The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1874-07-30
The Rig Ruke.

We this week, Tor the first time, depart from
our rule relative to publishing certain class of
news. While il has long been a favorite remark
in certain quarters, that the Chief is q "smutty"
paper, we have never yet published any OF the
nasty divorce, adultery or fornieation sensations
of the day. But we this week give Theodore
TiltOn's statement in the Beccher affair. Our
excuse is similar to that given by Horace Greeley
to Beecher, on certain occasion. The Tribune
published the particulars of a brutal prize-6ght.
Beecher, meeting Greeley, asked him why he bad
published such stuff. why" replied Greeley,
al published it in order to keep you from buying
a copy of the Herald to read itr' SO we publish
this, to save our readers the expense Of buying
some other paper to read it,
In November, 1872, Victoria Woodruff publish
ed the Beecher-Tiltou story, in connection with
charges against L. c. Challiss. She was arrested
and imprisoned for libel In the Challiss trial, she
proved her statements to be true, and was ac-
quilted. Now Tilton confirms the balance of the
story, in every particular.
The public generally will believe Beeeher gull
ty. Like thousands Of others, be has pIosiituted
bis holy sfce to the g,atfcation of the basest of
passions-has even argued his position to con-
vince his victim that there was no harm in their
guilty acts. Beecher denies it, of course; aud
Mrs. Tilton has left her husband, and unites with
Beecher in pronouncing the statements false.
But they will have very little fUrce with the
public. When u woman once surrenders the
strong citadel Of her vrtne, she has nothing left
worth eontending for The man whose influence
over her was powerful enough TO convince her
that there was no harm in their adulterous in
tercourse, of course can induce her to leave her
husband, and swear TO any story shat he may
dictate.
Bcecher is man who has always indulged in
the sensational. His manner of preaching was
sensational-the use of odd expressions, slang
phrases, and language that but few ministers
would have dared TO use, in Or,ler to draw a
crowd. He was strong friend of Kansas, in her
early struggles, but he usually manifested it in
sensational way, such calling for contributions
of Sharps rifles from the pulpit at the close of a
sermon. His connecttion with the Richardson
scandal and tragedy is well known. When Pres
ident johnson flew off on his POLICY" Beecher
took up the advocacy of his cause; but finding
that it was load that even he could not pull
through, he speedily deserted it, as poor spec
ulation.
The case is being investigated before Church
committee selected by Beecher himself The ev-
idence may he strong enough to convince even
them but the chances are that they will white
wash him-and then the crowds that will rush
TO Plymouth Church to hear him preach, will be
larger than ever, especially of virtuous, upper
crust women.
&. nf poa aI..rxx hat in,
what shape will the affair leave Tiltonf By his
own confession, he is an unenviable being. With
a full knowledge of the facts for years, he took
it all easy and tried to maintain friendly rela-
tions with Beecber Now, at this late day, he
tells it all, for what reason, nobody knows. He
has not exhibited the spunk of the man who once
found a neghbor engaged in an act of Grim. con.
with his wife. Said he: al gave him just five
minutes in which to leave the house. was so
mad, that didn't speak to him for six weeks"
But, there is another side to the affair. Beech
er was preacher of Bible doctrine. According
to that book, was his condnct very wrongi
David was man favored of God. His name is
sacred; and to speak of him save in the most rev.
erent terms, is regarded by Christians as an
offence almost as great as blaspheming the name
of the Lord. Some denominations even regard it
as sinful to sing anything bHt the Psalms of Day-
id. Yet David committed adultery with the wife
of Uriah, and caused Uriah to be murdered, to
prevent his discovering it. Then he added the
widow to the number of his wives. We are told
that the Lord sent a special messenger to David,
to tell him that he disapproved of his conduct,
and as a punishment, the child that came of the
adulterous act died. But that seemed to satify
the Almighty wrath, for the fruit of that same
woman by David was afterward specially blessed.
Solomon was her son, aud was favored with
greater wisdom and wealth than has ever been
vouchsafe,l to any other man; and Jesus Christ
is represented to have been a lineal descendant
from David. Now, we contend, that if such
man as David is to be regarded sacred, and
the story of his amours as the inspired word of
God, was it a sin for Henry Ward Beecher TO i'm
itate so illustrious an example-to practice as
well as to preachi We pause for Il reply, from a
theological standpoint.