The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-09-03
BEECHER TILTON.

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BEECHER TILTON.
A sealhing Review OF Nj. MOultor
bT Dr. Leonard Bacon.
INV YoRE, Sept -Rsy. DE- Leon
ard Bacon contributed 9 paper 70 tht
!ndtpehdfni on the Brooklyn scandal
lie says no summing up OF siiIings Of thI
testimony Published and unpublished, ant
no disclosures that may yet be made, car
In any way redeem the man who has DO
come 80 conspicuous in his character q
hutual Friend" or negoiiAtOr between
the embarrassed editor and proprietor O
The Golden ACe, and the popular, prosper.
Gus, but not very cunning, pastor Of The
Plymouth Church. Perhaps Il was three
years ago that the entire budget, yery
much as given ID Tlton's statement, was
laid open before me by q man OF hieh
standing, who unfortunately knew noih.
ing about the matter save Whist olhern
had told him. Then it was that | tirs.
heard the name oi Frank Moulton. In
lhe absence Of any proof l refused
70 withdraw my confidence from
beecher, or 10 charge my memory with
the painful details OF q story which
l knew would sooner or later be-.
come pnblic, but then began 10
suspect, and thence forward the impress
sion on my mind grew deeper and more
definite, that whoever might bo dupe or
victim, and whIt ever might be the re-
suit in regard 10 Beecher's, or any other
dramatis personSe, the Mutual Friend. the
custodian ol papers big and black, with
tho late ol the hero OF the pistol SOsas,
would be exposed In the denouement
as chief Of the plot. Frank, as his crOnles
call him, Is not only man Of aesthetic re-
hnement, but emInenlly chiyAlrous In his
friendships and sensitive TO even the sus-
picion OF doing any dishonorable thing.
Beecher having had the benefit OF Franks
generous friendship, for l know not how
many years, DOW turns upon him In self
defense and charges him with having had
chiei part in very base conspiracy.
viii this hlgh-tonad gentleman whose
eyes beam keen with honor, vindl.
cate his honor BY bringing his Accuser TO
answer before Q jury. How can
htl Where will he find q judicious
and honorable counsellor Of law who will
advise him to do sOI OF course ! put this
question without knowing whether he has
not already paid retaining fee, or even
that ihe most eminent criminal LAWYER In
Massachusetts, has already advised him TO
do just the thing which ! think q
ssgaclous and honorable counsellor would
sdylse him not to do. Beecher charges
this man with having been for years the
chief actor in . base conspiracy. He tells
a story very dishonorable to the conspi.
rators, yet not very creditable TO his own
discretion and not incredible, all things
considered. II he tells the truth, Frank
houlion is o bad man, but II Beechers
story is not true what follows. We have
Moulton's own report Of what he has
been doing Tor three years past, and HIS Il
the true story il Beecher'S Is false. .Ac-
cordiDg TO his own story not less than &C.
cording 70 Beechef's, he deserves the
reprobstion and scorn Of all honest
men, though he seems 10 be too deficient
In moral sense. In each Of the two
stories there Is an apparent conspiracy,
the one iSsgainst Beecher's peace OF mind,
against his reputation, against his useful
ness, against his family, against the church
ot which he isthe hOnOred minister. II in.
wolves conspiracy against a weak and
helpless woman, 10 disgrace her and her
children and 10 make her lie intolerRble.
1t has proceeded 1t Is alleged 80 far as 10
extort money from Beecher's gushing
sympathy with man whom he had be-
trlended, but who had ruined himself by
his ineradicable folly. The other is a
conspiracy to conceal crime which
ought rather 10 have been exposed and
punished. To men Of certain principles,
adultery may seem a trivial offence, a
private sttAir In which dishOnored hus-
band has something to cOndone, or re-
VeDge, but not much of a crime against
society il only it can be hushed up among
ones friends.
SO fixed does this conviction seem 10 be
10 Moulton's mind that, emulous of the
blessing pronounced on pesce.mAkers, he
has been working all this while, as he
would have US understand, for "compro.
mise" With the assurance born Of per-
iect unconSciousness he urged tho inVes.
tigation Committee to accept his view Of
the case and to settleit by q compromise.
What he proposes Is that man who, &C.
cordiug to his story, Is thought profit.
gate, leading captive silly women, shall
retain his position and all his influence
by coming to terms with Theo.
dore Tilton. Doubtless It Is the hope
ot countless multtudes Of this and other
lands that Beecher will be trlumphantly
vindicated, and they are praying that he
may be; but they are not praying nor
hoping that u he Is guilty he may escape
detection. Having long honored him as
q good man, they believe he Is innocent
Of the wickeduess imputed TO him, and
will believe so until ne shall be proved
guilty. In that belief they are praying
that his innocence may be made manifest,
and that those who have conspired TO de.
stroy him may be coulonnded. Mr.
Beecher's friends do not claim for him i'm.
munity In any wickedness. Moulton may
negotiate himself inlo iniRmy, but he Is
not counted among Beecher's friends.
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