Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-07-23
THE TILTON-BEECHER SCANDAL.

One side of the Beecher-Tilton scandal
has been published, the other side is yet
to be heard. 1t is too early to form an
opinion upon the merits of the case, al
though many have done SO. Mr.. Beecher
may be guilty of all that Mr.. Tilton
charges him with, but it is better to hear
what he and Mrs. Tilton have to say be-
fore passing sentence. 1t is better to
know the truth and the whole truth, let
the consequences be what they may upon
the parties interested, Mr.. Tilton's state
ment is very direct in its accusations. 1t
is not the accusation that Mr.. Beecher had
advised Mrs. Tilton to separate from her
husband, which rumor said it would be,
but the charge of adultery continued for
several years, and sustained by the al
legged confession of Mrs. Tilton herself.
This of course carries US to the bottom of
the scandals that have been lowering
around the head of Mr.. Beecher. There
can be nothing more to ventilate as be-
tween him and Mrs. Tilton, for the ex-
treme limit of ventilation has been reached
in the statement published. Thus far,
very well; for what was demanded was
thorough work, plain talk, impartial in
vestigation, and these we are having.
When the task is ended no one can say
that plain speech was denied, that great
wrongs were covered up under the pre-
tence Of seeking to find and expose them.
Several facts are worthy of notice about
Mr.. Tiltons statement. He alleges that
criminal intimacy between Mr.. Beecher
and Mrs. Tilton began in 1868. This was
continued until 1870, when Mrs. Tilton
confessed to her husband her guilt. The
crime had been going on two years before
his eyes and he did not suspect it. When
it was exposed to him by his wifes con-
fession where was the Indignation that
such recital would be supposed natural
ly and inevitably to arouse in the breast
Of tho injured man p
Mr.. Tilton seems not to have been Sc
riously affected by the disclosures made,
for he continued to live with Mrs. Tilton
as her husband and apparently to be
friendly with Mr.. Beecher If he had
been filed with the righteous wrath that
the circumstances would justify if they
were as narrated in Mr.. Tilton's state
ment could he have continued his former
relations with his wife and Mr. Beecher?
Mr.. Tilton has never been considered
poltroon, Or destitute of the spirit becom-
ing man, but it seems impossible that
any but the most craven wretch could
have taken back his wife to his bosom af
ter such a confession or consented to meet
Mr.. Beecher except as his uncompromis-
ing enemy. After four years his feelings
overpower him and he has to speak. Few
injured husbands have such excellent con-
troll of their tempers as Mr.. Tilton. if his
story is true. There are other points that
might be noticed, but the other side will
soon appear.
1t is sometimes said that it will be a
shock to the religious world if Mr..
Beecher is found guilty it will be greater
if he is guilty and allowed to pass as in
nocent. The religious world will survive
triumphantly Mr.. Beecher's downfall
should that be the result of the investiga-
ton; but no church can stand that will
undertake to screen an adulterous pastor
Mr.. Beecher is but man and he must an
swer for his conduct as other men do.