The New York herald., 1874-09-22
Tho Lesson OF tho Scandal.

Tho Lesson OF tho Scandal.
The printing of Mr. Iilton's statement
brings to close what may be called the
"Trial by Newspaper" of the present contro-
versy. 1t is nearly four months since Mr.
Tilton, by the publication Of his letter to DIR.
Bacon, began this extraordinary scandal
During these four months the country has
suffered from worse than Egyptian plague.
Better that the waters had turned into blood,
so that the fishes in the rivers had died; bet
ter the plague of frogs and Of flies corrupting
the land !; better the murrain, the locusts or
the horrible darkness we might even say
better that last awful blow which fell upon
Pharaohs people before they would let Gods
chosen people go, than this dreadful visitation
which for four months has fallen upon the
American people. No event of this gene
ration has brought more evil in its
train. We can well respect even if
we do not in strict justice approve, of
the efforts Of men like General Tracy, General
Butler Mr.. Kinsella, and even of Mr.. Moulton,
before the mania for publishing the ill-spelled
letters of foolish old woman came upon him,
to suppress this scandal and prevent all the
evil that has been done to Christianity, public
morality, social order and good faith between
man and man.
The scandal remains, although the 'Tral
by Newspaper ends. We enter upon the un-
certain chances of trial by jury. What the
result of that trial may be, or whether there
will be q trial, which many doubt, it would be
vain to speculate But certain moral
issues have been settled and upon
these we can dwell now. There is an end
of what may be called the Religion of Gush.
For many years Plymouth church, under the
ministrations of clergyman CT Incompatible
eloquence, has been worshippng sentiment
rather than revelation, generosity in place of
truth, kindness in the place Of faith, tie elo-
quenee of one man, rather than the teachings
of the Master, Henry Ward Beecher in the
place of Jesus Christ. Religion has not been
matter Of discipline or duty with rewards
and punishments-only days picnic in the
woods No matter what deviation from the
codes that, written on the tables OF stone at
Sinai, have been the granite foundations of
every Christian Church, no matter how far
we might stray from these unalterable laws. all
was bright on Sunday morning, all our sins
were forgotten in the eloquence of Henry
Ward Beecher. There was no punishment,
no discipline Life had no necessary duties.
Sin as we might, there was always welcome
and blessing at the altar Of Plymouth
church.
The fruit of this religion may be seen in
the men and women who have contributed to
this scandal Mr.. Moulton has informed us
that he is heather, and we may except him
from any ecclesiastical responsibilities. But
what a strange phenomenon is this Christian
charity of Plymouth church What tides
of hatred, slander, defamation, have been
ever sweeping under the placid surface of
Brooklyn Christianity Lay aside the su-
preme question at issue and look at the reve-
lations which come to us in side flashes
Bowen on Beecher, Moulton on Bowen,
Moulton ON Shearman, Tilton degrading his
wife, defaming Mrs. Beecher and attacking
Kingsley and Kinsella, with the poor old
stricken Mrs Morse commenting on the
whole party and the world in general This
sad, stricken old woman comes into the play
as q tragl-comic chorus, q kind of Meg Merri-
les, evidently insane, but with capacity for
direct and honest speech. We do not know
but that as juryman we should accept her
as the most credible witness that has ap-
peared. Think also of the cruel, infamous
slander on Miss Proctor, which makes us
marvel if men have really forgotten their
manhood. Think Of the incredible baseness
, of dragging Mrs. Beecher into the public
prints merely to insult her husband.
Then we have the ravens and uncean
birds, and base, creeping things, headed by
Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who cannot remain
, away from the carcass. 1t is sad sight to
, see these women. some gray in years and with
, honored ripening lives, making themselves
, carrion birds; such woman as Mrs. STAN
ton, for instance, apostrophizing the up
, roarous Frank Moulton as a Christ, because
he went to Plymouth church with q kind OF
, fireman's instinct for row, and was satisfied.
But, after all, it is for the best. II the buzzard
is q buzzard it is better that we know it before
we proceed to do it turkey honors. And il this
womans suffrage movement is really the pre-
tence for war upon every tradition and
) teaching that men call holy, upon marriage,
9 home, virtue-then blessed be the day that
the truth became known! Mrs. Stanton's
f work is at an end. Mrs. Woodruff was right.
j She has seen the meaning of the reform
? and is henceforth its true queen and leader.
8 Mrs. Stanton becomes simply patient, will.
@ ing, efficient, we may say oficious follower
1 of Mrs. Woodruff in the scavenger business
s of suffrage and reform"
4 There is also the end Of many things
r When Carlyle comes to the close of his
q French Revolution he makes q grotesqut
o apostrophe to the destroying angels wh'
h brought that terrible catastrophe: sim
posture is In flames. Imposture is burn