Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-08-05
The Bccchcr-rlltOn Case well Stated.



10 ihs Editor NJ me Nsir Tort Tiuof
DO YOU mean 10 drive your readers to another Jour
nall II looks 20 ut present Most people cannot un
have taken Souf paper for ten years, but now shall
take some other one. A. l.. c.
or course the silly person who wrote the
above has never been a subscriber to this
paper If he had been, he would have
known Va better than to suppose that such
stupid threat as that which he utters
would have the slightest weight With us.
10 some little village the threat Of III
stop my paper" may have had its terriers
for the cable editor" Of forty years ago
but it is by no means alarming in New
York in the present year Of grace.
That A. L. Q. is a very indiscreet friend
OF Mr., Bcecher everybody will admit lie
wishes to intimidate the newspapers into
taking Mr.. Beechers side in the present
dispute, and although We should think his
means were somewhat inadequate TO his
purpose, be unquestionably represents a
large section Of the Brook yn disputants
They insist upon it that the newspapers
must take sides" one way or the other.
Now that, for our own part, is what we
have steadily refused to do, for many rea-
sons-among them because it is no part Of
our business to try the Beecher case, and
because we have not been able to decide
which is right and which is wrong 10 the
matter. 1t seems to US that Mr. +. D. Moul.
ton might possibly settle the dispute, but
until he opens his mouth people must be
allowed to entertain any view they please
as to the innocence or guilt Of the accused.
Thus far, we have seen Mr. Beeoher fatty
contradicting Mr.. Tlton, and vice versa
But apart from all that din, there are the
Beecher letters, about the commences Of
which there seems to be no doubt. 81
even wish that | were dead | will die be-
fore any one but myself shall be inculpated.
May not this friend tMoulton) stand as a
priest in the new sanctuary Of reconcilia-
ton, and mediate and bless Theodore and
my most unhappy self2' These and other
passages Of like character are said to re-
late to no gravcr offense than this Mr..
Beecher advised Mrs. Tilton to leave her
husband, after che had submitted patiently
to long course Of il.usage. And so,
again. under date of July l, 1879:
Il am determined 70 MAKE more resistance.
Theodore's temperament is such that the future even
and rendering liable at any hour Of the day to be
obliged to stuliy all the devices by which we saved
ourselves. lie had condonod his wiio's fault.
lie had enioined upon me- with the utmost earnest
ness and s1emnty not to betray his WIFE nor leave
rs TIT there Is no possible salvation for any that dc
pend upon him. With strong nature, he does not
trying further have a strong feeling upon me- and
II brings great peace, that | am spending my last
Sunday and preaching my last Sermon
And still again -
"No man can see the difficulties that environ me,
unless he stands where do. TO say that have a
church on my hands is simple enough, but to have
the hundreds and thousands OF men pressing me- each
one with his keen suspicion, or anxiety, or zeal to
the tendencies which, il not stopped, would break
out into ruinous defense Of me 10 stop them with
against Theodore which had their beg innings years
before to keep serene Is If was not alarmed or dis
turbed to be cheerful at home and among friends
when was suffering the tOrments Of the damned
to pass seepless nights often, and yet TO come up
fresh and lair for sunday-all this may be talked
about, but the real thing cannot be understood from
the outside nor It's wearing and grinding on the nor
yous system"
In still another letter, written for the
same purpose as the above, Mr.. Beecber
said -
'Ifmy destruction would place him lMr. rionl ali
right, that shall not stand 10 the way. am willing |
70 step down and out No one can oner more than
that. That do offer Sacrifice me without hesitation
II you can clearly your way to his safety and |
happiness thereby. In one point Of view could de
sire the sacrifice on my part Nothing can possibly
DC 80 hau as tne power Nl Hfcht IN Mnlcn
spend much Of my time. look upon death as sweet
er far than any ftlond have In the world Life
would be pleasant II could that rebuilt which is
shattered. But to live on the sharp and ragged edge
OF anxiety renorse, fear, despair and yet Ia put
endured much longer am we'll nlgh discouraged
II you cease to trust me, to love me, | am alone |
DO not know any person In the world to whom could
All this. We are told, refers only to the
act Of man advising an iii-uood wife TO
foresake her husband. 1t may be so, or it
may not be so---all that we say is, that this
theory does not appear to us, and will not
appear to any man Of the world, satisiac-
tory, or even a plausible, explanation Of
Mr., Beechcrs language. His expressions
Of intense remorse and anguish for merely
giving woman bad advice-if even it could
be called bad advice-would be redicu-
lousy out Of place. While this difficulty
is in the way, we cannot feel ourselves JUS
tilted in becoming the headlong advocate of
Mr.. Beecher's side in the dispute; while
we must confess that the feeling and iucli-
nation are strongly opposed to our interior
ing in behalf of Mr.. Tilton. OF course,
this position will not satisfy the partisans
on either side-an impartial attitude never
pays" in controversy like the present
but it is the only course which approves it.
self to our judgment aud conscience, and
therefore we intend to pursue it.
The mere publication of the details of
this affair was a very unpleasant duty, but
we did not see then, and do not see now,
how that duty could be evaded. A dread
full accusation had been in the air for sew
eral wears against the most eminent preacher
of the country. Suddenly, a sworn and
signed statement is published in reference
to that accusation, and the accused persons
reply TO it. II seems To us that these are
public documents, such as newspaper has
no right TO suppress. But, after the prin.
cipals to this DISPUTE have all been heard,
we NAV fairly feel ourselves at liberty to
exercise our own discretion in regard to
what we shall publish. In pursuance of
that course, we omitted from Mr.. Tilton's
" cross.examination number of indecent
illusions. and have declined to publish "in-
tervlewsn With a variety of more or less
disreputable persons.