Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-07-23


children should be harmed by the
views which she deemed virtually false
and dangerous. was suddenly and
nobly aroused TO the reality Of the i'm
pending danger by the disclosure Of do
nestle distress, Of sickness, perhaps,
unto death, Of likelihood of separation,
and the scattering OF family, every
member of which / had tenderly loved.
The effect upon me of the discovery Of
the state Of Mr.. .Tilton'sr feelings
and the condition of his family,
surpassed in -sorROw and excitement
anything that had ever experienced
in my life. That my presence, influence
and counsel had bEeught to a beloved
family sorrow and alienation, gave my
then state of mind pregnancy to my
suffering, which hope no other man
may ever feel. Even to be suspected of
having offsred, under privileges OF Pc
euliarly sacred relation, an indecorum
to wife and mother could not but
deeper wound one VINO is sensitive to
thehOnOr of WOmanhoOd. There were
peculiar reasons for alarm in this case
on other grounds. Inasmuch as was.
thus subject 20 certain malignant ru-
mors and a &agrant outbreak in this
family would bring upon them an added
falsehoOds. Believing at the time that
my presence and counsels had tended,
however uncOnsciOusly, to produce
social catastrophe, represented as immi-
nent, l gaveI expression to my feelings
in an interview with q mutual friend,
not in cold and cautious self-depending
worth, but eagerly taking the blame
upon myself, and pouring out nay heart
to my friend in the strongest language.
OveTburdened with the exaggerations of
impassioned sorrow had been the evil
man. Mr.. Tilton now represents that
l should have been calmer and
more prudent. 1t was my horror
of this evil imputed that filed me with
intensity at the very shadow of it. Not
only was my friend affected generously,
but he assured me that such expressions,
If conveyed to Mr.. Tilton, would soOthe
the wounded feelings, allay anger, and
heal the whole trouble. He took down
sentences and fragments of what had
been saying, to use them as mediator.
A full statement Of the circumstances
under which this memorandum was
made l shall give to the investigating
committee. That these apologies were
more than ample to meet all the
facts in the case is evident in that they
were accepted; that our intercourse re-
sumed its friendliness that Mr.. Tilton
subsequently; ratified it in writing, and
that he has continued for four years, and
until within two weeks to live with
his wife. Is it conceivable, il the original
charge had been what is now alleged,
that he would have condoned offense
not only with the mother of his chill
dren, but with him whom he believed
to have wronged them. The absurdity
as well as the falsity of this story is ap-
parent when it is considered that Mr..
elton now alleges that he carried this
guilty secret of his wife's inhdelity for
six months locked up in his own
breast, and that he divulged it to me
only that there might be a recOneilia-
ton with me. Mr.. Tilton has since, in
every fOrm Of language, and to multi
tude of witnesses, orally, IN written
statements, and in printed documents,
declared his faith in his wife's purity.
After the reconciliation of Mr.. TiltCn
with me the considerations of propri-
ETY. and honor demanded that the fam
lily trouble should be kept in that seclu-
sion which domestic affairs have a right
to claim as a sanctuary, and to that Sc
clusion it was determined that it
should be confined. Every line and |
every word of my private and |
letters which have been
published is in harmony with the state
ment which l now make. My publish
ed correspondence on this subject COM
prises but two elements, Uiz: The eX-
preston of my grief, and of my desire
to shield the honor Of a pure and innO-
cent woman. l do not propose to ana
lyze and contest at this time the extraOr-
binary paper of Mr.. TiltOn, but there are
two allegations which cannot permit /
to pass without special notice. They
refer to the only two incidents which |
Mr.. TiltOn pretends to have witnessed |
one, an alleged scene !
in my house while looking over en-
cravings, and the other, 8 chamber |
scene in his own house. Bis state |
ments concerning these are absolutely |
false. Nothing of the kind ever oc-
Cured, nor any semblance of any such |
thing. They are now brought TO my
notice for the first time. To every
statement which connects me dishonOr-
ably with Mrs. E. r. TiltOn, or which
in anywise would impugn the honor and
purity of this beloved christian woman,
I give the most explicit, comprehensive,
and solemn denial.
HENRY WARD BEECHER.
BROOKLYN, July p, lS74
The statement of Mrs. Tilton will be
made public tomorrow, and it is under
stood that it will be a complete denial
of the charge made against Mr., Beeeher
and herself by her husband. Mr.. Beec her
will prepare a more full and concise re-
ply, to be submitted to the investigating
at as early a date as possible