New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-09-01
THE PLYMOUTH VERDI Va


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whole case. Yet 70 many difficulty and
a perpssxiy. The explanation, 1t may be SAID, seems
inadequate Why, after ALL much self-feproecb
Why such expressions Of humiliation and remorsef How
could iu-ocent and seepiy-wrOnged man go absse
himsefi BESIDES. t must he frankly said, Mr. Becchers
| statement asseDIshed every one, and staggered
which he attributed TO himself The public had
believed him TO be msa OF immense practical
Judgment. Ills OWE statemeuty when most fIsorably
rea9 shows him to have fatally erred IN MS Judgment
balance in sudden crisis IN hays trusted his sost
known to be fussy intruer and who proved, in fart,
his enemy 10 have repeatedly surrendered TO this man
his own tudgment and almost to nave sOdicated MS
free will. The statement showed, too, . lack OF the
self-defensye instinct commonly supposed TO be inner
ent IN manly character II disclosed seventy OF SELF
Judgment which morbid. and a leDiency toward
Others which was irrational In short on Ny Beechers
showing the greatest crisis OF his life he acted
with Of wisdom that Is astonishing. To some IL
was 30 astonishing as TO be incredible. Mr. Beechers
reputation for wisdom has cost his moral reputation
dear 1t Is the difficulty OF creding him with 50 much
folly that leads some TO credit him rather with fsse
hood.
This is not the place to discnss the extent OF Mr.
Beechers mistake and weakness Only the question OF
degree OF unwsdom which he attributes to himself
great 10 dseredt hts sJoryi IL 1t more likely that
Mr. Beecher liar and profigate than that he blum
dered as he says he did We but possible an
to that question the part OF any Intelligent and
mistakes accord with his general character.
It has been Mr.. Beecher's fortune In this matter TO
have the weakest things brought fun before the
public gaze The seamy side has been turned full to
the light. The utteranees OF his most private moods to
his trusted friend have been given the world;
rather from multitude Of such utterances those which
were least credtable, which sprung from the lowest
moods OF mercural temperament have been selected,
presented the worst nt, aud the burden OF expana
ton thrown upon Mr.. Beecher Few men, probably, could
stand sucn dragging forth or their nmOst weaknesses
without disclosing what would astOnish their near
est friends and their own better selves. The Excess
sive self-condemnation, the distorted views OF MS
whole relation to tue case, which Mr. Beecher has had
TO explain, to be taken with this large allowance
they were the utterances OF the man at mis- most un
guarded and depressed moments snatehed at ana pre-
served by treachery and first given to tine world IN the
nght OF most distorung comment Further, Dat
Beecher, having sensitive and adent temperament,
pays necessary penalty in moods OF deeper detection
imam more stond natures can Imagine. Inc usgrse 10
which during MS long ministry ne has repressed these
moods Of DEPRESSION and brought into his teaching only
the joyful and hopeful side OF MS disposition aston
Ishlug. No man ever burned his own smoke" better
than he. Sometimes, somewhere, there must be- an
outlet pouring IOrJh 10 some ILthll eai OF tue ie
preston aud darkness that hrmy shut ont from the
paoc e & %e s d and@r 1Se
cruel burden OF this trouble at times relieve himself OF
his morbid depression 10 the one man who was MS con-
hdant-the man who was to Detray hlm ana thit zoo,
with KISS. II this consideration should not greatly
mitigate the surprise with which Mr.. beecher's SELF
cOndemBatiOns read then We wholly msjudge.
But that in his dealing with the whole matter there
very qualities which conspicuous in his public WORK
1T Is impossible 10 deny. Mr.. Beecher has shown nun
self far wiser counselor in other peoples matters than
in his Both by public teaching and by private
counsel he has gwen vital aid TO thousands OF nen and
say did he Involve another person in trouble approx
mating chat which he has involved himself PAyse-
families sickness some Ike mistrusE or his
Judgment his seems 10 nave moved MI.
Beecher but IN accepting the physician VINO thrust
himself upon him he made the most unfortunate Oh All
mistakes.
For the rest and In a general view OF Mr.. Beechers
In the affair." upon his own statement one or Two
things are to oe said Tne burst OF sereproaeh IN
he carelessly set his hand 10 paper winch ne
had neither written nor read (and which grossly
perverted his eXpressOns)-tAe tempestuOus SELF
reprOaeh and sorrow which he has described ana IN
which it he committed himself TO mistaken
whole matter, Is surely easy 10 cOmpte-
He WA H.
nation and by a great mistake, he had caused Mr..
TtOn his situation, and had Influenced ms wle
to leave him. He seemed 10 himself To nave OAghted
public and the domestic happiness OF man
whom lie had loved as son. Under SUCH belief what
generous but would have been hlied with con
triton overlooked the aud the false accu-
against ITSELF ana devoted ltseu 10 Tue
recovery Of the supposed injured one Mr. Beech
ers wellknown old and long affection Tor luton,
enlightened he has graphically told, by great
sprlngng from the sentiment WAIch i ueeptst
IN his life, 70 reclaim aud save one VINO
had erred: the stern reckoning to wAcl ne ned
himself for the errors thaJ nad askrtFateu the
trouble; the utter forgiveness when De gave 10
Oenses against himself; the dread OF the disaster not
morality aud decency la the storm OF vile scandal wDich
has al loose the utter WEAKNESS or Lie at
under the burden the exalted anu heroic ministry
to Other. never once interrupted bV his trouble
all these things, though they may be forgotten or mis-
understood in the tumue OF the present. VIII one day
a man who made many mistakes, but never erred |
gnObly; who held himself through al pure ana upright
the friend Oh men AMI the servant OF God.
In a note friend Just alter TIE NOOdnull attack,
Mr. Beecher Living or dying. am the Lord-.
He knows and know IL. Alter tiat 1t matters little
what happens" To HIM. indeed, 1t matters ntte HIS |
and for it. And, later the world VIII KNOW
the truth But each OF 10 concerns deeply tAat We do
wrong ourselves by miudgng IN thls issue between
4 true NAN anu "a lle