The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1874-08-06

it of transcendent importance to myself
the church and the cause of public mo-
rality that shall give full answer
to the charges against me. But
having requested the Committee of In
vestigation to search this matter to the
bottom it is to them that must look flo,
my vindication. But l cannot delay fol
an hour to defend the reputation of Mrs
Elizabeth r. Tilton, upon whose name
in connection with mine, her husband has
attempted to pour shame.
One less deserving of such disgrace ]
never knew. From childhood she has
been under my eye, and since reaching
womanhoOd she had my sincere admira
ton and affection. I cherish for her a
pure feeling, such as a gentleman might
honorably offer to a Christian woman
and which she might receive and recipro
cate without moral scruple. reject
with indignation every imputation which
reflects upon her honor or my own
My regard for Mrs. Tilton was
perfectly well known to my family
When serious difficulties sprang up
in her household it was to my wife
that she resorted for counsel, and both
of us, acting from sympathy, and, as it
subsequently appeared, without full
knowledge, gave unadvised counsel,
which tended to harm.
have no doubt that Mr.. Tilton found
that his wife's confidence and reliance
upon my judgment had greatly increased,
while his influence had diminished, in
consequence of marked change in his
religious and social views which was
taking place during those years. Her
mind was greatly exercised lest her chill
dren should be harmed by views
which she declared virtually false and
dangerous. l was suddenly and rudcly
aroused to the reality of impending dan
ger by disclosure of domestic distress
of sickness, perhaps unto death; of
the likelihood of separation and
scattering of family every men,
Der of which / had tenderly
loved. The effect on me of the discovery
of the state of Mr.. Tilton's feeling and
the condition of his family, surpassed in
sorrow and excitement anything that l
had ever experienced in my life. That
my presence, influence and counsel had
brought to beloved family sorrow and
alienation gave, in my then state of
mind poignancy to my suffering which
l hope no other man may ever feel Even
to be suspected of having offered, under
the privileges of peculiarly sacred rela-
ton, an indecorum to a wife and mother
could not but deeply wound any one who
is sensitive to the honor of womanhood.
There were peculiar reasons for alarm in
this case on other grounds, inasmuch as l
was then subject to certain malignant ru-
mors, and fragrant outbreak in this
family would bring upon them an added
injury, derived from these shameless
falsehOods. Believing at the time that
my presence and counsels had tended,
however unconsciously, to produce So
cial catastrophe represented as imminent,
| gave expression to my feelings in an
with mutual friend, not in
cold and cautious self-defending words,
but eagerly taking blame upon myself,
and pouring out my heart to my friend
in the strongest language, overburdened
with the exaggerations of impassioned
sorrow. Had been the evil man Mr..
TiltOn now represents, l should have
been calmer and more prudent. 1t was
my horror of this evil imputed that filled
me with morbid intensity at the very
shadow of it Not only was my
friend affected, but he assured me
that such expressions, if conveyed
to Mr.. Tilton, would soothe his
feelings, allay anger and
heal the whole trouble. He took down
sentences and fragments of what l had
been saying to use them as mediator.
A full statement of the circumstances
under which this memorandum was made
l shall give to the Investigating Commit
tee. That these apologies were more
than ample to meet the facts of the case
is evident, in that they were accepted;
that our intercourse resumed its friend
illness; that Mr.. Tilton subsequently rat
itied it in writing, and that he has con-
tinued for four years, and until within
two weeks, to live with his wife.
Is it conceivable that, if the original
charge had 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
hin: The absurdity, as well as the falsity,
Of this story is apparent when it is con-
sidered that Mr.. Tilton now alleges that
he carried this guilty secret of his wife's
infidelity for six months locked up in his
own breast, and that then he divulged it
to me, only that there might be recon
Citation with me. Mr.. Tilton has since,
in every form of language, and to null
titude of witnesses, orally, in written
and in printed documents,
declared his faith in his wife's purity
After the reconciliation of Mr.. .Tilton
with me every consideration of propriety
and honor demanded that the family
trouble should be kept in that seclusion
which domestic affairs have a right to
claim as a sanctuary, and to that seclu-
sion it was determined that it should be
confined. Every line and word of my
private and confidential letters which
have been published is in harmony with
the statements which now make.
My published correspondence on this
subject comprises but two elements, viz:
the expression of my grief, and that of
my desire to shield the honor Of pure
and innocent woman.
do not promise to analyze and contest
at this time the extraordinary paper of
Mr.. Tilton; but there are two allegations
which l cannot permit to pass without
special notice. They refer to the only
two incidents which Mr.. Tilton pretends
to have witnessed personally, the one
an alleged scene in my house
while looking over engravings, and
the other q chamber scene in his
own house. His statements concerning
these are absolutely false. Nothing Of
the kind ever occurred, nor any SEM
blance of any such thing. They are now
brought to my notice for the first time.
To every statement which connects me
with Mrs. Elizabeth r. Til
ton, or which in anywise would impugn
the honor and purity of this beloved
Christian woman, I give the most ex-
plicit, comprehensive and solemn denial.
HENRY WARD BEECHER.
Brooklyn, July ~, 1874
Statement OF Mrs. Tilton.
To pick up anew the sorrows of the
last ten years, the stings and pains ] had
daily schooled myself to bury and for
give, makes this imperative duty, as
called forth by the malicious statement
Of my husband, the saddest act Of my
life. Besides, my thought of following
the Master contradicts this act of my
pen, and sense of the pervesion of my
life faith almost compels me to stand
aside until God himself delivers; vet see