Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1874-07-01
THE BEEcHER.TILroN SCANDAL.

For several months past, mysterious
paragraphs have found their way into
the metropolitan newspapers, connect
ing the name of Rev. Henry Ward
Beecher with scandal of which
Theodore Tilton was said TO know
something about. Sometimes the
scandal would come to the surface,
but just when it seemed about
to be solved to the satisfaction of
an anxious public, it was suddenly
and mysteFious hushed up and snoth
cred into silence only to break out
again when the people had ceased to
talk and almost ceased to think of it.
Notwithstanding it was hushed up,
there were hundreds Of persons who
attached significance to it, and
who believed that it was due, not only
to the Christian Church, but, to the
world and to Mr.. Beecher himself
that the charge should be investigated,
and either substantiated or disprOved.
Now this scandal has again been re-
vived, this time more vigorously than
usual, Tilton having published an
article in his paper, the Golden Age,
of more than seven columns, in which
he published letter from Mr.. Beecher,
written in 1871, in which that gentle.
man is understood as confessing his
guilt.
II is hoped that this matter will now
be Investigated, and the charges put
to rest. The great influence of the ac-
cused, and the wealth of his admirers,
should not shield him from censure, if
he is entitled to it, If he is guilty, it
ought to be known in time to arrest
his pernicious influence upon the
world; and if he is innocent, his posi-
ton as a Christian minister, and his
relations to the Christian world, de
mand an investigation and acquittal.
IN all the published accounts of the
death of Butler from hydrophobia,
there is one interesting fact that seems
to have escaped the notice OF common
tators. His disbelief in the existence
Of such disease as hydropho-
bia is generally known, and he
wrote many articles at various
times to substantiate it. Yet at last
he fell victim himself TO the horri-
bic malady. Several cases of SINH
lar character are on record. a French
Psychologist denied that tubercie was
inoculable, aud TO prove it, or at least
show his own firm belief in
the theory, inoculated himself with
tuberculous matter. A year or two after
he died Of clearly marked tuberculous
disease. A surgeon in Germany held
that cancer could not be commune
evidence of the truth of his couvic-
tions, submitted himself to inocu-
iation of his person with cancerous
matter. IN short time cancerous
tuinor made its appearance, from
which he ultimately died.
This, in our opinion, is the saddest
aspect of the whole affair TO die of
hydrophobia was terrible to die in
commissions, bound with cords, away
from family, and friends, or witness
their agouies rendered tenfold more
intense by their knowledge of the
nature OF the disease, is still more
horrible, but to have, in the
last hours of life, the truth come
crushing through the mind that
the one great principle, for which
he had contended with all the con
scientious earnestness of his manhood
was a lie, must have been agonizing in
the extreme. To die for a principle
that you know is right is grand, and
you can welcome death in exultatiOn
certain that after times, and other men
will do justice to your memory, but t.
be the eXemplificatiOn in death of the
| falsty of your own belief is that from
which all will pray to the Good Lore
\ TO be delivered.