The Hawaiian gazette., 1874-09-02
The TiIton-Beecher Affair.


Probably no scandal ever engaged so much Of
the attention of the American papers and public
as has this, which is now apparently drawing to q
close, as all parties have been afforded an oppor-
tunty to put in their evidence. and yet no evil
dence has been produced against Mr.. Beecher
which is sufficient to stand in a court of law.
The only person alleged to have a complaint
against him, Mrs. 1flton, comes forward volunta-
rily and testifes that the statement made by her
to her husband was wholly false and extorted
from her by him. The seven thousand dollars
paid by Mr. Beecher to Mr.. TTton is proved to
have been given TO Tton. at the most urgent
! solicitation, to aid him in his newspaper, the
Golden Age. Thus far every charge made is
proved false Yet his aecusants say there is still
some evidence not produced, and at the proper
time they promise to bring it out. TO this Mr..
Beecber, at the close of the long and exhaustive
examination, which is considered full and
complete vindcation of himself against his as
sailants uttered the following statement, demand
ing that any person who held evidence against
him produce it now or forever keep quiet;
that you should make full Investigation of the
sources of information. You are witnesses that
have in way inienced or interered with your pro-
ceedings duties. have wished the investigation
TO be so searching that nothing could unsettlc its
results. have nothing TO gain by any policy of
suppression or compromise. For four years have
borne and suffered enough and will not go a step
further will be free. l will not walk under a rod
or yoke. If any man would do me favor, let him
tell all he knows now. 1t is not mine TO lay down
the law of honor in regard to the use of other per-
sons confidential communications but in far as
my own writings concerned there is not letter
or document which am afraid TO have exhibited,
and authorize any and call upon any living person
to produce and print forthwith whatever writings
they have of any source whatever It is time, for
the sake of decency and public morals, that this
matter be brought to end. 1t is an open pool of
corruption exhaling deadly vapors For six weeks
the nation has risen up and sat down upon a scan
da. Neither great war q revolution could
more have filled the newspapers than this question
of domestic trouble magnfed thousand fold and
like spot the human body, drawing to itself
every morbid humor in the blood. Whoever is bur
led with it, it is time that this abominaiou be buried
below all touch or power of resuscitatiou''
If, after such an appeal, which could not be
more emphatic, no evidence can be produced by
his accusers the public will be forced to the con-
cusion that the charges are groundess. We
have never doubted that this affair, which is
nothing more or less than personal quarrel of
Iilton with his former pastor in which all parties
are unfortunately too much mixed up with the
freelore men and women who have become so
notorious in New York city-would be so ex-
planned as to show that Mr.. Beecher has never
been guilty OF any act unworthy Of the position
which be has occupied as preacher for twenty
five or more years. The telegraph advises us
that the New York press with few exceptions.
while regrettiug Beecher's weakness, manifested
in efforts to suppress the scandal, accept his de-
fence as indicating him from criminality, and
showing him to be the victim of blackmailing
conspiracy. The Sun says: As TO the charges of
Tntou and Moulton Of any alleged admissions to
them, the man who can hang dog on the word or
oath of any of these men having the smell OF black
mail 90 their garments, has no manhood in him.
Also the community cannot permit a man TO be de-
stroyed by the testimony Of the character of this
against Beecber. II reputation could be seriously
impaired on such evidence it would become instead
of priceless treasure positive evil; who would
seek fame conscious that the slightest inimieal breath
could dash him to pieces
The San francisco Bulletin has the following
article on the case. which in this connection will
be pernsed with interest:
TURNING TRAGEDY AND COMEDY TO ACCOUNT
Henry Ward Beecher once wrote book entitled /
Norwood 1t was not exaetlya failure But it failed
in dramatic power and what are called startling in
cidents. Now IL be should write another work,
taking historical basis the incidents already de-
veoped touching the Tilton- Beecher complications,
there would be enough of tragedy and comedy to
suit the most craving appetite. Such a work ought
TO oDen with the strange incident of Harriet Beech
or Stowe going England TO bring out a new theo-
~ touching the Byron scandal, and the revelation of
incidents which, if trne, were reEoltingto humanity
stories which, true or false, ought TO have been
buried 10 the grave with Byron.
Then, at later date, we have Isabella Hooker,
sister of Beeeher, consorting with the freeIove
crew, and, according to Moulton, restrained with
great dlficulty from ascending the pulpit Of her
brother and denouneing him not for what it was
alleged he had done, but what he had failed to do
viz: to declare openly that he was in full accord