The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1874-08-27
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING.

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING.
Moulton's second statement, trum-
peted beforehand rs filled with such
dire disaster for the man against
whom it was directed, has been pub
lished, and proves to be much more
pretentious than important. Except
the assertion of its author, supported
by no evidence whatever, that MIR.
Beecher had repeatedly admitted to
him a guilty relationship with Mrs.
Tilton, there is nothing in the almost
interminable document that has not
previously been known and discussed
in itself or in substance. And rs the
charge contained in Mr.. Moulton's
assertion has already been denied in
the most sweeping terms by Mr..
Beecher--that denial having since
been verified by Mr.. Beecher's oath
the question becomes one of veraci-
ty; and on this issue there seems to
be little cause for hesitation. Moul-
toms fortunes in this scandal are in
separately united with Tilton's; they
rise or sink together and both are
resting under undisproved charges Of
Matchmaking of the most despicable
kind. Mr.. Moulton is far from be-
ing d disinterested or unprecedented
witness.
In the mass Of letters published
there are none more damaging to Mr..
Beecher than were these included
in his own statement and so satisfac-
torily explained as entirely consist
ed with an ofense against Tilton not
criminal. While Moulton's state
ment fails to establish Mr.. Beecher's
guilt it does serve to establish, beyond
doubt, the following facts:
That it was not until six months
after Tilton's wife had made the con-
fession he claims she made, that TIL
ton uttered any charges against Mr..
Beecher-not until after Mr.. Bowen
had, with the advice of Mr.. Beecher,
dismissed him from his service as ed
itor. He did not appreciate the in
jury done him until money question
came up.
That after the payment by Bowen
Of 81 900 to Tilton the latter was
quiet and contented-while the money
lasted.
That while the Golden Age was
Aourishing on the $4,000 paid by Mr..
Beecher to Moulton to help Tilt IL,
the latter's lips were closed.
The final outburst only took pl: e
when, as Mr.. Beecher claims, he re-
fused to pay another $4,000.
It also establishes the fact that Mr.
Moulton received from Mr.. Beeche1
$4,000 (given with the generosity
and kindness towards Tilton which
had always characterized his acts
during the whole of this unhappy
controversy to assist in keeping W
the Golden Age, and that Of this
amount $3.50 had been paid to Til
ton. Moulton says that Tilton did
not know that this money came from
Mr.. Beecher; but he does not at
tempt to reconcile this statement
with the note bearing these words
III. w. B.: Grace, mercy and peace
T. T." left on Mr.. Beecher's pulpit
stand on a Sunday morning following
close after the payment Of the $4,000
to Moulton, which note; in Tilton'
handwriting, is now in the possession
Of the Committee.
While making these points plain
the statement fails to clear away Mr.
B,echer's charge that q demand fol
an additional $4,000 had been made
in order to secure peace and prevent
q scandalous publication by Tilton.
1t fails to explain why he (Moul
tony wrote July list, 1873, to Mr.
Beecher, "You can stand if the wlole
case we're published tomorrow" whe1
Mr.. Beecher, weary Of Tilton's vary
ing whims and burdensome exactions
declared his intention to write fo
the public a statement that would
bear the light Of judgment day." if
as he says in this statement, Mr.
Beecher had repeatedly and unqual
ifedly confessed to him that he (B.
had been guilty OF adultery will
Mrs. Tilton." This letter was writ
ten only about two months after MI
Beecher had placed in his hands tn
$4,000. Was he afraid that if MI
Beecher should give to the public
statement Of the facts, as threatened
there would be no more $1,000
plums for Moulton, Tilton and tn
Golden Age' How could the grea
preacher "stand" if it were established
by "the whole case'' that he had bee
"guilty Of adultery" Will MI
. Moulton reconcile his letter of July
1873, with his statement of Aug
ust, 1874? 1t is more than the pull
lie can do.
While Mr.. Moulton's statement
characterized by a Pecksnifiian regar
for Mr.. Beecher's welfare, his CONVEX
sations with "Gath," the correspon
ent Of the Chicago Tribune, who I
been constituted his mouth-pie,
show the hatred he cherishes for hili
He calls him "libertine minister
"a liar and sneak; )" "an imposter
"a varlet;" "a viper" etc, and {
IL l. r