Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1874-08-29
THE BERCHER.TILTON CASE.
What the New York Press have 60 Say
on the Subject,

ON tho ouDlect
The Tribune says +: Mr.. Beecher |
has spoken. II the statement had been |
given to the world within a reasonable |
time after Mr.. Tilton's charges, the |
scandal would now be dead. Delay |
has made the task of killing the poison |
Gus growth Immeasurably harder; but |
we believe that candid readers will |
still rise from Mr.. Beecher's nervous
recital with the conviction that he has
been the victim of q monstrous con-
spiracy.
The case against Mr.. Beecher rested
First and mainly, OH his own letters /;
Second, On Mrs. Tilton's confess
sions =
Third, On Mr.. Moulton's private de-
clarations that the pastor had con-
fessed the crime to him and
Fourth, On Mr.. Tilton's claim that
he had likewise confessed it to him.
If the first of these grounds for be-
lieving the monstrous charge could be
moved, the rest would not support it.
The second was worthless because Mrs.
Tilton had retracted and explained to
such an extent that even the Judge
most prejudiced against Mr.. Beecher
could go no further than to hold her
testimony of no weight on either side.
The third was nearly worthless by rea.
son of Mr.. Moulton's extraordinary
conduct and general character but it
is now utterly demolished by the pro-
duction of one of Mr.. Moulton's letters,
explicitly admitting that the whole case
might be published to the world the
next day, and Mr.. Beecher could stand
And the fourth has not from the first
been regarded by unpreiudiced people
as of any value, and after Mr.. Beecher's
exposure will seem contemplate.
The case then rests solely on Mr..
Beecher's own letters. Does he explain
them7 He certainly shows that they
have been monstrously garbled. The
long letter, that in which he speaks of
living on the sharp and rugged edge of
anxiety, remorse, fear, and despair,
proves to have been nearly four times
as long as the part given by Mr.. Tilton,
seems thoroughly consistent with Mr..
Beecher's explanations, and in several
points quite inconsistent with the idea
of his guilt. The confession itself was
never written or read by him, some Of
the sentences in it were never uttered
by him, and it wholly related to his
mental distress at finding himself, as
he thought, in some way responsible
for Mr.. Tilton's business and social
ruin. For the rest, the detailed ac-
count of his dealings with ETilton and
Moulton furnishes q perfectly natural
explanation. The fear of apoplexy, es-
pecially under mental trouble, accounts
for the illusions to his probable death,
expectation of never preaching another
sermon, and the like; and the admis-
sion that he has paid seven thousand
dollars to Tilton, and only stopped
when five thousand more were demand
ed (though given with too little detail) J,
seems to throw food of light on some
of the motives that have led to this
shocking business.
This statement will measurably 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.
The Herald says To fully analyze
this long statement would be impossi.
DIO uOW WO JUL Dllu hSIoIJ lhulCdbS LIE
character. 1t is strong, and perhaps
will be accepted by Mr.. Beecher's
friends as his vindication. But the pub
lie, while hoping for the best, will not
accept it as 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 de
eide upon the innocence of Mr.. Beechel
till the verdict of Plymouth church has
been formally rendered and the testi
mony published in full, while even ther
it may be necessary to suspend judg
ment until the question is tried before
that higher tribunal before which Mr.
Tilton announces he is resolved tt
bring it.
The Sun says: The statement covers
all the issues of the case, and charge
of blackmail, plots, and intrigue arr
broadly and unequivocally presented
Now at least there is reason to hep,
that the whole truth of this distressin,
affair will be brought out so that n,
) person connected with it, who is in an,
manner guilty, can escape the publ
, condemnation which belongs to hi
} guilt.
Mr.. Beecher shows courage and
, determination to fight for his life. Il
) every point of view this is we'll. If tn
ship must sink, better let her go dow
in the explosion of battle, and at noon
day, rather than be scuttled privatel,
,, IN the twilight.
' The World says Mr.. Beecher ha
| roconnI hipooaIf f,o,,, bic 1,oIx,
q He has stated the history of his rela
I tions with the Tiltons and with MouI
ton without reserve. The charges {
Tilton have been supported by n
! proof. The garbled extracts from MI
y Beecher's own letters were, in on
n Judgment at least, inconsistent with th
q truth of Tilton's charge. But the
n were such letters as to need explains
n ton. Mr.. Beecher has made that e.
\ PLANTATION, sparing no one, neither III
!. ton, nor Moulton, nor himself. Thu
4 to conceal, Mr.. Beecher dispels the onl
v shadow of distrust which may hay
q crept over his good name among fai
: minded and pure-minded men.
i. The Times says This is Mr.. Beecl
, er's explanation. We cannot undertal
to analyze or to endeavor to point OF
its strength and its weakness. 1t do,
not account for his conduct in a WI
that men of the world will generally a
d cept as conclusive. It discloses cul
n GUS amount of moral cowardice and
" great deal of irrational behavior. 1t r
I. veals Mr.. Beecher's character as entir
Il ly different from what it has general
Is been supposed to be. But we belle
70 the impression will be general ths