Wilmington daily gazette., 1874-07-29
OPINIONS OF THE PRESS.
The Beecher-Tilton Scanda

The Beecher-Tilton scandal.
From the Baltimo re Gazette.
One of the New York paper tells us that Beech
er's fall, il fall there be- will be "the fall of the
greatest preacher since Saint Paul. and, by way
VI an!icimax, that Booths murdcrous attack on
poor Mr.. Lincoln is a8 nanght compared TO Til
IONS fatal onslaught the Plymouth pastor. This
is the cxtravagant language the exaggeTaion
of sympathy since the catastrophe. What it was
before, when Beecler was joking and haranguing
weekly to wandering crowds, and Tilton was be
daubiug him with praise i'll those pestent tw ins
oi misChiei-the INDEPENDENT and the Golden Age
what 1t was before, il is needless to remind our
readers, With Beccher, the whole clericie char
aoter ,was voiled in n mist OF pulpit rhetoric.
lie was longer the clergyman, TIE humble
mnstcring priest, but the iiashy orator of Sunday
and the editor of the day after. Among tue
grounds of Tilton's incupation it is that Bescber
was not, unless exceptionally, i'll the habit OF vis
iting his Pensioners and that Mrs. Tilon was
of the exceptions. Everything about Beecher
was high pressure, and when such an engine
piodes 1t does more mischief than common ma
| chimes how then could the public bs indifferent
when witnessing such terrible catastrophe As
to Tilton, he, too, had his prominence. Here, in
Baltimore, we cannot understand the far-reachn,
influence which such man can exercise II he only
knows how to cater TO the ianaticism OF the hour
| The Independent was great organ OF mischief.
II was always swinging the censer eioreBeeeheis
nose, and playing second to his furious blasts ui
| anti slavery fanaticism. They were not exactly
the two kings of Brentford smelling at the
tnosegay, but Bcecher was Tilbutnl in white
| satin, and Tilton the confdante in white muslin.
All this is manifest in the papers which appear
have been executed. Was there ever such revolt
ing sentimental jargon as that of the trparti,r
| agreement, where Bowen, Beecler and Hilton
| weep in each others arms, and agree never never,
never, more TO think or speak i'll OF each other
| 1t is simply disgusting. The other documents
in strange and revolving mixture OF the terrible
and the grotesquc. They then, the actors in thest
scenes OF naudlin friendship and bitter antsgo-
nism, are responsible ior the violation of public
decorum.
There is another aspect of the which is
well woi tn a thought. 1t is that mingling with
spiritual devotion and carnal love TO which some
women seem prone, and which in the weaker sort
of religious devotees, inclined to what, In the jar
gon Of the day, is called "passionai attraction"
finds its most dangerous Illustration in Preacher
worship. One paper friendly TO Mr. Beecher
says he is in the habit OF receiving hundreds OF
love letters from the ewes Of his aock, which Mr..
! Beecher, as matter OF precautiou, reads and ex
purgates. Mr.. Beccher alleges that it was ior
| spiritual comfort as father confessor that Mrs
| lilton came to HIM when her husband wandered
away that he counceed separation, and that he
| would have the world believe that for giving such
| counsel he has suffered the torments of the
damned" and wished that he were dead. Tiltoa's
solution OF the mysterious relation between his
vile and the pastor is very different, and Is tar
more in harmony with his own dreadful story,
and with MIR. Beechers letters. But even he
throws the glamor Of religion and saintliness
the actual crime, which he condoned because ho
I til ought 1t error committed under Insiii
Gus pastoral influence. IN short, the worst OF the
whole OF this wretched affair is lis gross protana
ton Of what Is sacred.