The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-06-28
Mr.. Beecher and His Accuscr.

There has never arisen in the social lie of
this country o case which required so wise an
exercise OF candor, humanity and justice as
that which has been brought into fresh pub
LEFTY by the imprudence OF Mr.. Tilton. The
greater portion OF the respectable press of this
city has practised the considerate forbearance
which is due to the genius, eminence and
character of tho most gifted popular preacher
who has adorned the American pulpit in our
| generation. But the press elsewhere has been
less cautious, and has INDUCED in hasty judg
nents which the facts, so tar as they are yet
developed, do not warrant The Philadelphia
Press for example, declares that the noto-
rious charges against Mr.. Beecher are "now
confirmed beyond all doubt if Mr.. Tilton's
statements and extracts from letters are au-
thentio, AMI it is hardly possible to think
they are not - AMI the Press goes on to say
that .'the Beecher scandal became such public
property that silence is impossible. 1t
is the unfortunate event of the age.
1t 6rngs down to the mire man
whose ability was akin to genius.
He was the foremost preacher of the day, and
now be is found guilty of the most heinous of
crimes, made more so from the fact of his
calling and his place in the public esteem"
The Albany Journal says, with more reserve,
that it publishes the substance of Mr. Tiltons
staten ent ''simpy to indicate the pain it
gives us, as it VIII give thousands of others -
We VIII not multiply examples of he effect of
Mr.. Tilton's unwiso letter on the country
press and the fatal impression it is producing
on the public mind. Greatly as the revival of
this scandal is to be deprecated 1t has passed
to stage where the most quoting and ju-
dicious thing is such an investigation as will
elicit the precise facts and place them in clear
evidence Meanwhile the public ought to
suspend its Judgment and consider how little
has yet been proved. Be the real facts what
they may, no right judging man should hest
tate to censure Mr.. Tllton The inconsiderate
part OF the press is discussing this matter as if
it concerned only Mr.. Beecher and his ac-
cuser. This is too narrow view. There is
third person whose relation to this unfortunate
scandal cannot be ignored in fair examina-
! ton, and something is certainly due to her
sex, wounded in its most sensitive point,
and to her utter helplessness in such con-
troversy as this, in which her own husband is
the accusing party. In any supposable or
any possible state OF the facts it is o piece of
unfeeling barbarity to torture her by public
exposure at this late stage of the question.
BY Mr.. Tllton's own statement the offence
against him, whatever it was, was perpetrated
more than four years ago and was confessed
in writing by Mr. Beecher on the 1st OF jan
uary, 1871. As Mr.. Tilton has continued to
live with his wife it is to be presumed that
he forgave her at the time, if she had done
anything requiring forgiveness. When the
facts first came to his knowledge he had two
courses open to Transportation or forgive
ness. By bestowing the latter he bound him.
sell to silence, and nothing can extenuate the
meanness Of dragging her before the public
and covering her and his children with shame
after the lapse of 50 many years By contin-
uing to live with her he made virtual pledge
Of his honor as man and husband to shield
her reputation and to protect her, as far as
possible, from every public consequence OF her
transgression. Ii is not easy to conceive Of o
more inexcusable, more despicable mean
ness, than dragging her faults into pub
lie view years after he had thus
condoned them. The fimsy apology he makes
will explode Us soon as it is touched. He says
he has been accused of slanderng Mr.
Beecher and that he owes it to his character
to prove the accusation false. 1t is not easy
to express in temperate language the senti-
ments which such an excuse is calculated to
excite. What can be said of man who sets
higher value on his own reputation for truth
than upon that of his wife for chastity? We
cannot understand the sense of honor which
thinks it a greater stain to have given way to
rash and mistaken Jealousy than to live with
wife who has been un .aithful The more fully
the public comes to believe that Mr.. Tilton's
would the reputation of his wife have been
protected against suspicious which cannot
touch her without, at the same time, wound
ing him and bringing disgrace upon his chill
dren. Supposing the accusation true, there
was time when he might with honor have
exposed and abandoned her. but that time
passed when he consented to an act of forgive
ness.
II he should hereafter say that his letter was
not meant to brand her, the public will re-
gard it as weak and cowardly subterfuge
1t is true that no specific charges are made in
the letter against her or Mr.. Beecher But
Mr.. Tilton knew perfectly how the letter
would be understood. Public rumor has
long been definite enough on this painful sub.
ject, and Mr. Tilton was aware that his letter
would be interpreted in accordance with the
notorious story, unless he stated different
ground Of complaint. he chose to leave the
current rumor uncontradicted, and by ad-
1 dnninn rnrnnfs TINT Mr. Raechar had crriar-