The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1874-08-19

DeeeheP's Statement.
We do not expect the statement Of
Henry Ward Beecher to be received
by everybody as true. There are
plenty of persons who would feel
keenly disappointed if this most sean
dalous Of scandals was to come to an
abrupt and impotent conclusion.
There are others. not unfriendly 10
Mr.. Beecher, who will criticise the
evidence and hesitate regarding their
verdict. There are others still, who.
having carefully examined the case,
weighed the testimony, considered the
credibility of the witnesses, and
analysed the characters and motives
of the various parties, arc perfectly
satisfied that one of the most gigantic
conspiracies ever attempted has been
overthrow and one of the most cruel
ISLANDERS ever circulated utterly de-
molished.
One thing is revealed by Mr.. Bee
cher, which, though seemingly of small
importance, goes great way toward
explaining things heretofore inexpli
cable: Frank Moulton is free lover
a believer 10 the religion of Wood
hull, and therefore interested, as all
Of that class are, in the downfall of
the great minister. Mr.. Beccher,
with all his great genius and his
wonderful powers, is as simple about
some things as babe. His statement
shows this, and his whole life-so
childish in many of its phases--.re
veals him as one who is all heart and
soul. with none Of that rugged man
hood which would assert itselfprompt-
~ and positively when set upon. He
is dispos ed to yield almost anything
tor present peace, and submit to al
most any imposition so that the
clouds may disappear and the sun
shine which he loves so we'll once
more gladden. his own aud the houses
Of his friends. He was the very man,
above all others, whom designing
men and reckless women, eager for
new gospel and the PRONUNCIATION of a
new faith, would fix upon, knowing
him we'll as one to be drawn into their
service
Did Moulton, Woodruff, and their
disciples, assisted by Tilton, attempt
this? AS carefully prepared scheme,
probably not; but with the rather
singular advantages thrown in their
way, and with their suspicious and
half convictions that Mr.. Beecher had
been practicing their theories. il is
not unreasonable to believe that they
eagerly persuaded themselves of the
fact of his guilt. and sought to use the
circumstance to carry the foremost
preacher of the age over to their cause
and startle the world by grand an
nOuncement of the new faith, of which
MIR. Beecher should be the defender
and head. The interviews with Mrs.
Woodruff corroborate this idea. At
the first meeting with Mr.. Beecher,
she was most atfable; at the next, cold
at the last, threatening. He had re-
fused to preside at her meeting, and
suspecting-perhaps half believing
from what she had heard that he had
been criminally intimate with Mrs.
Tilton, she thought to drive him in
to quasi Endorsement of her views,
by compelling him, under fear of ex-
posture, to honor her and her cause by
acting as chairman # the disreputable
assemblage.
If Mr.. Beecher had been guilty, the
natural thing for him to have done
was to consent to preside. 1t would
not have materially injured him, for
he could have readily denied all
knowledge of the principles which she
was to avow; and so far as his con-
| science was concerned. it would GER
tainly have been no shock to him to
hear theories advocated which he was
dailyt putting in practice.
That Mr.. Beecher has been exceed
ingly weak and foolish. all admit. That
he has been guilty as charged, VIC do
not believe. Subsequent developments
may change this conviction. but care
fully following the whole case. view
ing his letters in the light OF his ex-
PLANTATION, and especially taking into
consideration the probabilities and
the circumstances, all OF which are SO
utterly inconsistent with the charge,
we cannot but come to the conclusion
that the whole wretched business is
the outgrowth Of malice, jealousy, and
misapprehension; having it's rise in
the hatred of some, the disordered
brain and offended vanity of others,
and the busy, meddlesone and mis-
chief-making tongues Of an indefinite
number.
One thing must be particularly re-
memberel: The charge is not SO we'll
substantiated now as it was after the
first statement Of Tilton. The proof
has been promised repeatedly, conf
IDENTIFY. but it has not been torthcom
ing. The enemies of Mr.. Beecher
have asserted that Moulton held in
his hands the confession of the crime
II so, why does he not produce it? Il
call upon any living person, says MIR.
Beecher, ito produce and print forth
with whatever writings they have OF
mine. If any man would do me favor
let him tell all he knows, and tell il
now"
| Mr.. Moulton has permitted it to be
understood that he held letters of Mr.
Beccher's which would prove his gull
and crush him to the earth. He has
been hes ought and challenged to pre-
sent them. If he still refuses, the pub
lie will believe that he cannot do SO
and the verdict must be against him
and the cause he champions.-Inter
Ocean.
| Her story.
There is more practical Woman
Rights in the following brief editoria