New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-08-29

nor an act of his, however iludged, through these
four years of anxiety and grief, that cannot be ac
counted for upon the plain theory that he was fight
ing TO suppress an outrageous scandal which con-
sisted of false accusation against him made by
reputable woman; and. further. that he was en-
deavoring to help man whom he felt he had I'M
duly injured in business matters upon representa-
tons which he was afterward made to believe
chiefly by Mr. Moulton, were not well founded
The statement of this branch of the case would
not be complete without reference to the fact that
Mr.. Beecher had friendship for Mrs. Iiton
which began in her early womanhood. and that Mrs.
1ion, reciprocatinR this friendship began, as her
domestic troubles came on. to look more than ever
to Mr.. Beecher for sympathy and advice. That this
feeling on Mrs. Tiltons part became, under the cir
cumstances 80 strong as to diminish the proper in
nuence that belongs to every good husband Is not
unlikely.
I'm the course Of events, and especially in Deem
Der, 1870 Mr. Beecher received the impression from
| Mr. Tilton and Mr.. Moulton that he had estranGed
Mrs. Titon's affections from her husband The pos
sbilty that such a fact as this might be added TO
the responsibilities then resting upon MIR. Beecher
constituted as he expressed it in his letter OF Feb
s. in part one of the environments that surrounded
him. This was to him the occasion Of deep grief
and anguish. Mr.. Beecher conceived that pos
sibly be had been derelict in duty-he, the strong
man and pastor-in not REFRESHING at once any I'M
due affection for him the part of this distressed
| Christian woman who was yearning for sympathy
| that she found not in her household.
TWO OF Mr.. BEECBER's ERRORS
And we cannot but express our regret at two
errors into which it is apparent Mr. Beecher fell.
While we recognize the appalling disaster which
seemed imminent when he was confronted by pro-
fessedly injured husband, with charge on the part
of his wife of an impure proposal from him to her-a
| disaster which threatened to brand with infamy
name, which. through years of public service rs
phianthropist and minister of God, had main
| tanned the most honored place in the worlds
esteem-yet feel that in an hour of such democrat
ization this calamity might justly work. the pas
tor should have sought counsel from Christian men
of his own brotherhood rather than rely upon the
counsel of man of whom he knew so little, and
whose character, as the sequel proved, he so sadly
misjudged.
And it is also apparent from Mr. Beecher's own
statement, IN view of the profound sorrow into
| which ne was plunged and the OK preston which he
gave TO his feelings that he had erred in not guard
ing so closely his relations with the family of Mr.
Tilton that there could be possibility for fear in
his own mind even of an undue affection by Mrs. Til
ton for him, through any needless friendship or
agency of his.
| MRS. TILTON's UNHAPPY LIFE.
| Mr. Titon in his statement before the Committee,
speaks of his home as one of unusual harmony an
| ideal home" But upon his cross examination it
clearly appeared 1T was anything but happy or
harmonious home The truth as to this is material,
both as affecting Mr. Tltons credlblity and as show
ing the character of Mrs. Titon's domestic troubles,
and the influences that reached her daily life. Her
painful testimony reveals jealous husband accus-
| ;,Gd NIT mpD n
exertng sensual influence upon all. She declares
that her husband had frequently compelled her,
| when sick, to copy, from his dictation
| WRITE confessions which she herself did not
| understand, and in her despairing condition
of mind cared little about At times he threate ned
her. locked her up and declared himself ashamed of
| her presence, when among friends whose society
| was more attractive to him. Her account reveals
| him full of selfish exactons indifferent to her
wants; neglectfu in her illness; forcing diseputabe
women into her society, till sometimes she fled for
peace to the graves of her children Mrs Tlton de-
clares he did not hesitate to his right to COM
nit adultery on his lecturing tours whenever he
chose. And yet in season and out. we find
| this man dribblng out his charges of dishonOr
| against his wife. This is a dismal revelation from
| the Ideal home;" but one cannot read it and be-
ieve it possible that she has invented this recital OF
her husbands character and life.
This account of the domestic misery of the Tilton
family Is corroborated by the testimony of several
witnesses and very fully by Miss Elizabeth A.
| Turner, who is now % years of age, and was an
inmate of the family eight years. This young woman
is teacher of music in ladies' seminary in Pennsy
vania. She is person of unusual intelligence, and
| her appearance and manner before the Committee
| impressed all who heard her testimony that she
sincere and trustworthy and well understood the
| facts of which she was speaking.
The condition of this family. in connection with
the distressing circumstances referred to- and that
appear IN the history Of this difficulty, conspired to
make the occasion one full of peril not only to Mr..
Beecher, but to others whom he felt bound to pro-
tect to the last moment to say nothing Of the great
interests of his beloved Plymouth Church, and other
interests of high concern, all Of which must be in
volved is publicity should be given to the false and
scandaous matter that was seeking expression from
the heated and malicious mind of Theodore Tilton.
| Will innocent men pay black-mail 7 Will innocent
men, and especially clergymen, fight as for their
lives to suppress an injurious scandal, even though
it be born of extortion, falsehood, and revenge
These arc questonsl that unhapply history
has too often answered in the affirmative. 1t is easy
| now that we see what manner of men Mr. Tilton
| and Mr.. Moulton are, to wonder that Mr.. Beecher
should intrust any interest of his to their keeping
| When We look back upon the record made by this
sad story feel like visiting, even upon the suffer-
ing head and heart of pastor, the severest
sure And this not the less because revere and
love him, and know that no man in all our land is
more beloved. 1t is, we might say because he is
| beloyed-because that in him centers 80 many and
so great interests of church and humanty-because
| he stands to-day foremost among men Of master
minds, of eloquence and power, that would chide
him in no uncertain words for imperiling so much
and so often the precious interests confded to HIM
| by the God who made him. and who we have I'M