New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-08-23
NEW ORLEANS KsPUBLduAN, SUNDAY; AUGUST 70 1874
is title to the high position which he

his title to the high position which he
fills. ys
A voluntary court Of his friends has
been convened at his own call to inquire
into the validity of certain imputations
which would, if established, degrade him
from command and dismiss him to mer-
ciful obscurity. We will cite no classic
examples of his fate. History is replete
with them from Belissarius to Bazaine.
The trial of Mr.. Beecher is based en-
terely upon general charge of an i'm
moral offense, without specification of time,
place or circumstance. The testimony
pro and con is circumstantial and of in
ference. It involves the reputation of a
man who seems to have been with
out fixed moral sentiment, and who
does not seem to command sufficient
social respect to make the maintenance OF
his charges of much consequence, SO far
as he is personally concerned. The con-
troversy has, however, brought out an
important communication from Mr..
Beecher himself, which may greatly abate
the admiration of his followers for his
good sense or his integrity. There are
certain points in which he lays himself
open to inquiry as to the propriety of his
motives or the prudence of his conduct.
l. He establishes terms of intimate as
ISOLATION in the family of a friend, who is
himself led away by an unchristian and
unusual doctrine.
2. He concerns himself so greatly for
the welfare of that friend that he confers
with his wife as to the best means of his
preservation from the evil ways into which
he has fallen.
8. This anxiety for the moral welfare of
the friend complicates him unfortunately
with the reputation Of the friend and wife.
4. There are statements and counter
statements of fault and innocence, and
there is a painful avowal of regret and
anxiety on the part of the pastor lest his
conduct may have been liable to misrep-
resentation.
5. Then there comes a payment of
money in considerable sums. The pastor
mortgages the home of his family to re-
lieve his friend from the impending ruin.
6. Then there are confidential confer
ences, and sealed communications depos-
tied with other friends, and altogether a
sorrow and mystery strange enough to
have grown out of kindly Intervention
in behalf of man of very equivocal
charactar and rather exceptional habits.
The pastor seems to have gone in to save
q drowning man, who would have been Of
very little loss to society, and the friends
of the pastor have had to send out all
manner of life lines and lifeboats to save
him from the fate of his drowning friend.
Even now, what with hot rum and blank
cts and stomach pump, and the disgorging
of much of the noxious element, it seems
a question whether be will ever breast the
wave of public sentiment any more.
7. There is another unfavorable intima-
ton in these latter disclosures. 1t is
limited that Mr.. Moulton, the confidential
depositary of all parties, had laid himself
liable to be prosecuted by the federal
government. That Rev. Mr.. Beecher had
interviewed in his behalf and employed
such influence with the Treasury Depart
ment as relieved him in some sort from
some penalty. Now these open charges
of blackmail against confidential associ-
ates, and an Intervention to compromise
a violation of law are all equivocal acts
for a clergyman. We regret greatly any
event which gives the enemies of religion
opportunity Of slandering men eminent
for their purity and usefulness. We ex-
press no opinion on the question of guilt
or innocence pending, but we see that the
main charge has complicated itself with
imprudent associations, reposal of con-
fdence and exhibitions of temper which
must impair the high and impeccable
stand assigned Rev. Mr.. Beecher by his
admirers and accorded him by all the