difference, and
every personal Misunderstanding between those In
voyed have excited suspicious of deeper enmes and
more exasperstng than have ever been known
The literature bearing upon the case, II all collected,
would he welnigh v0iumnous as that or Preslden-
fia term, and the bitter personalities as unreasonable
~ any that the most exciting campaign could elicit
Such of events Will furnish brief history OF
the case arranged with following the order
in which the circumstances occurred has been collected
aud VIII found to embrace everything of Importance
sn the OF all the actors which in any way appertains
10 the story The significance Of each cannot be
fully known Until all the facts are laid bare IL Is dlf-
cult TO say when first impressions unfavorable to
MI Beecher were made upon Mr.. Tlton's mind but 1t
was long before there any public or even private
break between them. and he regarded him as his
dearest and ablest adviser.
Theodore b. Tton born in New-York on Oct 3.
1885, and married. Elizabeth r. Richards by the
Rev Henry Ward Beecher Oct q 1855, az the age CT
TO- having spent his bOyhOod and yonih In the pubic
schools of New York and at the New York Free Acad
envy. This couple after marriage boarded with Mrs
9iltOns mother in LiTngston-st. until 1850 In the
Spring that year they housekeeping in Oxford
st. where the remained for three years thereabouts
The following three years spent with her mother.
when they resumed housekeeping at NO ia Livingston
st., where they have remained together except
for short intervals. The prominent events IN the pub
lie and private life Mr. Tton, from his marriage until
now are here bre1y recorded. Upon the retirement OF
the Rev Dr. Leonard Bacon the Rev. Richard s. sorrs,
ID d. and the Rev. Joseph p Thompson, ID. D.,
in 1861, from the editorial chairs OF The hide
p.ndeak the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher assumed
the editorial management OF that paper. He was
assisted Ivy Theodore Tton. who had been introduced
20 the paper by Daniel Burgess. During Mr. Beechers
absence in Europe in 1868, Mr. Ton successfully man
aged the editorial pages after his return took
the place OF Mr. Beecher Ettorin-Chief Mr. Illton
wac a member OF Plymouth Church As early as 1861,
however the expression which he had given to his re-
ligious views excited some criticism.
Ia 1862 il his memory and the truth serve him, Mr..
Tilton says the "Bed-chamber Scene" occurred, ana
he remembers the Library Scene" to have ex-
cited, for n moment his suspicious against Mr. Beecher
He said also that in the early part OF the Rebel
lion and this could not have beth later than 1862 Mr.
ii. c. Bowen lntimated to him that Mr. Beecher had
Committed acts of adultery. IN June, 1868, Henry c.
Bowen wrote to Mr.. Tten the letter which has been so
frequently quoted and in which were the following
"A rebellion throughout Christendom had almost said
and you know it," liam not pursuing phantom. but
brooding awful reality" THIS letter contained
no name and no specified of suse.
nthe Fail of 1853, Mr.. Beecber wrote his famous
letter to Mr. TtOn from London, which was soon after
printed Mrs stoves book, and which was then as
now regarded as one of remarkable letters in
literature.
In April 1865 Mr.. Beecher and Mr. Tilton attended
the fagrasing at Fort sumter, when Mr.. Tton wrote
70 The Independent highly praising the speech OF MI
Beecner In November 1865, when Mt Tton had crltl-
csed the political position OF Mr. Beecher In relation to
President Johnson he wrote the nseuo1ae setet ~
MIR BeecheI which has recently been published for the
FIRST time which, he after recounthg the power
fu influence he HAD ever exerted his mind and life,
snow therefore want 10 say that II ether long ago
whether public or private. has pain regret
blot it from your memory and in It's place write
die leaving YOU alive ask you TO love my children for
their fathers sake, who has taught them 70 reverence
Won, and 20 regard you as a man among men. Ins
does NOT indcae that the library" and "Oed-chaIn-
Der " had made any deep impression upon his
Elton u waso 1866 taat her husband fst began to
talk 10 her about Mr.. Beechers improprieties with
ladies whom he named. reports of which mad reached
She says that carly that Mr. Tton worried about
the matter I'D vas saspc,sas q Mr sseS a eSsfy
Conversations with Mr. Beeeher, in order TO repeat all
ma, MAS sald ssG 1sS,gsna osou.
~ er husbands attentions 10 other ladies' and at this
fine She or the first tme received personal visits from
Mr. Beecher. ,, l., nj, -,
dent the sf Mr. Beecher OF Aug % 10 inc Ceye
land Convention OF Sailors and Soldiers lie says OF MT
Ieecher in tins article We know and love MN We'll
No mans purer" This criticism 10 me IN
deDeudent was summed up as follows; MI beeener
public atttuae at the present moment Is the atuue OF
a man who's putting great reputation 10 tn lenopI
use of debasIng his country IT, 10 view OF THIS avn III
fact this journal to lend, through SILENCE seem
log acqu.escence. or even an implied palliation, we
xouldInsily be held accomplce In the guilt since
the therefore, copes US 70 speak we nave no
Other alternative than choose the strongest possible
words OF cende nDation."
In criticism Of Mr. Beechers second letter explain
inc his first The INDEPENDENT OF Sept IL, this
senteDce; "In the oase OF man whose motives were
not ABSOLUTELY and Hnafteraby above suspicion las we
Enow Mr. Beocher's have ever been ana sui are),
snch course as he has pursued would inevitably and
insiy bring upon him the reproach OF treacnery ms
ScowntryU Thus notwithstanding the stories wnlcn Mr.
Triton had then heard regarding Mr Boecher ana the
his recent statement and In spiSo the political exct
.st ~ the momen MI Ilt0n testified 70 the purity OF