The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1874-10-10
Reviewing the Scandal.
From the New York Herald.


The scandal remains, although the Trial
by Newspaper ends. We enter upon the
uncertain chances Of trial by jury. What
the result of that trial may be, or whether
there will be a trial, which many doubt, it
will 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 a clergyman of incom-
| parable eloquence, has been worshipping
sentiment rather than revelation, generosity
| in place of truth, kindness in place of faith,
| the eloquence of one man, rather than the
teachings of the Master, Henry Ward
Beecher in the place of Jesus Christ. Re-
lgion has not been matter Of discipline or
duty, with rewards and punishments--only
a 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 for
gotten in the eloquence of Henry Ward
Beecher There was no punishment no
discipline! Life had no necessary d,lties.
Sin as we might, there was always well
come and q 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 heathen, and we may except
him from any ecclesiastical responsibi bilities.
But what a strange phenomenon is this
"ChristiaH charity" of Plymouth church!
What tides of hatred, slander, defamation,
have been sweeping under the placid sur
face of Brooklyn Christianity. Lay aside
the supreme question at issue and look at
the revelations which come to us in side
flashes. Bowen on Beecher, Moulton on
Bowen, Moulton ON Shearman, Tilton de-
grading his wife, defaming Mrs. Beeoher
and attacking Kingsley and Kinsella, with
the poor old stricken Mrs. Morse comment
ing on the whole party and the world in
general! This sad, stricken old woman
comes into the play as atragi-comic chorus
a kind of Meg Merrilles, evidently insane,
but with a capacity for direct and honest
speech. We do not know but as a ,iuryman
we should accept her as the most credible
witness that has yet appeared Think also
of the cruel, infamous SANDER 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 unclean 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 Stanton, for instance,
apostrophizing the uproarious Frank Moul-
ton as a Christ, because he went to Ply
mouth church with kind of firemans
instinct for a row, and was satisfied. But,
after all, it is for the best. If the buzzcrd
is buzzard it is better that we know it
before we proceed to do it turkey honors.
And if this woman's suffrage movement
is really the pretenee for a war upon every
tradition and teaching that men call
holy, upon marriage, home, virtue-then
blessed be the day that the truth became
known! Mrs. Stanton's work is at an end.
Mrs Woodruff was right. She has seen
the meaning of the reform, and is hence
forth it's true queen and leader. Mrs.
Stanton becomes simply patient, willing,
efficient, we may say officious follower of
Mrs. Woodruff inthe scavenger of suffrage
and sreform."