The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1874-09-17
MOULToN's STATEMENT.
Brutal, Cruel, Cowardly, Infamous,


In the nsutferably prolx communication
to which We reluctantly surrender nearly
three pages of the Tribune this morning.
Mr. Francis d. Moultoh presents not one
fragment of fresh evidence in support OF
his former charges, and advances hardly
one new statement He is by turns def
ant aud apologize, lachrymose and mall
eious. Nearly half his address is an earn
est effort to convince the public that he
acted toward Mr.. Beecher the part OF d |
loyal friend, and half the remainder is a |
trivial examination of certain minor dis |
crepancies in Mr. Beecher's testimony
which in no material way affect the main
issue. Towards Mr.. Rossiter Raymond,
and some other defenders of Mr.. Beecher,
he betrays a childish animosity, and he la
bors apparently under the delusion that
the world at large is concerned about the
judgments which he and they have formed
of each other.
Throwing aside all this miserable rub
Dish, we can reduce what Mr., MOulton
really has to say about the scandal to a
very few points /. He gives from mem
ory) the words in which, as he AYERS, Mr..
Beecher confessed to him his improper re
latons with Mrs. Titon. =. He asserts
that the confession has been made in the
hearing Of another person, whose name he
does not give, but it is not Titon. 3. lie
reproduccs the letters which passed be
tween Mr. Bcecher and Mrs. Iiton, alter
the alleged conference.-the same letters
which we're gwen to the correspondent OF
the Chicago TfiJuRe and copied into this
paper 1. AMI finally he declares that
Mr.. Beecher confessed to him that he had
committed adultery with another woman.
mentioned though not by name IN 1ilton s
threatening letter to Mr.. Bowen. The
first and second allegations rest upon Mr.
Moulton unsupported word, and we have
no hesitation in saying that the language
which he puts into Mr. Beecher's mouth
is impossible. He represents this Chris
tian preacher as not only acknowledging
his adultery but declaring that God would
not blame him for it That overtaxes
credulity. The third point refers to the
so-called elandestine letters. They are not
evidences Of guilt. Far from it. We
challenge any unprecedented person to
read them without being impressed by
their deep religious spirit; and if we are
TO take them for letters Of designation
we must suppose that this man and WON
an were in the habit OF saying grace over
their sinful indulgence and mingling their
crimes with prayer-not in hypocritical
pretence before the world hut in the Sc
crecy OF their own guilty Intercourse. In
the malignant earneStness with which
MoultOn tries to twist an evil significance
out OF these innocent, albeit gashing SEN
fences. there Is something Of the devils
own temper.
The fourth point also depends principal
~ upon Mr. AlOulton credibity. But here
ne brings forward solitary scrap of what
he considers documentary confederation.
In the letter from Tilton to Bowen there
was reference TO an alleged crime of raw
ishment From the lady concerned in this
story letter is printed which Mr.. Moul |
ton would have US believe refers to Mr.. |
Beeeher crime. Now we have the par
uculars OF this case. We have the Incl |
aent OF the trivial quarrel to which the |
letter does relate. We know Mr.. Moul-
tons charge to be an atrocious calumny
without shadow Of justification; and at
the proper day the truth will be establish
ed by undisputable evidence
But We shall not waste time and temper
~ ana!yAng statement which will damn |
francs u. Mou.ton deeper than any reve |
iatlon OF baseness aud trcachery that has |
/
1t Is about such a document rs one might
expect from the man who allows / i friend
to make merchandise OF his wile's honor
and acts as broker in the transaction.
brutal, cruel, cowardly, infamous. Be
cause his actions have been misconstrncd
forsooth, this Bayard of BROOKLYN must
save his reputation for generosity bv blast
ing the homes of which he has been a ia |
Vored guest, pulling out the private letters
committed to his honorable keeping. show
ing the world what ugly things brothers
anu sisters could say OF one another. what |
sentimental phrases wives could write in
the absence OF their husbands, aud drag /
gng the reputation Of ladies whom he has
never known and the happiness of fami-
hes which have never wrOnged him through
the reeking filth of this unparalleled scan.
dal Ii would not have been considered
nice business for man in odeu times
but We suppose 10 is all right in these DAYS
when husband undertakes to prove thai /,
he Is not dog by showing that ne is a |
cuckOld
1t is time for this abomipable business
TO be stopped. The aocusers have failed /
in their case, and every fresh attemnt 70
accomplish their purpose only makes their
failure more disastrous. The vnr5 ofI
Henry Ward Beeeher stands good sgsi,st
a ten-acre lot full of Moultons and TIN
The world will tolerate no more
OF their passionate and upspn-
ported assertions. Ii they have
any proof Of what they allege against the
pastor OF Plymouth Church, let them take
IL into court Of justice where it can be
weighed and sifted A suit at law NAV
enable them to destroy the character of