The New York herald., 1874-08-20
THE CHICAGO BEECHER ON H. W. B.


Innate knowledge OF Henry Ward Beecher's char
acter. He explains, with considerable minute
ness, the mental condition and moral prostration
which resulted ia the letters Of contritlOn and
seldebasement:
The chief difficulties which, TO the minds OF a
great many people, he IN the way OF perfect
clearance OF Mr.. Beecher are the bad character OF
the men IN whom he trusted and his marvellous
letters to Moulton.
How is IL, 1t is asked, that he remained friendly
TO Tilton after his (liton's) infamous conduct IN
forcing u false confession from his wife 2 How are
70 xplain Mr.. Beechers confidence in Moulton
alter the pistol scene Surely that did not Iook
much Ike friendly action. Is II possible that
man OF Mr.. Beecher's strength OF character and
knowledge OF human nature could have been i'm
posed upon by these men and blinded to their de-
signs against him Did Mr.. Beecner really have
earnest desire Tor the salvation OF Mr. Titon as
ms letters express, or was such friendship merely
assumed FOR the accomplishment oil certain ends 2
Did he honestly look upon blackmailers as friends
How can his letters be sincere
Moreover. nobody understands better than Mr.
Beecher the use OF language and what impression
IL VIII produce upon the minds OF men.
Knowing, as Mr.. Beecher did, the accusation of
Titon against him, are the sentences in his letters
apparently corroboratve OF Tilons charges to be
explained IN consistency with innocence
believe that these questions are all susceptible
OF answers that will leave no DOUBT as to Mr..
Beecher'S uprightness, and with your PERMISSION
desire to submit the following explanations II
make no pretence or speaking Tor or with the
consent OF Mr. Beecher, but knowing some thing
ABOUT the case and considerable about the men
most Immediately concerned. | solicit the atten-
ton which honesty, not entirely divorced from in
formation, seems to be entitled to in the premises,
an analysis OF the character pr the actors
Man Is, as the old philosophers phrase IL, the
measure OF 2ll things. TO comprehend the sgni-
hcance OF any statement, we must 1irst compre-
hend the character OF she man VINO makes 1t. 1t
IS not pertinent III case OF this KIND TO say what
the question IS, what Mr.. Beecher would be likely
20 do. For this reason II seems to me the first
thing to oe accomplished by unprejudiced men,
who desire to Understand the case now engaging
the attention OF the pubic, Is to obtain correct
conception or Mr.. Beecner's nature.
BEECHER ANALYZED.
Mr. Beecher Is IN some respects man Of ex-
traordinary strength; but even Achilles had
cious and truthful. The tendency OF his thought
Is TO eXaggerate the good qpaltles and diminish
the evil OF those with whom he comes In contact
HIS power OF pleasing Is marvellous and the ease
with waich he hnds way to the hearts of asso-
clates is very great. There is that in him which
makes whoever meets him Ieel at ease and gives
almost every place 10 which he goes something
hike the atmosphere OF home. These qualities
have made MIN ever a welcome guest with all his
parishoners. On his visits he carries almost III.
varably some little token of ms regard to the
person visited. The cn0ren look upon him as a
| familiar friend, and he unbends by instinct when
opportunity AFFORDS, to their childish ways. Moth
| ing pains him more than tue thought OF giving
| pain TO others On this point he is mOrbidy sensi-
uve | have seen him IN the most extreme an
! wrong when and almost anybody else would
have passed over as trl1ing
! TILToN AND BEECHER's FRIENDSHIP.
Now, with this IDEA OF the man IS character, let
us consider the case or Mr.. Hilton. Nj. Beecber
| knew theodore Tllton from boyhood. He mad
treated him with the consideration OF father,
and had taken all iather's pleasure IN his prog
ress IN lfe peculiar friendship thus existed
between them. Mrs. Hlton known to Nr.
1 Beecher from childhood. She came to womanhood
under his eye. she mad been be ore him in church
and IN SUNDAY school, and was, as il we're formed
! by his hand. Her nature was FRANK generous and
! syInpathetic, ana these were OF all Others the
/ qualities sure TO make Mr.. Beecher's affection 90
out toward her. His heart did go out toward her,
and he loved her as daughter.
