Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1874-07-30

and alienation, gave in my then state
OF mind, poignancy to my suffering,
which hope no other man may ever
feel.
EVER TO BE SUSPECTED.
of having offered, undergraduates of
a peculiarly sacred relation, an indie
corum to wife and mother, could not
but deeply wound any one who is sen.
satlve to the honor of womanhood.
There were peculiar reasons for alarm
in this case on other grounds, mas
much as | was then subject to certain
malignant rumors, and fragrant out
break in this family would bring upon
them an added infamy derived from
these STAINLESS falsehoods. Believing,
at the time, that my presence and
counsels had tended, however I'M
consciously, to produce social cat
astrophe, represented as imminent l
gave expression to my feelings IN an
interview with mutual friend, not IN
cold and cautious, selfdefendlng
words, but eagerly taking blame upon
myself, and pouring out my heart to
my friend in the strongest language,
overburdened with the exaggerations
of imprisoned sorrow. Had ! been
the evil man Mr.. Tilton now repre-
sents, I'should have been calmer and
more prudent 1t was my horror of
this evil imputed that filed me with
morbid intensity at the very shadow
of it. Not only was my friend affect
ed generously, but be assured me that
such expressions, if conveyed to Mr..
Titon, would soothe the wounded
feelings, allay anger, and heal the
whole trouble.
He took down sentences and frag-
ments of what | had been saying, to
use them as a mediator. A full state
meut of the circumstances under
which this memorandum was made |
shall give to the Investigating Com
mittee. That these apologies were
more than ample to meet the facts OF
the case is evident in that they were
accepted; that our Intercourse resum
ed it's friendlness; that Mr.. Hilton
subsequently ratified in writing, and
that he has continued for four years,
and until within two weeks, to live
with his wife. Is it conceivable that,
had the original charge been what is
now alleged, he would have condoned
the offense, not only with the mother
of his children. but with him whom he
believed to have wronged them! The
absurdity as we'll as the falslty of this
story is apparent when it is consider
ed that Mr.. Tilton now alleges that he
carried the guilty secret of his wife's
infidelity for six months locked up in
his own breast, and that he divulged
it to me only that there might be
reconciliation with me. Mr.. Tilton
has since, in every form of language,
and to multitude of witnesses, orally,
in written statements, and in printed
documents, delared.
HIS FAITH IN HIS WIFEs PURITY.
After the reconciliation of Mr.. Til
ton with me, considerations of pro-
priety and honor demanded that the
family trouble should be kept in that
secluson which domestic affairs have
a right to claim as q sanctuary, and
to that secldsion it was determined
that it should be confined. Every
line and word of my private and con-
fidentiaI letters which have been pub
lished is in harmony with the state
:nents which | now make. My pub.
Iished correspondence on this subject
comprises but two elements, VIZ.
the expression OF my grief, and OF my
desire to shield the honor of q pure
and innocent woman. / do not pro-
pose to analyze or contest at this
time the
EXTRAORDINARY PAPER OF MR.. TILToG,
but there are two allegations which
[ can not permit to pass without
special notice. They refer to the on
" two incidents which M. Tilton
preten Ia to have witnessed personal
~, the one an alleged sceno in my
house while looking over engravlngs
and the other a chamber scene IN bis
own house, His statements concern
ing these are absolutely false. Not
ing OF the kind ever occurred, nor
any semblance of any such thing
They are now brought to my notice
for the first time. To every state
ment which connects me dishonora-
bly, with Mrs. Elizabeth r. Tilton, or
which in any wise would impugn the
honor and purity of this beloved
Christian woman, give the most
explicit, comprehensive, and solmen
denial HENRY WARD BEEcHER
pnnnI.lrrn LII. % 1Q-I