The New York herald., 1874-07-03
THE BROOKLYN SORROW.
An Official Explanation from Mr..
TiltOn.
He Would Not Add a Pang to Mr.
Beecher's Heart.
THE PRESS STILL LAMENTING.
An OMcial Appendix.

An Ohicial Appendix.
The Golden Age OF Saturday next Will contain the
vaedictory Of its former editor, Mr.. Tlton. who
signs his charge to the hancs Of MS former assist
ant, MIR. W. I. Clarke. The Golden Age con-
tains the following article relation to ''the great
scanda":-
TILToN's POSITION
MT. Tilion's letter to Dr. Bacon has met with
could reasonably expect. IL did not raise an un-
pleasant controversy rom the grave IN which 1t
had been buried Tor the controversy had not died |
and was never more truly alive than when the |
letter in question was penned. 1t is not inten-
tiOn enter the list OF c0mbatants either side;
but two or three OF the genera crticlsms Mr.. |
Titon's letter Show an entlre misapurehension OF
its character and purpose, and can or correction.
He mas been blamed IN some quarters lOf publishing
the letter at ALL and in others Tor net going further
and saying more. One class OF critics censure him
iOr trying to nJure DIR. Beecher at the expense OF
his own family, and another class is evidently
piqued because he did not utter something that
should fix an lne1aceabe stigma on Mr. Beecner
and his own household too. careful study OF the
but perhaps 1t is too much to expect the hurried
writer's OF the daily press to read a document SO
question with suicient care to See ITS precise in
tenti0n and bearing.
is all that we have in view. The letter stands on
It's own merits and tells its own tale to whoever
win read 1T win sufficient patience. IL was ne, no
part OF Mr. TiltOn's purpose 10 ventlate an ola
scandal or drag an offensive theme from its hiding
place into publicity. He Intentionally avoided
bringing any specific charge against Mr.. Beecner,
and only alluded to his Offence-and in the most
indefinite possible terms--because IL was abs0-
lutely necessary for him to 40 so in sel-vndica-
| tion. He had been assalled directly and In the
most explicit terms by Dr.. Bacon-a kind man and
a just one too-who undoubtedly supposed from
what he mad learned through MIR. Beecher and his
friends that Mr.. Tilton was knave and dog, the
creature OF too forbearlng pas magnanimity,
a scandal monger and alser, who had tried to
ruin the most beloved OF minister's. Such asper-
eminent divnes In America, published in a reig-
| ious paper OF large circulation and commented on
by the press OF the whole country, were OF too
| q
passed by.
as man among men were involved, and silence
on his part was tacit acknowledgment OF the
Of the by Which they
were supported One sentence from Mr. Beecher's
lips or pen would have drawn the M, poisoned arrow
Beechers attention TO the offensive state
ments and in, in the the presence OF Two wit,
misrepresentation in his way 1t would be
necessary for himself to correct them in
his own way, which would be severe. Weeks
|, passed and no correction was made. Longer
silence ON his part was Impossible. In replying 70
Orable man who cared for his reputation and had
the courage to defend 1t would have done under
TIL it had been submitted to DR.. Bacon, who failed
to suggest any other method of riehung the wrong
that mad been done. though he was asked to do so
MIR. rILTONs PURPOSE.
Mr.. Tilton is accused OF intending to strike Mr.
, Beecher staggering II not q Iatal blow. Whoever
Ousy refra!ned from striking any blow at ALL save
9 at the thick network OF calumny ana mlsrePre.
q own entangement and ultimate destruction. HIS
sole purpose was to save htmsef alter years OF
Q silence and endurance. and when longer silence
and endurance would have been fatal and he re-
trained from mentioning Mr.. Beecher at all except
as it was necessary to do so in order to set HIM
self right. His reticence in this respect deserves
commendation. II, In order to vlndicate himself,
| he was obliged to lift the curtain and ex-
: | nose q series OF disingenuous and ineXcusable
transactions 1t certainly was not his faut II Mr.
