Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1874-08-20


Mr. Tilton took temporary charge of the Inde,
pendent. On my return paved the way for him
10 take sole charge Of 1t. my name remaining for
year. and he then becoming responsible editor
Friendly relations continued until 1866. when
violent assaults were made upon me by Tilton in
the Independent on account Of my Cleveland ct
te.. and temporary discrimination OF publica-
ton OF my sermons in that paper broke off nv
connection with II. Although Mr. Tilton and /
remained personally on good terms. yet there was
GOODNESS between us in all matters OF politics
Our social relations were very kindly, and as late
rs 1869, at his request, sat to Page some ffty
times for portrait. II was here that first met
and talked with Moulton, whose wife was a mem
Der of Plymouth Church, though he was not a
member, or even regular attendant. During this
whole period never received from Mr.. Tilton or
any member OF his family the slightest hint that
there was any dissatisfaction with my familiar
relations to his household. As late, think. az
theFSinter of 1863 when going upon an extended
in often, and that Libby il not lonesome. or
does not want anything or words to that effect
Never by sign or word did Mr.. Tiltop complain of
my visits to his family until after he be-
gan to fear that the independent would be
taken from him; nor, did he break out
into violence until on the eve of dispossession
from both the papers the Independent and the
Brooklyn Union, owned by Mr.. Bowen. During
these years of intimacy in Tilton's family l was
treated as father or elder brother Children
were born; children died. They learned to love
me. and to frolic with me If l was one of
themselves. loved them, and had for Mrs.
Tilton true and honest regard. She seemed to
me atiectiOnatc mother, a devoted wife, look
ing up to her husband as one far above the COM
mon race of men, and turning to me with artless
familiarity and with entire confidence. Childish
| in appearance, she was child-like in nature and
i would as soon have msconceiyed the confidence
of the little girls the unstudied affection which
she showed me. Delicate in health. with self
cheerful air, she was bonndless in her sympathy
| for those in trouble, and labored beyond her
strength for the poor She had the charge, one
| time, of the married womens class at the Bethel
| Mission School, and they perfectly worshiped
her there. | gave Mrs. Tilton copies Of my
books when published. I sometimes sent down
| from the farm flowers to be distributed among
| dozen more families. and she occa-
sionally shared. The only present of value ever
| gave her was on my return from Europe in 1863,
| when distributed souvenirs of my journey to
| some fifty or more persons, and to her gave
| simple brooch of little intrinsic value. SO far
| from supposng that my presence and influence
was alternating Mrs. Tilton from her family rela-
tons. thought, on the contrary. that Ii was Civ
| ing her strength and encouraging her TO hold fast
| upon evidently sliding into dangerous
sociations, and liable to be immersed by unusual
| critical period of his life and used to think it
! fortunate that he had good home influence
! about him. During the late years of our friend
| ship Mrs. Tilton spoke very mournfully to me
about the tendency Of her husband to great lax
| ity of doctrine in religion and morals She gave
me to understand that he denied the divinity Of
| Christ the inspiration of the Scriptures and
most of the articles of the orthodox faith, while
his views as TO the sanctity of the marriage rea-
| tions were undergoing constant change in the
| direction of free love.
In the latter part of July. 1870 Mrs. Titon
| sick, and at her request visited her She seemed
much depressed, but gave me no hint of any
| trouble having reference to me. cheered her as
| best could. and prayed with her just before
| leaving. This was our last interview before the
| trouble broke out in the family. describe it be-
cause it was the last and its character has bear
ing upon the latter part of my story. Concerning
all my other visits, 1t is sufficient to say that at
no interview which ever took place between Mrs.
! Tilton and myself did anything occur which
might not have occurred with perfect propriety
between brother and sister. between a father
and child, between man of honor and the wife
of his dearest friend, nor did anything ever hap
| pen which she and sought to conceal from her
| husband.
Some years before any open trouble between
| Mr.. Tilton and myself, his doctrines, AS set
forth in the leaders of the independent, aroused
storm of indignation among representative
Congregationalists in the West and, as the
| paper WAS still very largely supposed to be my
organ, was written to on the subject; In reply,
Indignantly discaimed all responsibility for the
then living in Illinois, prominent in remon-
strances addressed to Bowen, concerning the
! course of the paper under Mr.. Tiltons manage
4 ment. Ii was understood that Bowen agreed, in
consequence of proceedings arising out of this
| remonstrance, to remove Tilton, or suppress his
| peculiar views: but, instead of that, Theodore
| seemed frmer in the saddle than before, and his
loose notions of marriage and divorce began to be
Swallowed editorially. This led to the starting of
the Adeance in Chicago to supersede the Inde-
| pendent in the Northwest, and Mr.. Bowen was
| made to feel that Tilton's management was
| seriously injuring his business. and Tilton may
have felt that his position was being undermined
| by opponents of his views, with whom he subse
quently pretended to believe | was in league
| Vague limitations of his feeling hard "
toward me ascribed to this miscon-
him Aser f S. rons return rsp o%
| the West, in December. 1870, young girl whom
| Mrs. Tilton had taken into her own family, edu
| Gated, and treated like an own child Cher testi
mony, understand, is before the committce), was
| sent to me with an urgent request that would
| visit Mrs Tilton at her mothers She said that
| Mrs.. Tilton had left her home and gone TO her
| mothers in consequence of ill-treatment of her
| husband. She then gave an account of what she
had seen OF the cruelty and abuse on the part OF
| her husband that shocked me. and yet more when
| with downcast look she said that Mr.. Tilion had
| visited her chamber in the night and sought her
consent to his wishes. Immediately visited
count of her home life and of the despotism Of
| her husband and of the management Of n woman
| whom he had made housekeeper which seems
| like a nightmare dream. The question was
whether she should 60 back or separate forever
| from her husband. l asked permission
TO bring, my wife, to see them
| l thought better than my own, and accordingly
second visit WAS made. The result of the inter
| view was that my wife was extremely indignant
| toward Mr. Tilton and declared that no nsder-
alton on earth would induce her to remain an
| hour with man who had treated her with an
! hundreth part of such insult and cruelty. felt
| rs strongly as she did but hesitated as / always
| do at giving advice in favor of a separation. 1t
! was agreed that my wife should give her final
/ advice at another visit Tue next day, when
ready to 90 she wished final word, but there
was company and the children were present. and
| so wrote on scrap of paper IL incline to
! think that your view is right and that sepsrs-
| ton and settlement of support will be wisest,
and that in his present desperate state her pres
| ence near him is far more likely 10 produce
/ haired than her absence" Mrs. filton did not
! tell me that my presence had anything to do
! with this trouble, did she let me know that
! on the July previous he had extorted from her
| confession OF excessive affec ton for me.