The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-08-18
fChicago Post and Mail.l

his life. He puts his word, the word ofa
great minister, against q man who has
dragged hitherto spotless regulations
through the mud and mire that he might
accomplish the ruin Of a man whom he
regarded with bitter enmity. If these
creatures, Tilton and Moulton, do not
promptly proceed to substantiate their
allegations by proof strong as Holy Writ,
the defense presented by Mr.. Beecher
must be received rs perfect and unan-
swersble, and no further insinuations by
| these men should merit further attention.
New York SUM-
1t covers all the issues of the case, and
charges Of blackmail, plot, and intrigue
are broadly and unequivocably present.
| ed. Now, at least, there is reason to hope
that the whole truth of this distressing
affair will be brought out; SO that no
| person connected with it, who is in any
manner guilty can escape the public con-
| demnatiOn which belongs to this guilt.
| Mr.. Beecher shows courage and de-
termination to fight for his life. In every
point of view this is well. If the ship
must sink, better let it go down in the
| explosion of battle, and at MONDAY, rath-
er than be scuttled privatel y in the twl-
! light.
cleveland Herald.l
We can pass no final judgment on the
! case, even with the full statement of Mr..
Beecher before us, for, straightforward as
| it seems to be- when read in one way, It
! still leaves some things not clearly ex-
! planned if read critically. One thing Is
certain, it renders imperative full state
ment from Moulton, if he would save his
! character for honor, and the bitter attack
on Tilton will undoubtedly result in drlv-
! ing him to the courts. if he has anything
! of n case, as is claimed for him. 1t j.
now war to the knife, and the knife to
! the hilt"
Toledo Blade.l
We are disposed to believe that public
! sentiment will undergo little change aS
the result of the publication of this state
ment. There is nothing in it except the
unsupported assertion of Mr.. Becchcr,
having the least weight in his favor. 1t
may be unjust, but the world expects the
| man who has been guilty of the oticnSc
with which he stands charged to deny 1t,
to deny it under oath and at all times
and places. This fact cannot fail to de-
tract very materially from the import
snce of Mr.. Beechers unsupported state
ments.
THE New York Evening Express.
To us, with no partialities for the ac-
cused, it bears internal evidences oftruth,
and Of conspiracy to extOrt money as
the price Of silence on the part of Mr..
Beecher's enemies The evidence given
is not only Of a conspiracy, but of ftrcach-
ery, greed, and malice. 1t shows Mr..
Bcecher to be a weak man and Mr.. Til
ton to be bad one, and with u hundred
motives explained why there was weak
ness upon tho one side and wickedness
upon the other.
THE New York Graphic.l
Except to those who regard Mr.. Beech
er's simple denial of the charges made
against him As conclusive his defense will
not be accepted as final proof of his i'll
nocence. The issue of veracity between
himself and Mr.. Tilton is Yet TO be de-
cidcd. The only man whose evidence
will be regarded rs conclusive III the
matter Is MOuton :.
THE Albany Express
The statement which Mr.. Bccchcr
made to Plymouth Church yesterday l.
sufficiently proli1 to be exceeding con-
vncing. 1t is statement which, had it
been given to the world month ago,
would have acquitted the preacher of all
criminality, but lately public opinion has
rather leaned to conviction, and it may
require more than Mr.. BeecherS eloquent
plea to turn the tide the other way.
THE Boston Postl
We have never for a moment doubted
that the character Of the eminent divine
was pure and spotless, nor that If IN"
light Of truth were let in upon the great
scandal, his deeds, his words, and his
whole connection with the affair would
prove 10 be the words, deeds, and rcla-
tions Of an upright, Christian gentleman.
THE Boston Herald.l
The answer of Henry Ward Beechcr
to the charges preferred by Mr.. Tilton /.
a singular document, which has unques-
tionably lost much of its weight by being
tardily given. In portions 1t Is recon-
Cilable with his perfect lnnoccnc" Whlie
in other portions it seems to leave the
question of his guilt as enigmatic"i as
ever.
81. Louis Globe.
1t is safe to say that while he has acted
a, no one would expect an innocent man
to act there is nothing that he has done
that guilty man would not have been
likely to do; and if it is improbable that
he should have been guilty. it Is even
more improbable that he should have
been innocent.
iChicago Journal.l
We have read Mr.. Bcccher'S statement
carefully and examined it analyticaily,
without prejudice, without bias and our
conclusion is that no truly candid msn
will longer doubt the entire innocence Of
the accused of the charge of moral crlmi-
nality.