2 Beecher WISHES to eXculpate himself, II PlymOutn
,h,,rc wi
pastor the way Is open and dt,.n the world ia. VIII
the issue with anxous an 10 Bus
Mr. Beecher In any way. his sole hesitation to pub
llsh the letter was the lear that It might inJure
urged its publication, that he shrunK from saying
one word that could add pang to Mr. Beecner's
already pierced and tortured heart He said, ~
would not lay so much as finger on that sad and
sorrowng head would not %!,, rise oy his @ rum II
per OF mind aud way OF speech. He regretted
nothing much as the necessity which forced him
say any thing about the matter whatever. II Mr.
Beecher Is smitten, ne has only himself and his
friends to blame for the blow.
THE SKELETON THE CLOSET.
But the essential point in this whole controversy
remains untouched With the scandal itself we
have nothing to do rnar n dsa matter M 1877 S
isa skeleton in their closet they wl probaoly
hasten to open the door ana let daygns aT sne
eide under the weight Of an accusation was con-
! fesson Of guilt There are circumstances IN which
matter is so conspicuous and grand that 1t de-
serves notice 1t has not received We refer to
the tOleratiOn the Sympathy the soicitude Ol the
) American people for a great and useful man under
cloud OF suspicious thick and heavy enough TO
crush an ordinary character beyond recovery.
Had this thing happened twenty five years ago Mr..
Beecher would have been dragged before an
month alter the accusations assumed a definite
shape, and had he tried TO preach before trial he
might have been mobbed. To-day there Is scarcely
| a man or woman In America but hopes he Is limo.
cent OF any wrong, and tries to believe HIM so Ia
spite OF circumstantial evidence confirmed by hls
II,o ia n
word He has the sympathy of l5, 900 900 Of people
: who bend forward to save and bless him.
THERE Is SOMETHING ALMOST SUBLIME
in the spirit and attitude of the American people,
who refuse to condemn and degrade great ana
The eye heat OF ~ mpuse onv the
natures understand he did what ne ought not
at least until compelled to DO SO by the necessities
, weighing whole lie of unequalled serviceable
ness against momentary infatuation, and throw.
ing thirty-fve years oil consecrated effort for Ihe
! done in fit OF frenzy. And II they condemn him
at all, it will be lor efforts to evade and conceal
+ what should have been franky acknowledged, to
) his own people at least, and his Willingness te
!. Tor his offence. SO much has justice gained. Sc
vast the increase Of charity HIS greatest mistake
aas Sroua m OF hSS s ame and Jealous 81
s ton, by courageous statement OF the facts wheI
0 1t was found that the air was Iull OF rumors ant
surmises. An ounce 0l sincerity lS worth &wOrl(
: WHAT MR. T1LroN DEMANDS
All that Mr.. Tilton asks for himself, and all hi
/ friends demand Tor him, Is justice. He concea
nothing that duty to others and the natural deli
cacy OF his manhood does not require HIM to lock
a In his own breast. He has been guilty OF nothing
0 but too great confidence IN unworthy people and
mistakes OF Judgment that we're prompted by an
. impulsive temperament and o warm, kind heart
The act Tor which he mas been most severely
J. blamed was prompted by desire TO save and hell
O others, and was done under the heat OF generous
\ impulse hch made 1t impossible for him to coun
the cost 10 himself He irankly coniessesa mis-
;. take Tor which he has paid full dear. He asks mel
!, ther liberation nor sympathy, but simply for tina
4 Justice which Is natural to the heart OF th
American people, and which In the long run the
c ARE sure to render to whoever conddes In then
Il without
:, coNCEALMENr OR pouBLE DEALING
= They will not publish an error OF Judgment. a
e though 1t were crime, and crush brilan
writer, an eloquent speaker and an author OF IN
usual promise. as though he had dehed all the de