The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-08-22


We print this morning the closing part
Of Mr. Beecher's statement II Is very
ably and plausibly written, and by super
fetal or sympathetic readers will be- ac-
cepted as a complete REPUTATION Of Tiltons
charges To others IL viii not be regarded
by any means 50 conclusive. His retalin-
tory attack on Tilton, Monlton, Carpenter
and all those with whom he was once
affiliated, but whom he has now repudiat-
ed, is sharp, bitter and vcnomous. In so
far as he has shown that they are bad
lot he will have public opinion with him,
and If exposing their dirty linen would
clarity and whiten the contents Of his own
buck basket Mr.. Becchers vindication
would be complete. The strongest part Of
his narrative is that wherein he assaiIs his
accusers the weakest that in which he
endeavors to explain away the damaging
self.inculpation Of his own letters. II is
here he signally fails, both in his explana-
tory statement and in his cross-examina-
ton. II is here he becomes prolix, labors
heavily, turns sharp corners, and slides
with an awkward sort Of adroitness over
the stumbling-blocks in his way. His
confession and his letters are IN perfect
consonance with Tilton's accusation. They
are compliments of each other, and if we
may so express it, dovetail with each other.
In attempting to fit them to another theory
his ingenuity is bafiled The parts won't
match. His theory is, that he is subject
to fits Of gloom, is morbidly sensitive Of
hurting the feelings of others, and having
imagined that he had done wrong in pro
curing Tilton's dismissal from the hide
pendent, and in advising Mrs. Tilton TO
separate from her husband-advice which
she did not act upon--he gave vent to his
grief in extrayagant phrases and selfae-
cusations, which may be construed into
a sense Of guilt, but can be reconciled
with entire Innocence. Unfortunately
for him-ingenious us such theory
is-the language of his letters will
not bear the Interpretation he puts
upon it. Even the tendency to hypochon-
dria-of which We hear now for the first
time-will not account for the strong
expressions in which he depicts his anguish
of mind. His desire for death, his deserip-
ton Of himself living "on the sharp and
ragged edges of anxiety, remorse, fear,
despair !" his assumed cheerfulness when
he was suffering the torments of the
damned :" his abject appeal to Tilton for
forgiveness, "humbling himself before him
us do before my God !" his declaration
that "he (Tilton) would have been a better
man in my circumstance than | have
BEEN and his passionately grateful letter
to Moulton, when he stopped Tiltons
threatened exposure, beginning, "Many,
many friends has God raised up to me,
but to no one Of them has he ever given
the opportunity and the wisdom so to
serve me as you have. You have also
proved Thoodore's friend and Elizabeth 5.
Docs God look down from heaven on three
unhappier creatures that more need a
friend than these ?" All these utterances
point only to one grave crime, and we
regret to say that Mr. Beecher has not
succeeded in this, the most vital part Of
his statement, or in his answers to the
committee, in making it apparent that he
is innocent of the charges that Tilton has
preferred against him. The committee
may acquit, and Plymouth Church may
invite him to resume his labors in the
pulpit but before the bar of public opin-
ion the most lenient verdict he can expect
to get will be the Scottish one of "Not
Proven. "-Baltimore Gazette.
Moulton got back to New York on
"Wednesday and announced that he will
now make public by Saturday, (to-day) the
statement in the Beecher business which
he had originally prepared If he is
the custodian of any important secrets
it is fully time to speak, md the
friends Of both parties demand that he
shall do So On Monday the notice of Til
toms suit against Beecher was served on
the latters attorneys, and they responded
with request that there should be no de-
lay in the commencement of proceedings