The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1874-08-20
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TILE REEcHER. .TILTON CASE.

large dallles, Inc lo''b ~
Of Henry Ward Beecher and the report
of his examination has been the great
sensation during the past week. The elet'
ter is too long for our columrsandisaiull
and critical relation Of Mr.. Beecher's
whole acquaintance and connection with
Theodore Til,on. 1t seems, in the good
ness of his heart Mr. Beecher took hold
ofyoung Tilton and aided him to get an
education and helped him to position
finally editor Of the independent BY
his free.love notions. and his intimacy
with the Woodruff crew, Iilton lost all
this and started the GOiasn Age' Iilton
became pecuniary embarrassed, and
blamed Beecher with his misfortunes,
working, by his friend Moulton's assist
ance. upon Beecher's sensitive nature,
Tlton got some $1,000 out of Beecher.
Beecher too, was induced to sign letters
and statements with view ofreconciling
matters with Tilton and his family, think
ing all the time that Moulton was a mu-
mal and true friend. He acknowledges
he was duped, drawed on as it we're, be-
ing as he says engaged in his laborious
studies and working to pass the matter
along easily and without publicity.
Mr.. Beecher's letter is an able pro-
duction and to many, perhaps most,Peo-
ple, will be triumphant vindication
of the greatest preacher of the present
time. We give the following opinions of
the N. Y. Prcssc
THE SHADOW DISPELLED.
Mr.. Beecher has rescued himself from
his only peril He has stated the histo.
ry of his relations with the Tiltons and
with Moulton withoutreservc. The char
res of Tilton have been supported by no
proof. The garblcd extracts from MIR.
Beechers own letters were, in our judg-
ment at least, inconsistent with the truth
of Tiltons charge. But they were such
letters as to need explanation MIR.
Beecher has made tnat explanation, spar
ing no one, neither Tilton, nor MOulton,
nor himself Thus at last proving that
hehas nothing now to conceal, Mr.. Beech
or dspels the only shadow of distrust
which may have crept over his good
name among fair-minded and pure-min-
ded men.-MeSO York Woria.
A STRANGE AND STARTLING STORY.
The door of the skeleton closet al
Plymouth Church has opened, and in
stead of a skeleton emerged the portly
form of Mr.. Beecher, calm, dgnihed, un-
uffled. At last he himselfappears upon
the scene, after long and weary waiting
of the public, and tells that strange and
startling story to which, with just cause
we surrender so much of our space to-
day. tits written with consumate ability
with all the clearness and decision which
is characteristic of Mr.. Beecher when he
is in earnest, and never, not even in hi:
most impassioned sermons, had he more
cause to be earnest than in this defense
of his character, which, as it fails or sue
ceeds, makes or ruins him forever. HC
has been bound and fettered like Sam
son by his enemies, and this is the su
preme effort by which he seeks to rend
those bonds, and stand once more free il
the sight of man. Happy will it be fol
him and for us all if no Delilah has shorr
his lock of strength. But if the bond!
Yield but do not break, if this struggle il
in vain, then he will never seek TO un
loose them again. In his own true words
The time has now come.
The explicit, comprehensive and sol
emn denial of Mr.. Tilten's charges which
Mr.. Beecher has already made, he, il
this statement, repeats with even create
emphasis. 1t is summed up in thest
words, in which all the force Of Language
is embodied "At no interview whicl
ever took place between Mrs. Tilton ant
myself did anything occur which nigh
not have occurred with perfect prophet,
between a brother and sister, between
father and child, or between a man o
of honor and the wife of his deares
friend" Three years ago this denia
coming from Mr.. Beecher would haV
been a sufficient answer to any accuse
ton of such kind, but now, unhappily
it is not sufficient, His word is no long
er proof. He must explain, refute, con
vince, and, in his own turn, seek to de
stroy. We can only approach the state
ment in which this denial is intrenche6
like citadel within wall after wall, wit
profound regret that that the citadel
not strong enough in itself to withstan
an army, and that all these lines Of de
fense may not as superfluous protectio
be swept utterly away. Yet it would nc
be Just to blame Mr.. Beecher, becaus
they are necessary now. r,D1f.J.
To fully analyze this long statener
would be impossible now we can bu
merely indicate its scharacter. 1t isstrong
and perhaps will be accepted by MI
Beecher's friends as his vindication. Bu
the public. while hoping for the best. wi
not accept it as final disposition of tn
case. Mr.. Moulton's full statement ha
yet to be made, the Committee has yet
report. No one has the right to decid
upon the innocence Of Mr.. Beecher ii
the verdict Of Plymouth Church has bee
formal y rendered and the testimony pub
lshed in full. while even then il may b
necessary to suspend judgment until tn
question is tried before that higher tr
bunal before which Mr.. Tilton annour
ces he is resolved to bring it.-Nt'V Koy
Herald. HH NITIiA
THE WHOLE CASE BOLDLY MET.
The programme Of compromise an
darkness put forward oflate for the cor
fusion of the Plymouth Church scanda
has been changed by the action of MI
Beecher His statement is presents
to the public to-day. 1t covers all tn
issues Of the case. and charges Of black
mail, plots, and intrigue are broadly an
unequivocally presented. Now at lea.
there is reason to hope that the Who'll