New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-08-20
PRESS COMMENTS ON THE SCANDAL.
THE DIFFICULTIES IN ACCEPTING MR.. BEECH
ER'S THEORIES.
FIRM The Nec- YOrs Eran1eisi
will afford a General relief To the Nh

FIRM The Neir- YORK ErIn1elh
II will afford general relief to the public
mind oppressed by these fearful accusations against
the most distinguished preacher in the land. Eager to
accept its CONCLUSIONS thousands will not scan very
closely its reasoning or its evidence Indeed it hardly
any evidence at all Ii Is not an argument III
signed TO offer clear and integiDe theory OF what
has been mysterious and painful 80 Jar IL relieves
might have occurred aud these amazing letters have
been written without any moral wrong whatever with
the commission OF oense greater than that OF giving
bad advice. But while 1t relieves the lmputatOn OF
guilt il exposes degree Of weakness approaching TO
imbecillty. II anybody had said beforehand that
Henry Ward Beecher capable of such cowardice
rather face boldly matter In which he was wholly
innocent. he would write the most abect letters and
even paw hush money to the amount OF 5000 should
have said did not know the that he basely sian
dered one who had the heart OF nom Dut since MI.
Beecher confesscs 1t himself we have nothing TO
further difficulty in accepting this theory to its full
extent is that while 1t exonerates MI Beecher does
so by assuming Mr. Tlton TO be an unmigated villain
Now while 1t is true that he latter mas lost caste with
the public on account Oh Ms extreme opinions anu es-
pecialy account OF this scandal there are many who
Will DC sow to believe that ne Is slGh monster OF dc
praviy rs Is here porraSc ana Will noi SIC Man con-
Iued without hearing what ne has TO say In MS own
lately tbougn MAJ o ssidp.,oI. aIu tooh 20
his bosom his most confidential 1riendl Is mere puO-
licly disgraced as having Played the part OF
confidence man, consplrator, aah niiicspsiler!
Whether he VIII submit 70 the mild inputa-
tons remains 10 be seen. Perhaps he Will die
and make no s.a." But We, baye strange pre-
sentiment that shall see him active and kicking
for some to come. Finally, il Mr. Beecher has sured
inconceivabe torture Of mind on account this
wfetcIed business. and il iwha. IS vastly more i'm
potapO the Church of Christ has suffered mmeasura
lie shame and reproaeh NJ. Beecher has himself chiefly
to blame III he mad said IN the beginning what he says
now ana given that "cXpclt, comprehensive and sol.
n denial 10 the scandal when IL appeared which
he now makes would have dropped dead q stone.
The American people would have accepted his simple
yrd arainst ali the slanderous tongues IN the universe
But he kept silence long that no allowed the vile
story 10 get under such Roadway that has been almost
e IL a. 20 o one Of the not Wholly
removed by the present explanation Whatever he may
thai ths was a stupendous of judgment II this
terrible mi.judgment were not crime at least
And srieSously hath Cesar snssereit il.
HAVE THE MATERIALFACT5 BEEN EXHAUSTED
srom Tie See- YORK Examiner aud Chyoateif.
II is not too much to say that Mr. Beechers
elaborate and strong presentation OF his side
p!orable has made profound impression Oh the
nubie mind IL has made revelation OF weakness and
vaclllaon III Mr. Beeehers own character such as few
people deemed possible IN one staple OF whose pulpit
eoduence has been magnify and enforce the great
OF having the courage always aud everywhere TO
and to do right No contrast can be stronger than IS
found heroic preceps OF the Plymouth pastor and
the record given OF his own practical moral hero
is. Yet, admitting thar Mr. Beecher mas exhausted the
material case the seat OF this amazing
consistency Is TO be sought, not IN the moral deI-
quences OF his nature but In what may be called such
lunrmities OF character made him vaclating and
nenSed him Io lie infaxibe and ousookep Whv
should nourshed year after his horrid in
tnacies when lac saw In item the seeds OF this damn
ing fruit he now exposes IL MI B,ecner has Exhausted
much say that he has made havoc OF the testimony
his own letters gave against him and vIndi-
him by Mr. Tllton More than this. he has proved
imself TO have been the biiudest victim In
one Of detesable eonspraees IN the
annals OF nfamy. IL nothing more is n the
form of material and substantial facts TtOn and MOul-
Others, must have been guilty of per
sistent and airocous valny. But has the Plymouth
pastor exhausted the material facts Of the This
the anxious question which men ask another. Just
now 1t i question which public opinion is very far
from having uniform drift.
RHETORICAL RELIGION.
FsDm The Baltimore Ga7tte. Aug. 10.
Of late Mr.. Beecher has taken to writing
letters and this too. in what must b. II he has auy
sensibity and whether he DC guilty innocent his
hour OF agony Last sunday he scrubbed TO his
friend Bonner The Ledger, and 1t is all about the
hnitesimal" and the rotten legs, ana the swarmng
habitations OF insect life, htersphering with each
other" and OF himself he says:
Living back useful employment Sitting IN corner
and wese eeets the stoi vtngs quick
darling spiders COED pay ana great deal better
book into the bossm Of now
she tend. msnd eidren, Is on the ROAD 10
of religion IL this, this OF patry
sentimeahsm Gudng appropriate expression in gaudy
words which was the bond that bound him 1ilton
We rather incline thiuk that Tlton could beat him
even al mrgpn These Brooklyn pretenders ware not
only rhetorical themselves, but the cause
Of the same sort VI tendency IN Others. Ton has re-
Gently em pted caskct OF this kind OF paste in the
form OF series of letters addressed 10 h-Or rather
re for Elizabeth united In their celebration their
"tin wedding" aud teey show how feafray contagious
the Brooklyn disease Ia.
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