The New York herald., 1874-07-29
A Phnosopher's View.
To THE EprroR op THE HxulLp;-

JULY ~, lesA
| Phnosopher's View.
To THE EDITOR or THE HxnALD:-
There has been q clear ana distinct statement
OF facts made by Theodore uton. whea und.-
niabiy lead as evidence 10 convince the mind that
Henry Ward Beecher-one who claimed and stn
claims TO be a teacher Of morality ana quite 10
the holy paths OF rclipion-has been guilty q an
action which, ~ true. am sorry 20 sa,. blasts hls
high character anu great manliness; and a. the
powerful rock upon which many have leaned ls
rent asunder the atmosphere becomes Perneaied
! with backened smoke. a cloud which shuts cut
| Tor q time the sunshine OF innocence. We are al
interested in this question, as it strikes 81 cur
homes, our society and our religion. IL would be-
our greatest happiness 20 prove the caarge
untrue; put, n i'm. it Is not our cuty 90 hide
and conceal; TO lead astray by false logic OF 20 ex.
culpate before the pubic oy the introduction
or extraneous ma1ers as eyidcnce, the man
who now stands charged be ore the sole
point at issue-andsevery true man knows II full
WELLS this, Has Henry Ward Beecher been guilty
OF the action or actions charged against hin ~
Theodore Tiltou This Is the sole question which
the public have TO determine. and u makes no
matter what the opinion OF private body or
judges, self chosen oy the accused, may be n the
community at large Is not satisfied with the
charge made by those judges. We are the jury.
God he praised In this instance and IL Is IN the
eyes OF Mr.. Beecner's fellow countrymen, citizens
and people OF the wide world, that he Is TO justify
himself. We have, then. nothing 10 do with
Theodore Tilton or his wife. save TO remember
that tue former made the charge and that tue
latter, up to the present, admitted IL. II the
charge IS untrue then Is Mr.. Tilton to be forever
looked down upon by ALI mankind, ior the clrcum-
stances render it necessary tnat there shall be
little mercy shown TO the guilty. |: matters
not what may have been the past
life and business OF Theodore riiton or
! licentous or degrading MS conduct may have
been. She pure or lewd, does not alter this case.
aDject and vile OF human monstrociues. that he is
| fostering with the fresh cut wounds and burns OF
everlasting name and as black he'll itseli that
Beecner any wnl1cr. II the 'eminent counseln OF
Henry Ward Beecher thinks TO mislead us by IN.
PRODUCING such evidence, rather trying to saane
| witness on the stand by asking questions when
lead to bring out such evidence. aud have those
questions 20 before the public in order to seduce
them from the real point ut issue, he is mistaken
! i'll his mission, and we ask him for the sake OF the
Aonoi abe profession to which he belongs not 10
misuse his knowledge and power 0. miDd lead
away public oy such false and illegal procedure
Let him do MS duty as true counsellor and re-
member that IN MS position he owes the pubic
much, which TACT. IN TINS case more than another.
jury for the sake Of mis- client. The question Is
one OF public and vital Importance, ana all we
want IS the truth-sad or glorious though II be.
1t remains for Mr. eecher TO disprove the allega-
tion contained III Mr. Tilton's statement. His has
/
dence which, In law, can reout the documentary
| proofs offered by has accuse;. they may be inter-
prstea, II ambiguous py iacts ana circumstances
out thus lar those 1acts aud circumstances the
very tn0ugnts and expressions OF all the three
Henry Ward Beecler, Theodore TilIOn and Mrs.
Elizabeth llton-Most certainly prove to
preJudlced mind the truth or the charge. Mr..
Bcecher's present explanation OF those nice and
delicate points, involving sucn fine distinctions Is
NOT saslaeftory and we surely looked Ior some
OIL mind and concentration OF thought In
Mr. Bfeoher too hoas evident as the facts facts
have stunned MIN. Tne migntiest genius Of man
| cannut make crime virtue. Three long years have
| Theodore Triton IN tins case have nothing what
| ever 10 do witn the truth of the charge lie may
have oeen zen malicious reyeng,la! or bitterly dis
dore Tnton with view OF striking DOWN a useful
man TO get RID OF an antagonist, or 10 bring him.
sell greater pubic nOtOrety yet tnat charge
made, we regret IT, and Theodore riiton's past
nie or his motives in alleging the cSarge @ are alto
Beecher may more satisfactorily answer these
charges: we give give mn nun every scope; we are surely
concede him the drawing rooms o mis- lrlends as
MS Court We see but one counsel within the bar !;
trust the gentlemen who have taken upon them
selves the awful duty Of conducting TINS trial
placed themselves H.. The acts in this case point
10 Rev. henry Ward Beecher as committing wrong
course. We make q mistake when we think that
ACTUAL sexual embraces are solely or necessity TO
III
prove this in a court OF law and how much more
dinncut now; but though hard IL De- we have SUI.
ncien. evidence to throw serious and aamning
party arraigned, Let US here, Tor arguments
SAKE, allow that he was not guilty OF !ne terrible
was ~ reality found in the positions which are
alleged to nave esn seen the motive nc sharacte
ary evidence offered which shows the relations Of
the parties, then we must conclude that Mr.
Beeches was at any, rate guilty Of an
Ing him as no gentleman OF nonor; as
a man OF little or NO morality, and certainly one
! OF our wives, daughters and sisters. The more
there ls OF foolish explanation OF TINS charge the
mos there Of aragang ~ o into The mre
| Will the pubic DC convinced VI ITS truth This
headlong dashing 'at some Young ladies, daughters
Oi the first citizens OF BROOKLYN Is infamous and
cruel 1t is inserted merely 10 gain partlsans to
bad cause BY threatening TO expose them. Rotten
sire now no excuses. We hate d man Of excuses,
and lou' Is the mouth that chews them. We wisn
iacts. They Will convict. acquit or excuse. Sad to
say, In tniS case there Is no room lOr excuse. 1t
must be ''acqlittal," the arising to u new lie, or
conviction" the sinking ol great mind into the
TINS 'scandal" Is a sad commentary on our
social disposition under the teachings OF o sec.
tonal and personal religion. Wise men who have
been noticing the signs Of the times most certainly
are lot so Inucn surprised rs the generality OF
our community at this awful disclosure. We see
the absolute necessity ofIncucating strict senti-
| ments vi morality and OF watching closely the
whole charge over which we are placed, as men,
latners husbands or brothers. We must nave a
! iull and correct Christian idea OF our duties to
God, sOcety and our fellow men, without wh ch
we will but fly back to condition worse than
PaganIsm and far more abject aud foul. Whatever
may be the result OF this examination 1t develops
sad and horrible picture OF morality in high life.
and compeis US to naueurate u new era, when
"these tnick sOlitudes called Social" VIII not De
absolutely "the haunts OF hate, OF vice and care"
NEW YORK, July 25, 1874 FIAT JUsTITiA.