Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1874-08-21
The EsGCcf.c. Statement.

Ne print tits morning Tie closing
part O. VI EcecI!er's statement. 1t is
ves.v ably and r!tusihly written, and
~ superficial CT Sympathetic readers
VIII ha accepted; as 8 complete refuta-
tiaG Vi Hilton : charges. 10 Others it
sill LOT lie regarded by any means SO
ctlr:us.-e. HIS retaiiatory attack Oh
Hilton. G!on ton. Carpenter ana al!
those with whom lie was once affiliated.
bat whom he has now repudiated. is
sharp. bitter and venomO;is. IN sc fer
as lie has shown that they are q bad Let
he will have public OPINION with him,
and II N exposing their dirty linen
they would clarity and whiten the
contents az his own buck basket MIR.
BetC:i,rs yirdicat:On would be COM
piate. The strongest part Of his mar
ratiye is that wherein he assails his ac-
cusers: the weakest that II which he
eudeav0rs to explain away tie danlap-
ing self-incvlpation OF his own letters.
It IS here he siSnaliy fails. both in his
explanatory statement and IN his cross
examination. 1t Is here he becomes
prolix, labors heavily, turns sharp
corners, and slides with an awkward
sort OF adroitneSs over the stumbling
blocks in his way. His confession and
his letters areln perfect consOnance with
Tlt0n's accusations. They are compile
nents Of each other, and if we may SO
express it, doyetail with each other
In attempting to fit them to another
theory, lis ingenuity is bathed. The
parts went match. His theory Is,
shat he is subject TO fits of gloom, IS
mo4bidiv sensitive Of hurting the feel
ings OF others, and having imagined
that he had done wrong III procuring
Til;on's dismissal from the IldCl)Cnd
c3at, and in advising Mrs. Triton to
separate from her husband-advice
which she did not act upon-he gave
vent to his grief IN cXtravag CANT phrases
and scif-accusations, which may be
construed into a sense OF guilt, but
can be ceconciled with entire inno-
cence. Unfortunately for him-ingen-
ious as such q theory 1.-THE language
Of his letters viii not bear the interprc-
tation he puts upon it. Even the ten
dency to hypochondria-of which VIC
hear now for TIE first timG-Siil not
account for the strong expressions III
which he depicts his anguish Of mind.
His desire fer death, his description
of himself living ION tie sharp and
ragged edges OF anxiety, remorsc,
fear, despair his assumed cheer
fulness wEcn he was ''suflering the
torments of the damned" his abject
appea! TO Hilton for forgiveness,
"humbling myself before him rs Go
before my God;" his declaration that
she filtOn) would have been a better
man il nv circumstance s than l have
been" and his passionatcly grateful
letter 10 Moulton, when lie stopped
Tiiton sthreatened exposure, beginning
MANY, many friends has God raised
mp 20 me, but to 10 one of them has
lie ever given me the opportunity and
wisdom so 10 serve me as you have.
You have also proved Theodore's friend
and EiiZabcth'S. Does God look down
from heaven on three unharpler crea-
lures 2" All these Ttteranc q pOlntOn-
ly 20 one grave crime, and we regret to
say that Mr. Beecher has not succeed
cd in this, the most vital part OF his
statement, or in his answers to the
committee, il making it apparent that
lie is innocent Of the charges that III
ION has preferred against him. The
Committee may ;.cIult, and Plymouth
Church may invite him to resume his
labors in the pulpit; but before the bar
Of public opinion the most lenlent YER
die: he can expect to get viii be the
Scottish one OF ''Not Proven. '-Bats-
mare Gazette