New-York tribune., 1874-08-14
1T L1NT TILE IRTTH.

Mr.. BeeCher has spoken. Ii the statement
we print this morning had been given to the
world within a reasonable time after Mr..
Tilton's charges, the scandal would now
be dead. Delay has made the task
of killing the poisonous growth I'M
measurably harder; but we believe that can
did readers will still rise from Mr.. Beechers S
nervous recital with the conviction that he
has been the victim oi a mOnstr0us conspiracy.
The case against Mr. Beecher rested
| First and mainly On his own letters -
! Second. On Mrs. TltOn's confessionS;- -
Third. On Mr.. Moulton's private declarations
that the pastor had confessed the crime to
him and
Fourth, On Mr.. Tilton's claim that he had
likewise confessed it to him.
If the first of these grounds for believing
the monstrous charge could be removed the
rest would not support it. The second was
worthless because Mrs. Tilton had retracted
and explained TO such an extent that even
the judge most prejudictd against Mr..
Beecher could go no farther than to hold
her testimony of no weight on either side.
The third was nearly worthless by reason of
Mr. MoUltOn'S extraordinary conduct and gen.
eral character; but it is now utterly demOl-
ished by the production OF one of Mr.. Moul-
toms letters, explicitly admitting that the
whole case might be published TO the
world the next day and Mr.. Beecher
could stand And the fourth has not from the
first been regarded by unprejudiced people as
of any value, and after Mr.. BeecherS expo
sure will seem contemplate.
The case then rests solely on Mr. Beecher's
own letters. Does he explain them? lie
certainly shows that they have been mon
strously garbled. The long letter, that i'll which
he speaks of living on the sharp and rugged
edge of anxiety, remOrse, fear, and despair,
proves to have been nearly four times as long
as the part given by Mr.. Tilton, seems
thoroughly consistent with Mr.. Beechers ex-
plantations. and IN several points quite
inconsistent with the idea OF his guilt.
The confession itself was never written or
read by him, some of the sentences IN 1t
were never uttered by him, and 1t wholly re-
lated to his mental distress at finding HIM
self. as he thought in some way response
BILE for TiltOn's business and social ruin.
For the rest, the detailed account of his deal
incs with Tilton and Moulton furnishes a
perfectly natural explanation. The fear Of
accounts for the illusions to his probable
death, expectation of never preaching another
sermon. and the like; and the admission that he
has paid seven thousand dollars to Tilton, and
only stopped when five thousand more were
demanded Uhough given with too little detall),
seems to throw a flood of light on some of the
motives that have led to this shocking business.
The statement will measurably clear away
tbe clouds that have been dark and thick
about Mr.. Beecher's name. If it had come
sooner, 1t would i'll all probability have ended
the scandal. For that we must look now
70 the cross-examination, which cannot yet be
weighed. to collateral proofs, and to the calm
and late Judgment of people always exact
ing in such cases, but generally sure in the
end to be just. They will probably regard
his course as unwise, his friendships as
unworthy, his heated language in critical
moments as unsafe, and his course through
the whole miserable business as weak but not
wicked