The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-08-23
NEW ORLEANS BULLETIN
THE BEECHER STATEMENT.

tIHCEC Mc manly ways VI lying, dild Nj.
Beccher has hit upon one of the least credl-
bic. In order TO accept his statement, it is
necessary that we assume the existence of a
vile, hearHess and sagacious plot on the part
:of Tilton TO destroy Beecher at the cost OF Ia s
own ruin and disgrace; it is necessary to con-
meet Frank Moulton with this in the most
eievIish and mOtiveess way; it is necessary
to put extr lordinary, not to say absurd, inter
ipretation on Mrs. TiItons conduct and Mr..
tBeecher's conduct, and upon the words and
etters Of both; il tx necessary, in short To
construct drama and develop, after the man
liner Of the habby novel writer, strained and
tstranGe series OF unnatural acts, travelling out
;of the beaten paths of common life to contra
die, themselves and confound the reader. Mr..
,Bcccher'spsy 5hology is exceeding bad. 1T is
thoroughly deficient in probability, scarcely
rising TO the dignity Of shrewd special plea,
,and falling lamentably below the better sort
,of fictitious artist-work by which the subtle
domestic moralst explains the mysteries CT
:nis ina sginat'on. 1t is wordy 1t lacks the
,nreyitv and directncss Of truth being hung
:round with so much draping Of the fimsy,
picturesque kind and delayed so much longer
sthan IL need have been, apparently for no
.other purpose than to gain time and secure
,iast word. that income, who reads it, will be
suppressed by anything about it except its
fcluinsiness and its bulk.
!: Mr.. BeeGher co lstructs fable in order to
account for a certain line of conduct which
he cannot deny, and, according to his own
! showing. he has been not merely blind and
! satuoils fool but ridiculous and most I'M
manly coward. He relates the rise, progress.
and fall Of 1ilton in his esteem, and, if we
arc TO believe him, no tells us enough to lusti-
ity q thorough loss of confidence in Tlton on
IBIS part up TO the time when Bowen brought
stns. -.
!try and Brooklyn. An innocent man receiving
,sach IN .ndate would have either treated It
with contempt. as the act of lunatic, OF pur-
tSued more wary course toward il as the act
sof scoundrei. Mr.. Beecher hesitates, tenn
,pori2es. and is induced by Moulton to meet
/: Iilton ut MOulton's house. Here Tilton CON
fronts him with n open charge Of adultery, sup
;portcd by Mrs. TiltOns confession, and sends
him TO Mrs. Tilton tor confirmation An iu-
nocent m II would have turned upon Tilton
AS a blacEmailer, either calling on Moulton
for help. or. regarding Moulton as an acces-
.sory to an intrigue, would have taken steps to
'sind'cate himself by other agencies MI
Scechet I'D pts different course. He trots
of to Mrs. 1ilton, as directed by her husband,
and gets q recantation from her in writing.
he gives us highly melo- dramatic picture of
the scene. but nevertheless returns to Moul-
IONS house, says little and goes home with
Mrs Tllton's paper in his pocket Next
evening MOulton calls upon him, and here is
his account OF the interview
Meanwhile Mr.. 'fIton had des' royed his
:aife's first letter acknowledging the confess
sion. and Mr.. Moulton claimed that | had
taken mean advantage and made dishonor-
able use of Theodore's request that | should
VISIT her. IN obtaining from her written con-
tradiction to a document not in existence. He
aid that I'LL the difficulties could be settled
without any such paper and that | ought TO
give itui'. He was under great excitement |
de made no verbal threats, but he opened his |
ovefcaat. and with some emphatic remarks |
showed pistol which aiterwar,l he took out /
and lad on the bureau near which he stood. |
] gave the paper to him, and after a few min
itcs' talk he Left"
Was Tins the conduct Of an iunocen. man
Would not an innocent man have said. ..Mr.
Boaiton. was sent by Mr. l'ilton to his wife,
rho has given me written proof OF my H.
aocence That il Indispensable to yindjrafo
sne; and. under the circumstances, came fair
" and honestly into my possession. 1t Il not
~ act Of tieachery in me TO protect myself
against the act of lunatic or intrigu n. for
silton must be the one or the other and SO |
:hail keep this paper,' if you please" Mr.
f'eecher said nothing of The kind Hc
nrrenders TO Tiltons accomplish a
.6,tememt OF Mrs. Tilton that she had been
'oerced to te his accuscr. Was he afraid Of
Inc pistol? Did he think Mouton would
;aoot him if he refused? II he was afraid it
bows HIM TO have been at once a pllsilIani-
,,nDus coward and ar absurd TOOL, for MouIton
= man II family and fortune who could
pave no possible cue 70, violence of any sort,
md who could not have offered my violence
u ccpt nj the cost Of certain punishment
Az. Beether obviously wishes us to infer the ;
application of violence by his reference to the
n'stoi. t'ut does tbs interrupt his conf ;
lonre VI Moulton ? Not in the least On
nc contrary. the exhibition oi the pistol pro
3noes the most soothing and even permanent
esults. Two or three days later he and his
fcar friend Frank have another interview, in |
which Mouiton is allowed to take down words
y frenzy and contrition, to which Beechcr
outs his name. Was this the act ;
g sn innocent man laborine under a
Aorbid condition Of body and mind 1
'loulton had shown himself either q
III league with Triton, or rufan ,
hovod TO procure the pastors ruin by some ;
!nboiicsa influence. He had certainly not !
hown himself II friend to- Beecher. unless !
be assume Heccber's guilt Yet Beecher {
hinges TO him, doe, his will, continues to !
herlsh hun. t" rely on him, and. up to two ,
,oeks sg, TO call him my dear Frank |
y nav Te VIC W tnink OF man, famous rich /
md powerful. who would submit to such an !
'liamous Matchmaking game as is ascribed to G
Elton aud Moulton? What are we to think
( man. shrewd, worldly and quick
'1tted. who could be SO deceived as Beecher
rotosSes 70 have been deceived by Moulton, 3
2 say hothins Of his repeated betrayaIs by ,
ihton? Conceding motive on Titon's !
art. what was Moultons motive? Moulton /
rich The head Of well known house
old. The husband of lady distinguished /
4 society. The father of a family. A 6
soeshoider and pewholder in Beecher's ,
burch. Not the enemy, but the friend of c
ne great pastor. Why should he become the i
Aanse,or Of devilish scheme to ruin pure,
nd noble. and gifted Christian minister !
Shy should he undertake, with guns. pis /
1lS and know not what. with witchcmft Z
e his wit. with traitorous words and gifts, to :
at through filthy, matchmaking job for a /
wd and inspired idiot such as Beecher {
|aims Iiltcn to be And being the creature 4
e such a hellish purpose and the master Of |
ach Devices how came he to affect such !
iindsess and such fear, such conf ience and !