The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-08-25
SsouI,on,s .tntrment.

come up To public expectation. There wa,
too much of a flourish of trumpets before tn,
Tentrance OF the king, and his appearance hal
scarcely correspondent with the anticipa
lions OF the spectators. The only really
valuable piece of evidence produced i,
Moulton's own express declaration. thai
/ Mr.. Beecher has repeatedly confessed to him
the adultery with Mrs. Tilton. AS far as the
various letters from the different people
who took part in the scandal are con-
cerned, it may be said that they are not in
consistent with the theory OF innocence
while the explanation already submit
ted by Mr.. Beecber in regard to his. peculier
conduct and strange utterances during the
past four years, viii apply to his
later epistles even better than to
those first Published. II his cele
brated statement be considered satisfactory
with reference to the documents in Tilton's
accusation, il may be said 10 anticipate all
new matter of like character. Tho key thai
unlocked onemystery will solve the others.
To sum the matter up briefly: Those who
believed the pastor of Plymouth Church in
nocent before Frank Moulton spoke out
will not lose faith in him now, and those
who considered him guilty will still hold
firmly to their conviction.
As rebutting testimony In his own de-
Tense, the statement of Moulton has a pow
erful effect. 1t must establish his character
for honest intentions and fair dealing among
all men except those who hold that his opin
ion of Mr.. Beecher's guilt can only be ex-
planned on the theory of his inveterate
malice. A brief statement of the condition of
things at his appearance on the scene
will go far to explain his course.
Mrs. Tilton, if guilty of adul-
terry, was naturally anxious for concealment,
and, II innocent, Yonld be no less eager to
suppress all scandalous rumors affecting her
good name. Iilton had no doubt of bis
wife's criminality, for it Is now pretty clear
in all directions, that she was in love with
Mr.. Beecher and confessed to Tilton and
others Illicit intercourse. She might
have been lying, but it was natural that her
husband should credit the story of her dis
honor from her own lips, as liars DO not
usually invent that kind of matter. Once
that Tilton chose to forego revenge there
sake of his family. AS FOR Mr.. Beschsr, if
guilty, he had the choics between a confess
sion and concsalment. Ifinnocent, ne was
no less anxious for silence, as he dreaded the
accusation of adultery, backed by the con-
fession of Mrs. Tilton; for minister's repu-
tstion is like fine mirror, the
slightest breath soils it. It was this
dread which, according to his own
statement, led him into all his troubles.
1t is clear, therefore, that all tie parties to
the scandal were extremely anxious to keep
it secret, aud that Moulton was the origin
stor OF the policy of silence, and exercised
his personal influence persistently to main
tain secrecy. 1t Is absard TO attribute to
him any sinister design in such acourse: AS
far as a disinterested spectator can discern,
he had nothing to gain by modelling in the
affair. and undertook the task of mediator
with a thorough good will towards all par
ties. Such task was never before urder-
taken by mortal man and so nearly accom-
plished. Think of strangling such scandal
for four years. The feat of Hercules in
slaughtering the Hydra was child's play to
that he was foiled in the end. but that he
succeeded for so long time. In the face of
the communications from Mr.. Bsecher. pub |
lished in this statement, it is useless to rep |
sent Moulton as the betrsyer of the latter in
leading him into the devious ways of secrecy. |
Mr.. Bsecher is perpetually planning for 81
lence, perpetually asking for assistance in |
reserve, and ever dreadng ex
posture. Whether he be considered a timid |
and innocent man or plotting and wicked
one, 1t is plain that Moulton was serving |
him faithfully according to bis wishes. In
his relations with Tilton. not less than with |
Bsecher, Moulton's peculiar personal power |
is manifest. Tilton was in misfortune, and
sensitive to the slurs that he
had to bear from day to day. He considered
himself foully wronged by Beecher, and it
CALLED him to the quick to have the lstter's
friends continually dragging his reputation
in the dust before the feet of their idol. He
had lost his popularity, which had been the
breath OF his nostrils. He had lost his
household happiness, which he seems to have
enjoyed thoroughly, and he had lost his
means of livelihood, while the one TO whom
be attributed his misfortunes went on pros
pering and to prosper. Tilton had, in a
word, undertaken the role of martyr, and
found 1t to be an extremely dirty and disa-
greeable part to play, in this rough modern
world. The hair shirt and spiked girdle he
found less suited to his nature than purple
and fine linen. He belonged to
that dangerous class of men described by
a modern French novelist, who are noble
enough To undertake great sacrifices and too