The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1874-07-23

Chairman Republican Co Com.
st. Cloud, July q, 1874
A TERRIBLE STORY.
Theodore Tilton's statement con-
corning Henry Ward Beecher, made
under oath to the investigating COM
mittee at Brooklyn, has been publish
ed, and, # true, unlocks the door to
a CHASTITY secret. Tilton charges that
nearly six years ago Mr.. Beecher Sc
duced his wife, and that for two years
the unholy relation was maintained;
that Mr.. Beecher silenced his wife's
objections by artful and powerful rea-
sons and arguments, clothed in the
form Of religion, and that she felt, all
this time, that she was violating no
moral law and was guilty Of no wrong
to her husband, until in 1870, when
she made full confession to him.
This is the substance of the charge,
which is made Enthusiastically, with
many details and supported by what
purport to be copies of letters written
by Mrs. Tilton, Mr.. Beecher and 9TH
ers.
The arraignment, as it now stands,
and if true, is crushing to MI. Beecher.
1t drags him down from the high pin
nacle of honor and fame on which he
had been placed by the common con-
sent of all men, and leaves him in the
dust. His day Of usefulness has
passed. The pulpit Of Plymouth
Church must stand vacant, waiting
the coming Of new pastor, who if
less grandly powerful and with less
eloquent lips, shall be purer at heart
and honester in life.
But we do not yet believe the sick
ening story. 1t is too full Of improb-
abilities to be accepted until sup
ported by stronger evidence than even
this affidavit, and from some other
source than Tilton. 1t necessitates a
lack ofmoral consciousness on the part
ofMr. Beecher and Mrs. Tilton that is
incomprehensible, and it testifes to a
degree.sof selfdegradation on the part
of Tilton which makes him more q
dog than a man. It makes Beecher
to court an exposure instead Of &C.
cepting one Of the many opportuni-
ties Of securing lasting silence through
the compromises offered by Tilton.
There is no need, however, Of any
further discussion of this Indictment
at present. MI. Beecher and Mrs.
Tilton are said to be preparing 6
statement which will explain satisfac-
torily all the correspondence between
them and all the matters contained in
Tilton's statement. That they may
succeed in doing so every decent citi-
zen and especially every friend Of re.
ligion will most earnestly wish.
P.s.-To-day's papers bring . re-
ply from Mr.. Beecher, prepared last
evening, in which he denies specifically
and in toto the charges contained in
Tilton's statement. He says he cher.
ishes for Mrs. Tilton a pure feeling
such as gentleman might honorably
offer to a Christian woman, and which
she might receive and reciprocate with
out moral scruple. He rejects with
Indignation every imputation which
reflects upon her honor or his own
He says that the much'talked-about
apology was given when he learned
that counsel which he had given when
Tilton's habits we're bringing unhap.
piness to his wife was likely to lead to
the separation and scattering of the
family; and that the words he spoke
to a mutual friend at that time (Which
we're by that friend taken down in
fragments) were uttered in the strong
est language, overburdened with thu
exaggerations Of impassioned SORROW
As he says, had he been the evil mar
Mr.. Tilton represents him to be, hi
would have been more cautious. AT:
ter his reconciliation with Tlton, there
were considerations Of propriety and
honor which demanded that the fami.
" trouble should be kept in seclusion
and he says that in his published cor
respondence there were but two ele
ments, the expression Of his grief and
Of his desire to shield the honor Of 6
pure. innocent woman. He denies, as
absolutely false, two allegations made
by Tilton-one that he had seen Mr.
Beecher caressing Mrs. Tilton while
=. they we're looking over engravings
I. the other, that on returning home un'
expectedly at one time he had discov'
.ea ~ an, IN h;a chamber. with thu