The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-08-15

laliop, 1s suQ history, TO the full
meaning Of which I have recently
awakened. = n, The full truth Of
this history requires that one lhore
fact should be told, especially as MIR.
Titton has invited it. Money has been
obtained from me, in the course OF
these affairs, in considerable sums; but
I did not at first look upon the sugges.
tions that + should contribute to MIR.
Tilton's peouniary wants as savoring
OF blsck-mail. This did not occur to
me until I had paid. perhaps, So, 900;
SIS. 900. After the money had been
paid over, in five 81 900 bills. to raise
which mortgaged the house live in,
I felt very much dissatisfied with my
self about it. Finally, q square de-
mand and threat were made to one OF
my confidential friends. that if SIS, ZOO
more were net paid, Tilton's charges
would be laid before the public. This,
l saw at once, was black-mail in its
boldest form, and I never paid cent
OF it, but challenged and requested the
fullest exposure. In 1878, he (Beecher)
became inwardly satisfied that Tilton
was inherently and inevitably ruined
man. He did not mean we'll by me;
but as lie had grown up under my iu-
huence aud in my church. could
never free myself FROM certain de-
gree of responsibility for his mis-
doings. Moul:on, apparently affected
by my soliloquy-for it was that rather
than conversation-said lie was sure
that there would be no trouble in pro-
curing reconciliation. l gave him
leave to state to Theodore my feelings.
He (Moulton) sat down ut my table
and wrote down. as supposed. con-
densed report Of my tulk-for I went
on still pouring out my wounded feel
ings over this great desoiation in Mr..
Tilton's family. He did not read the
paper to me, nor did read it, nor
have ever seen it. More than year
afterwards, Beecher says. Moulton pre-
sents papers which Moulton alleged
were destroyed two years ago. She
(Woodhnll) became the heroine Of Mr..
Moulton and MIR. Tilton. She was
made welcome to both houses with the
toleration but not cordial consent of
their wives. Beecher had interviews
with Woodruff. at the Grst inter
view, she was gracious; ut the second,
she was cold and naughty; but at the
thlrd, ahe was angry and threatening
tor had peremptorily refused to pre-
side ut lecture she WIS about to give
at Steinwuy Hall. Most strenuous
efforts had been nude by both Mr..
Tilton and Mr. Moultou to induce me
to preside ut this lecture, und to iden-
tify myself publicly with Mrs. Wood
hull. AT about the same time, l found
that the circle of which Mrs. Wood
hull formed part was the centre of
losthsome scandalizing--organized,
classified and perpeLuated with greedy
and uncIean appetite for everything
that was foul or vile. After all inter
view with Tiltop. Beecher says: l
went forth like o street-walker. She
evidently expected me, and showed
me at once to Mrs. Tilton's room.
Mrs. Tilton lay upon her bed, white us
marble, with closed eyes, rs in a
trance, and with her hands upon her
bosom, palm to palm. like one in
prayer. As look back upon it, the
picture is like some forms carved in
marble. that I had seen upon monu-
ments in Europe. was by
no means the only clergyman who was
made the text for their private gossip.
while it seemed 0s if no woman Of dis
tlnction within the land was left out of
their pool of scandal. All the history
of their past lives, and even the graves
Of their friends, were raked over to
furnish material and pretext for their
loathsome falsehoods. It was mex
pressibly disgusting to me, and I would
not associate with these people; yet
Mr.. Tilton and Mr.. Moulton had some
strange theory concerning the manage
ment of this particular affair"
Beecher's cross-examination before
tho Plymouth Church Committee
places Moulton and Tilton in the posi-
ton Of black-msilers. Beeoher en-
phatioally denied Tilton's allegation of
adultery with his wife, or of behaving
toward her in any way different from q
man to his own daughter. Tilton,
being interviewed, to-day, about
Bsecher's defence, says Moulton will
now be obliged to publish the long
statement he had preserved, but with
drawn for the sake of peace. Beecher
had behaved ungratefully, especially
as M0ulton had been his friend and
saved him from committing suicide
four years ago. That statement will
annihilate all Beecher's denials.
Beecher's Conduct is that of despe-
rate man, and his resorting to false.
hood to cover his conduct is simply
infamous.