The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1874-08-26

We accept quantity without regard to
matter. Tiiton's statement, with such
extracts as he chose and garbled from
the Beecher papers In Moulton' 8
hands, was the strongest statement
against Beecher. The publication Of
the contents of these extracts in
Moulton's shorter statement reduced
their suspicious aspect. Beecher's
explanation disposed of them. Moul-
tons mass of stuff is only a dilution
of the previous.
The only new matter that is like
testimony is Moulton' assertion that
Beecher and Mrs. Tilton confessed
their adultery to him. AS to Beecher
this is incredible, and as to either it
needs other testimony. In summing
up this matter we remark that there
were materials for great scandal.
The chief were Beecher's intimacy
with the Tilton family; Mrs. Tilton S
peculiar nature, and her idolizing adj
miration of her pastor; Tilton's envy,
jealousy, hatred, and malice, and his
desperation after his downfall. When
Tilton began to work up the case, he
secured the services Of crafty friend,
having genius for intrigue, and un-
scrupalous in the means he used in
getting hold on others. To give
scope for the work, there was the
weakness of the great preacher in
trusting affairs to others; his un-
bounded generosity; his remorse that
he had helped Tilton's downfall with
Bowen, and had, as he was persuaded,
inconsiderately permitted Mrs. Tilton
to become so fond of him as to de-
stroy her husbands happiness.
This remorse the crafty mutual
friend rasped, played upon, and fooled
to the top of its bent. Beecher was
deluded into Moulton's profound plot
to suppress the scandal, and every
effort only swelled the matter to its
inevitable bursting. That which would
have had little effect had Tilton blown
it when he opened the war on Beecher,
became formidable by the ever ex-
panding plotting to hedge it in. Til
ton seems to have been all the while
prancing around, breaking the fence
often enough to require a continual
enlargement of the inclosure. Only
those who by their own nature or by a
precipitateness of mind had come to
the conclusion that Beecher was guilty
will be convinced by the voluminous
deliverance Of this confidence man.
The most damaging effect it will
have to Beecher's fame is in the reve-
lation it makes OF his incapacity in
practical affairs. There is weakness,
almost to the degree of imbecility, in
his placing this affair in the hands of
such man as Moulton, and continu-
ing this helpless trust until it grew
into matter involving his existence.
Moulton was trcacherous from the
start The papers Beecher committed
to him in confidence were always open
to Tilton There is weakness i'll his
long liberation of the conceit and
jealousy and general cursedness of
Tilton People now see that the great
preacher, who speaks of-hand so
wisely ON the everyday concerns of
life, lacks practical common-sense.
Mr.. Beecher's discourses run so
largely to those subjects which con-
Germ common humanity that there was
an idea that he was a man of practical
wisdom. But when he talks that
which is not wisdom he puts it in such
attractive shape that its folly does not
appear. But Mr.. Beecher has an in
capacity in business which is often
associated with great genius, and often
with the ability to talk or write wisely
on these things. This is seen in his
carelessness in money matters. Men
are prone to overrate qualities they
lack. Moulton' business like prompt
ness, assurance, method, and apparent
sharpness impressed Beecher. Here
was man who had the business head
he lacked, who could manage disa-
greeable affair, and who had strange
desire to take it in hand.
So he dropped himself into Moul-
tons wonderful management: Moul-
tons Office grew continually. He
demanded absolute confidence. He al
lowed Beecher to neither write nor
receive any letter relating, however
remotely, to this affair, save through
him. He gathered in all his papers.
He became his conscience-keeper. AS
far as he could get Beecher into his
power by getting all his secrets, he got
him. And all the while he was be-
traying and involving him. Now he
throws off the mask and tries to make
Beecher's trust in him the means OF
his ruin. But to the public, sadder
than Moultons infamy and Tilton S
downfall, is this revelation of the in
competency of the great preacher in
practical affairs, the seeming lack OF
strong common sense. and that which
looks very much like a deficiency in
moral courage-Cincinnati Gazette.