The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-09-03
THE EVERLASTING EI:\VVE:R| l'.!' SCANDAL, al,
E.." .tf .-T. ..lIEr G0IN
Rev. DR.. Leonard Bacon Says
Something.
He Goes For the Mutual Friend,

ne uOeS tut Tie WuIual fflenu'
New YORK, September 2.-Rcv. DR..
Leonard Bacon contributed a paper to
the Independent on the Brooklyn scandal.
He says: NO summing up or sitting Of
testimony, published and unpublished,
and no disclosures that may yet be made
can in any way redeem the man who has
become so conspicuous in his character of
the "mutual friend" or negotiator be-
tween the embarrassed editor and prOprie-
tor of the Goldsn Ags, and the popular
and prosperous, but not very cunning,
pastor of Plymouth Church. Perhaps
it was three years ago that the entire
budget, very much as given in Tilton ;
statement, was laid open before me by II
", knew nothing about the matter, save
what others had told him. Then it Was
that | first heard the name of Frank
Moulton. In the absence of anv proof
l refused to withdraw my confidence
from Mr.. Beecher or to charge my MEM
ory with the painful details of story
which knew would sooner or later be-
come public, but | then began to su>-
pect, and thcnceiorward the impression
on nv mind grew deeper and more def
mite that whoever might be the dupe or
victim, and whatever might be the result
in regard to Mr.. Becchcr or any other
d,'amdtis perSomae, the mutual friend, the
custodian papers big and black with
fate,
The Hero Ofa Postal Scene.
would be exposed in the announcement
as the chief of the plot. Frank, as his
crOnieS call him is not only V man Of
nesthetic refinement, but cmincntly
chivalrous in his friendship, and sensitive
to hospitality, or Of doing any dishonor-
able thing. Beecher, having had the
benefit of Franks generous friendship
for | know not how many years. now
turns upon him in self defense and
charges him with having had a chief part
in q very bad conspiracy. VIII this
high toned gentleman, whose eyes beam
keen with honor, vindicatc his honor by
bringing his accu>cr TO answer before Il
Jury? How can he! Where will hc find
a iudicious and honorable colmscllOru at
law who will advise him to do so! Of
course put this question without know
ing that he has not already paid retain
Ing fee, or even that the most eminent
criminal lawyer in Massachusetts has al
ready advised him to do just the thing
which | think Il SagaciOus ana honorable
counsellor would advise him not to do.
Beecher charges this man with having
been for years the chief actor in this base
conspiracy. He tells a story that is very
dishOnorabla To the conSpiratorS, yet not
VERY Crcdtablc to his own discretion. and
not tuncreditable, all things considered. If
he tell the truth
Frank MOuItOn Il u Bad Man.
but if Beechcr story is not true what fol-
lows? We have Moulton's own report of
what he has been doing for three years
past, and his is the true story if Becchcrs
is false. According to his own story, not
less than according to Beecher'S, hc de-
serves the reprobation and scorn of all
honest men, though he seem to be deficient
in moral sense to know il. In each of
the two stories there is an apparent cont
Spiracy. The one is against Bc"chcrs
peace of mind, against his reputation,
against his usefulness, against his family,
and against the church Of which he l.
the honored minister 1t involves con-
spiracy against weak and hcPl'sa
woman, to disgrace her and her children,
and to make her life intolcrable 1t has
proceeded, ii is alleged, 50 far rs to "Xtort
money from Bccchrr's gushing sympathy
with a man whom he had hefricnded, but
who had ruined himself by his ineradica-
bic folly. The other is IL conspiracy to
conceal crime which ought rather To-
have been exposed and punished. To
men Of certain principles, adultery may
seem trivial oticnSc and 4 private
affair, in which adishonorrd husband has
something to condor" or revenge, but
not much of crime against society If
only it can br hu>hed up among ones
friends.
MOultOn for OrCOnprOmise.
So fixed does this conviction seem IN
Moulton'> mind that, cmuluu> "f the
bl"Ssing pronounced on p"ac"-mnkcr>. h"
has been working all this while, ~ he
would have Us understand. for conn
promise. With assurance born of per-
feet unconSciouSnrSS. hc urged thr lncrS-
tigating committ""t" accept his view otthe
case and ,osettIeit by compromise. What
hr proposes i that the man vino. accord
ing to his story. is thought profigatr; of
leading captiv" silly women, shall retain
his position and all hi influence by
coming to terms with Theodore Til
ton. Doubtless it is the hope of cuunt-
less multitudcS in this and other
lands, that Bcecher will b" triumphantly
vindicated, and they are praying that h"
may be-, but they are not PRAYING nor
hoping, if he is guilty, he may escape dc"
lection. Having long honorcd him Il, a
good man, they believe he is innocent Of
the wickedncss imputed to him. and will
believe 50 until he shall BE- proved guilty.
In that belief they are PRAYING that hi:
innocence may he made manifest. and
that those who have conspired To destroy
him may be confoundcd. Bccchcr,
friends do not claim for him immunity in
any wickednesS. Moulton may negotiate
himself into infamy, but he i> not counted
among Beecher's friends.
SPORTING NEWS.