, 1874-09-23

While tho Decchcr-Ti!ton scandal l,as revealed
aolno private conduct which borders hard upon
tho incredible. 1t has gYon us somo revelations
Of public opinion which come just as near pabs-
ing all crcdulity. Tho only explanation 1ye casi
ind for tl4s attitude Of certain New York public
Journals is tho anciont josuit!cal ono, Of M
esoteric aud III exoterlc sot Of orinions tile
former to ho believed. tho latter to bo spoken.
But we do not SEQ how tho attitude Of Scri1~
,ses's Monthly for 0ctobor eau 10 explained on
any other theory than that Of irony. Tho
editorial article On "Alr. Deccher'a Case" was
writton, Of course. boforo nr. Tilton gayo tho
finishing touches to that "caso," but it was
written aftor Mr Moultol. caso Ind beou statod,
and it bcgiua by speaking Of tho scandal
aa "rccantly aud forever oxploioll There
nerer WAS any probability in It," Tho writer
thon proceeds to arguo tint "Tbe idcn that Mr.
Doccher, who carried puro name through life,
shonll, after having llvea to be neayly GO years
Of ago, reared q fanily, aud been Bubjoctet! to
the most tremendous drafts upon lis vitality,
hayo gone out OF hiH Why to acdnco m innocout
mombor OF his own flock, is nimply Pre-
posterouH"! TO suppose tho author Of TINT
argument serious, is to conclude that he has not
r1ad q line ot tho Btatomouts, or limo Of
criminal history, from King David to title
strongest man Of Tho Christian pulpit" or from
Cain 10 Prof. Webster. whoao attorney bcgau his
dofonso With tuis "prepostcrous" plea. Tho
question at issuo 10 tic one which is 80 lippantly
Tor irouically) begged by the editor OF the
monthly-Mr. Boechcr's "purity." Is to tho
argument drawn from lls ago. in tho frat place,
Lo may not havo been quito 60 wlen 10 began
thls Bort OF thing; III tho second place,
il his 'memory tor dateB" IL % bad ~
he sasa it iB thu insuranos companies aro war
rantea IN bu!ny aa uncertain about his ago rs
they uro (aad ho is) about his physical Btamina
and mental equilibrium; md in tho third place,
we do not balleyo the editor Of Sc'ibaar will
maintain thrt nan has only to provo himself
three-acoro years Ct age IN order 10 prove that
he ia proof a.ainss "larso generosity" or a
"paroxyemal klss." Historical or contemporary
goforencos unlor tl1iR head would bo cruel to
both "Mr. Doeshors caso" and its supporters,
md no forbear. Wo pass over in tho same for
boaring apsit tho argument drawn from hiB
allllty-or rather lnabiliky-to 'roar fu,niiy"
as1es tho clrcumstances. To aay tho truth, it
III tlis link in tho cllain Of the editor's logic
which tlrst awakened tho suspleioa that, ho ia
trying Ills hand IN tho art OF irony
But 1t Our m,ggynga ware aroused as to tie
aegiousncss Of tho writer. how could they fail to
bo confirmed by rostatemont In this form;
"1hcro novor was any probability in it, regarded
purely from physiological point Of vow"2 II
the oatha Of about ai1 respectable Indies aud
gentlemen ahall have any weight With 4 jury it
may appear Que OF theso days tint Alr. Beecher
regarded 1t imprrely " from physiological point
Of vlew." Thou wo haya n rei.oration With
al}ght variation: "1t Is strange that those throo
oiroumstsncea-(D Mr. Boeohoss ago, (a) his
relations and tie spiritual cbaractcr OF hts oul.
lnro, and 10 hia accusor's oondonatlon
Of tho ofronso--hal MOI opoued tho eyes
ot tho public to tho facts.' Since those
words 'Scro writtcn, tho acousor has "openel tho
oyos Of tho public" very wide to the fsct, among
other equally "bottom faess," Of tho contloua-
tion. "Tho spiritual character Of mr. Daeo1ora
culture" Ia manliostay another ironlca] thrusl.
although tho words this rotations" arc Soma,
what confusing to the thought. Can It mean tl,e
Deechor famityf If that 10 the rotorepco il ID ILL.,
fortnnato an!caa 1t IL lronical. And that IL ia
rontca} and tho who'll artsoe ironica}. 10 further
confirmed by aomo etatousenta that follow. In
which tho writor announcea that "it is all oyer
nov" with two lawsuits In prospoctl, aud that
"uons but q fonl bolioyos that Mr. ncecl4or ayor
had criminal coayesHhtion With tue weRk woman".
and that "tho people mud tho prcss haye lone
that for which thoy ought to 90 down on their
knees to Mr.. Dooohss"i and that, ut Mr.
Deoelor can forgive. it bocomoa tho offending
public to 10 sllont" ION their kneou), and TINT It
ls all s'an atthof on eminent purity hesoro winch
II writhotl In condemnation" Thou wo Lhyo
denuuciation OF ''tho largo aggregate ot clor-
gy.aen {'foolsY vho do not atand by Mr.
Doecher," and congratulation" Of Mr.
Deoo!or On his "ralsf from tho tnuubua," mud
af "shs Clustian Church. It laras, Ald pjynn