The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-08-17
The Beecher-Tilt0n Scandal.
COMMENTS OF THE PRESS oNnMR. BEECH
ER's STATEMENT.
The New York Tribune says of Mr.. Beect

The New York Tribune says of Mr.. Beech
er's statement:
The statement will measurabIy clear away
the clouds that have been dark and thick
about Mr.. Beecher's name. If it had come
sooner, it would in all probability have ended
the scandal. For that we must look now
to the cross examination, which cannot yet
be weighed, to collateral proofs, and to the
calm and late judgment OF people always
exacting in such cases, but generally sure in
the end to be just. They will probably re.
gard his course as unwise, his friendships as
unworthy, his heated language in critical mo-
ments as unsafe, and his course through the
whole miserable business as weak but not
wicked.
In a long leader in which the ground is TAX
en- that Mr.. Beecher has entirely vindicated
his honor, the Boston Advertiser says:
Mr.. Beecher waited long for his hour of
triumph but it has come at last. No fair
minded person, it seems to us, can read his
long and most pathetic statement without a
clear conviction of his innocence. The mod
ern art OF what is called criticism by courtesy
is an easy one; and doubtless there are
youthful writars who will seize upon this as a
good opportunity to try their young dialectics
Concerning Mr.. Moulton, the New York
Tribune says:
Will it be believed that when Francis D.
Mouton said to the committee that honor
would not allow HIM to tell what he knew.
he had already told it to newspaper CORE
spondent, and it was even then hawked
about the streets of Chicags and flying on the
wires to the remotest parts of the continentP
~ haa t,anred I'd into the ear of the represen-
tallVe OF tne Cnlcago Tribune the whole story
of his connection with the TlI1on alIssrf ssG ne
had described Henry Ward Beecher as liar,
traitor, adulterer, a lecher, blasphemer,
And when he was confronted with the
Chicago paper containing this printed proof
OF his insincerity, the peacemaker again re-
fused to say one word, and went off yacht
ing. We might doubt whether the letter
was correct report of Mr.. Moulton's
language, but it bears internal evidence of
authenticity. 1t is full of passages which
nobody but Moulton and Tilton could have
inspired; full of documents which none bnt
they could have furnished. If Mr.. Moulton
had any conception of the value of good
character, he would know that no one can
afford to make such statements as he made
to Mr.. Townsend unless he is prepared TO
stand up to them. He refused TO make them
before a legitimate committee of INJURY.
He chose to discharge his shells through a
newspaper, and then run away from the
explosion. That was the action of coward:
and we might call it even worse.
The New York Commercial quotes Mr..
Beecher's denial Of the crime of adultery or
improperly of any kind with Mrs Tilton
and then continues:
This Is the assertion that Theodore Tilton
mas TO disprove and unless he can disproye it.
he stands convicted moral assassin Tn
court, or out OF court, s'the truth. the whole
truth, and nothing but the truth' fr;de Mr.
Moulton) has got to come out. The "r nnhI ic
demand this of light, and will NOT he p pIvIe
wise satisfied. This demand being sat Ethe
we gladly subscribe to Mr.. Beecher sa on,
sion with regard to the whole nan SonG,u-
scandal: "Whoever is buried with II ~
time that this abomination be buried b aJ Is
all touch or power resurrection" WV"
The N. Y. Herald says:
To fully analyze this long statement would
be impossible now; we can bnt merely ind- |
cate its character. 1t is strong, and PERTAINS |
will be accepted by Mr.. Beechel's friends as |
his vindication. But the public, while hop |
1ln1g Tor the best, will not accept it as a final
disposition of the case. Mr.. Moulton's full |
statement has yet to be made, the committee
has yet to report. No one has the right to |
decide upon the innocence of Mr.. Beecher till
LIE verdict OF Plymouth church has been for
nauy rendered and the testimony published !