The New York herald., 1874-08-21
GEORGE Il. BEECHER ON MIR.
MOULTON.

My communication Of yesterday did not take in
all the points In the case which proposed to dis
cuss when commenced writing, bul Knowing that
both newspaper space and patience are limited,
stopped where did, trusting TO your courtesy for
another hearing. The omitted points l now beg
your PERMISSION TO present
Mr.. Mouiton's marvellous exhibition OF ''mutual
friendship seems to have so befogged the minds
OF many estimable people that they have appar.
emily forgotten the common sense rules which
common sense men have established for the test
ing of evidence. Newspapers and private citizens
have been calling upon MIR. Mouton to speak az
though MS word were destined ike some magical
spear TO separate between the joints OF the ..mys.
terry" and what ne may choose to say, must
of necessity be final. 1t Is forgotten that it Is
always In place to inquire, when our credulity is
heavily drawn upon, which Is the more likely
that the story is true or that the person who tells
it lies or is mistaken. Now, inasmuch as Mr..
Moulton, like all other men. may be mistaken
and we know that he has been circula ting laIse
hoods-how can his word settle ANYTHING agains,
a man whose character has been unstained Tor
lorty years But this is bv way OF parenthesls.
We know that familiarity with evil deadens the
moral perceptions so that all consciousness OF
tur pitude IS lost. Only by remembering this can
we account Tor the TACT that Mr.. Moulton expected
TO receive pubic approval for his utual friend
ship" In order, however, that the public may not
be deceived as TO what
HIS ACTS OF MUTUAL FRIENDSHIP
were let me recaptulate some of them-
Frst.He read private letters, written to him
in confidence, TO the avoWcd enemy OF the man
who wrote them.
.second--He allowed that enemy to take these
Tor the purpose of troying the good name OF the
man who had coniidcd In him.
Third-He allowed fragments Of these letters to
be wrested from their proper connection and made
TO appear to imply guilt which he knew TO be
false, and he opened not his mouth.
FO,oth-Alter having allowed the enemy OF Mr..
Beecher TO copy letters written In confidence and
to misquote them at viii, he declined to permit
knew that without the originals Mr.. Beecher could
not properly DEFEND himself
Fyvh-He caused to be published on MIR. Beecher
filthy slander in the Chicago Tribune, ana busted
himself In private circulating tales to the same
purpose, while to Mr.. Beecher's face pretending to
Now let these points be considered In their order.
ana the facts bearing upon them be put In proper
relation. This done, we Shall be in q position TO
estimate Mr. Moulton's value as witness.
Mr.. MOULTON's EXCUSE.
Mr.. Moultons pretence THAT the letters were
published by Mr. Titon against his (Moulton'sl
protest will not. think impose upon any con.
siderable number or intelligent people. lie gave
him TO COPY them why cid he do so Was II ont mt
OF friendship Tor Mi. Beechers
Is it possible that Mr.. Moulton thought the way
to help his 'frlend'' was TO put his private cores
pondence in the hands OF his enemy II he did
not think so, what construction is TO be placed on
TIE acltOu Sau ~ DS looked upon nS awning
short OF treachery. and is there any escape from
the convection that from the beginning till the end
MouitUn and filton acted together for the accom-.
pllshment Of common purpose But to realize
the game in its beauty. Mr.. Mouitop's appear
ancc before the committee and his declinatiOn to
let MIR. Beecher see his own letters must be held
steadilyin nind, together with the fabrication OF
the story which appeared in the Chicago tribune.
When
THE CHICAGO STORY APPEARS
what do we find this mutual friend dong, lndig-
nantly denying Coming out and assuring the
public thar IL IS all false No. He refuses 10 read
the tory, keeps his mouth closed, tells us thar he
stands on his statements TO the committee, and
then runs or to see General Butler.
DELICATE POSITION.
Mr.. Meulton is certainly in most delicate stu
alton. whether Mr.. Becchcr be guilty not,
surely such misrepresentation OF his letters aud
withholding the originals must be considered In
famous.
Moreover, Mr.. Mouiton mas TO meet the fact that
heretofore he has believed Mr.. Beecher to be nno-
cent and declared such belief to dozen or more
witnesses. Mr.. Moulton Is In dilemma. IL IA
difncult to understand how he coula have copsid-
cred him both Innocent and guilty. Such. how
ever, is his position, Did Mr. TNtons statement
convert nimY That cannot be, for he anirms that
b. has not read 1t. That he has believed Mr.