Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-08-07


and some by Mrs. TiltOn. The originals
have not yet been produced; and the
letters, suppOsing accurate transcripts
10 be given, though singular in their
phraseOlogy, are not irreconcilable with
the entire innocence of both parties.
From the Christian Advocate lHethodisD
Nothing else has operated so unfavor-
ably on our estimation of the affair as
the course that Mr.. Beecher and his
friends have chosen to pursue. Were
the case as bad as TiltOn makes it out
or even half as bad, which would be bad
enough to make a fatal ending-then
we should expect Mr.. Beecher and his
friends to act just about as they do. If
there is nothing very serious to be al
legged aud proved, then the conduct of
the defense is not the least Of this bun
die Of mysteries.
From the Baptist Union.
The case Of Mr.. Beecher excites the
1 deepest interest in all sections of the
country. His long, far too long, delay
/ 10 vindieate himself, has almost driven
/ the public to despair Of his ability to do
[ so. But az last he seems to have awak-
/ ened to a sense OF the gravity of his po-
| sitiOn, and offers strong reason TO hope
/ that he will come out OF the fearful or
deal with unsullied character. If he
/ does, millions of hearts will be jubilant
with delight.
From Mr.. Boweu's Independent.l
The theories advanced in defense or
mitigation of the charges by those who
disbelieve the gross statements of Mr.
Tilton appear to be either that Mr.. and
Mrs. Beecher had somehow interfered
with Mr.. TiltOn's family relations, or
that Mr.. Beeeher had allowed himself
to be involved with Mrs. Tilton in a
mutual love which had withdrawn her
affection from her husband, although it
had not eliminated in any act OF tech
nical intidelity. The case now depends
entirely on the question, answered very
differently by different people, whether
the published documents, whose genu-
ineness Is unimpeached, really support
Mr.. TiltOn's charges.
From the Northwestern NIethodist) Advo-
cate
Pending the trial, we do not care to
more fully discuss the question, or, after
the trial, TO reproduce the dirt. But We
( do wish the church to remember both
1 lhat it is interested in the severest ex-
animation Of all such scandals, and that
I the conviction of even Beecher is not
/ blow at religion. King David and Ju-
/ dss settled that point long ago. While
we have been almost exssperated by
! his ill-advised silence, and his later mis-
management of the case, we yet look
! for his final acquittal by virtue of insult
/ ficient testimony, and even just pre-
/ sumption.
/ From the Christian in the World Baptist
Brooklyn still believes in the purity
! ard virtue Of the great preacher. First,
I because only two Cffenses are charged.
One, touching the ankle of the lady
/ fourteen years ago, and the other sitting
/ in her room sixteen years ago. Admit
! both these statements called the par
! lar - and bedroom scenes" which are
| denied by both the gentleman and the
/ lady. and nobody would believe in their
/ impurity, remembering that for years
/ and years after, the husband insisted
upon the preachers visiting his wife
/ during his absence. Second, because of
/ the one who makes the charges.
I From the Evangelist
/ II it were only the unsupported accu-
satiOn Of Mr.. Tilton against the solemn
/ declara ions of Mr.. Bsecher aud Mrs.
l Tilton, the public would not hesitate for
I a moment toaccept the testimOnyOf two
against one, and would dismiss the as
/ founding charge as the product Of q wild
! imagination, wrought upon by some
strange frenzy, leading it TO give an ac
1 tual existence to the widest phanta5ms
/ of the brain. But, unfortunately, these
/ accusations are inter woven with extracts
/ from letters of Mr.. Beecher, written in
! a tone Of sorrow and humiliation, of re-
/ peutance, aud almost of despair, which
I il is very difficult to reconcile with the
/ theory of perfect innocence.
4 From the Advance Congregational.
Assuming the entire innocence Of Mr..
! BeeCher, and snXiOusly hoping that it
| may be proven unmistakably, it still
/ cannot be denied that his defense has
I been managed with distressing lack Of
I wisdom. He has presumed too long and
too much. 1t was altogether an anOm-
alous proceeding for him to elect his
own court Of inquiry, appoint as his own
/ judge and jury persons who, however
nigh their standing in society, are yet
known to be not only among his closest
I fliends, but men who have besides per-
/ sonal aud official interests at stake in
/ the result.
/ From the Freeman's journal Roman CathO-
/ hcla
/ 1t is 8 mistake to suppose the scaodal
1 is the breakdown OF GlymOuLh cDurcn
religion. The scandal was in the per-
petuatiOn for so many years of the buf-
fOOneTies and blasphemies and professed
immoralities Of the bouncing-bOard
called the Plymouth Pulpit, on which
Henry Ward Beecher, as chief mounte-
bank, performed his feats Of grOund-and-
lofty tumbling. The gases escaping
from that charnel-bOlse have been as
deleterious these many years as they are
found cut to be now. They were more
dangerous so long as the chief actors
succeeded ia hiding their qualities, as a
patient covered with smallpox may
disguise, except to an expert, the con-
tagious eXhaialions Of the disease by a
plentiful use Of pungent aromatics,
From the Presbyterian
Mr.. Beecher, we hope, will come out
of the trial with character unstained.
No one will condemn him simply be-
cause Theodore TiltOn has accused hian.
His own letters are now his chief ac-
cusers. II he can show cause for theil
existence, and for the singular tone OF
confession and abject humility in which
they are written, the public Judgment
will 90 with him. II he cannot do this,
be must be content to pass the rest OF bis
+ days under a cloud, which no brilliancy
Of genius can nlumine, and no good
deeds altogether remove.