Now, without troubling you with mass Of de-
t tar mi nall hafh
suppose tnat Mr.. Beecher after seeing Theodore
I1ton and his wife reach man ana womanhood,
alter having made them man and wife, alter
having baptized their children, and found pleasure
IN their company, tlat Mr.. Beecher should suffer
the torments OF the damned upon learning, as he
believed, that he had been instrumental Ill running
Mr. fllton III business and blasting, by erroneous
advice, his domestic happiness. That he should
nave Ielt so seems not at all Incredible TO me
proposition; that he did so feel know as matter
OF fact But have outrun my narrative. Let me
return to
MRS TIIToN
That Mrs Titon loved her husband Is fully dem
onstrated by the letters which that husband has.
had the BAD taste to publish or, as understand
1t, to sell she loved MIN In spite Of his selfish
ness cruelty and neglect Sne loved him in his
fall ana degradation, and felt hersel, according 10
the testimony or Mrs. stowe, who Is Intimately ac-
quainted with her character, commissioned by
san religion. To this love and nope she chung
until the last moment, when, forced by an
natural husband, she lett her home, sandered and
Gisgraced. Mrs. Tilton's statement concerning
her past life with her husband, whether accurately
trutnIul or not IN every minute detd, certainly.
In the main. perfectly reliable account. This Is
attested by a multitude OF witnesses. Even Mrs.
Elizabeth Cady stanton relates as told to her by
Miss Anthony, scene OF wild abuse. It is 10 VAN
for Mr.. illtOn to publish his Wife's love letters
In dsproof OF his alleged cruelty and abuse. These
are proven not mercy by the word OF Mrs. TiltoD,
but by the concurrent testimony OF all who were
sufficiently intimate with the lamuy TO nave cog
nzance OF the real state OF affairs The picture of
her woful and miserable life during many of the
years of her married lie is not overdrawn. lt falls
Iar snort o. the reality Yet let 1t not be supposed
T. hDn n had lTW
generous traits OF character There was the angel
within him when the evl spirit was not upon him.
he was capable OF noble and generous acts, ana |
cannot LOOK upon his present fail anu social degra
dation but VITA feelings OF most profound sorrow.
Bible, he was lifted up with PRIDE and
iel na INTO the condemnation OF the devil"
ne ne became selfish and exacttng. Yet in
the social circle he was fascinating and
winning 10 as ways, with many generous in-
PuLses. HIS service TO his old pastor and friend
during the war, IN the assistance winch he rem
dered 10 DIS son, who had fallen into difficulty, en-
oearfu him TO hr Beecher, and 1t required mucn
70 10 reno asunder this tie Of affection anu love. MI.
zee; BeeGuer cung to MIN and struggled to save aim
unIi All nope was gone.
THE SCANDAL.
10y Only lor Iiltons sake, but on account Of his
w,e anu Saren dld Mr. Beecher make almost
ron appearing In public. And who snail say that
& ne was ~ WRONG S in tins 1t is easy for people
or the dimcuties by wnica he was Desct but few
are SO acquainted with Az the circumstances as 20
OF affairs VIII fully explain and place
IN most natural light certain passages
In one OF his marvellous letters, which are
supposed 10 be indicative OF guilt, or at
least inexpcablc TO the average common sense
OF mankind. The date OF the letter Is February s.
1872. After speaking Of his return IRON lecturing
to the theological students IN New haven, a note
from Mrs. TiltOn, bis uneasiness about Mr.. rilton
the great laDors OF bis life over the church, the
newspaper, and the preparation OF the "Liie OF
Christ" OF which he asks was ever book born
of such sorrow p" he continues. "No man can see
the sorrows that environ me unless he stands
where l DO. To say that have a cnurch on my
hands Is simple enough, but TO have the hundreds
and thousands OF men pressing me, each one with
his Keen suspicion, or anxiety or ZEAL to see ten
q ruinous defence OF me; TO stop them without
seeming to do it; TO prevent any one questioning
me; 10 meet and ai1ay prejudices against Tilton
wh1ch mad their beginning years before this; 10
keep serene as II were not alarmed or disturbed;
10 be cheerful at home and among trends, when
was suffering the torments OF the damned; to