The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-07-22

scoundrels that ever walked the earth, what
matters it to christianity that he has for de-
cades of years played the part of hypo-
critic by preaching Gods holy word Out
Of his own mouth he will have condemned
himself. 1t does concern, however, the
church to which he ministers to know
whether he is what he processes to be or
something else. 1t does concern the general
public to know what manner Of man he is.
The shock of his unmasking and exposure
will be as nothing to the church and
christian world as the endeavor to keep
back, compromise or whitewash. Unless a
full, fair, impartial, open and public inves-
ton is made of the matter, Mr.. Beechers
opportunities for usefulness are lost for
ever, no matter how good and pure a man
he may I've. The people will not accept, as
final, certificate of character given by a
committee of friends who have attempted
to conduct these inquiries in private.
The same attempts have been made IN
political Investigations, but have always re-
suited disasrously. The last attempt of
the kind by Congress was continued until
the characters Of half of the active public
men in the country was blackened, and
then the Coors of the committee room were
forced open by public opinion. We trust
that the good sense of Plymouth church
will lead them to have an open hearing /;
and if not, that Mr.. Beecher, himself, will
demand it. So far as can be gathered from
the reports that reach us from this commit
tees secret conclave, they are in every way
favorable to Mr.. Beecher. Indeed, the fran
tic efforts Of Mr.. Tilton all point the same
way. We are sorry to believe it, but it
looks now as If the whole scandal had its
public origin in Il desire on the part of
Theodore Tilton TO make or collect money
1t may or may not be true that there was
money actually due him, and that his threats
of exposure were made in order to enforce
its payment, but, if we may believe the
statement Of Wikeson, it had that result
and the scandal was hushcd 1t may or
may not be true that further demand for
money has been made, but such is the cur
rent belief in Brooklyn. That in the char
acter of her pastor, Mr.. Beerher advised
Mrs. Tillon TO separate from her husband
on account of his relations to the "Wood-
hull woman'-as the dispatch calls her
is doubtless true. 1t is. also, pretty well
established, Tilton to the contrary notwth-
standing, that it was for this advice that
the abject apology was written, of which
so much handle has been made. This fact
explains the origin and animus OF the dis
patch giving the date of the acquaintance
of Tilton with the ''Woodhull woman. ="
Who could know that precise date but Til
ton and the "Woo1hull woman" Who
could have any interest in making the fact,
if it is fact, known, save Tlton Anoth-
er fact goes to show that he is in the wrong
His wife has separated herself from him.
and is Lying with her friends and Mr..
Beecher's friends. Moreover, it is alleged
and said to have been proven, that Mr..
Tilton has treated her in most brutal
manner on account of the advice so given
her, and that such treatment, long contin-
ued, connected with the infamous use
made of her name by him who was bound
to defend her led TO the separation. These
facts, most Of them notorious and unques-
tionablc, which are constantly leaking out,
are fast turning the tide of public opinion
Beecherward. We believe him to be an in
nocent, maligned man. We did not so
consider him when he remained so long
with sealed lips. Others, too, may have
changed their opinions, but Henry Ward
Beecher can never again be the same man
to the great public, can never again WELD
the same great power and influence for
good, as hitherto, if he remains content
with vndication or certificate of charac-
ter obtained from a committee holding
their meetings in secret. Let us have all
of the facts.