Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-04-29
lErom the Chicago Tribune !

HR. BEE CXER'S CROS5S-E1 1WIl Il llCh |
Henry Ward Beecher is an intellectual giant. |
His brain is larger greater, more vigorous, cour-
ageous, and tireless than the combined brains Of a
dozen men Of ordinary ability. Never WAS man
subjected to such mental torture as that applied to
Beccher during his cross examination The rack,
the thumbscrew, the wheel, and all the other in
gcnious methods of torture invented by the Inqui-
sition, fail to furnish an adequate comparison for
the mental agony which Beecher must have suf-
fered. The theory Of his innocence docs net al
feet this statement. If innocent, he was still in
volved in so intricate and damaging combination
of circumstances that a less courageous man would
have given up the struggle. 1t was not the ago
ny of the heart that made up the heaviest load.
1t was the terrific onslaught upon the intellect
which few other men could have met and resisted.
lie was attacked from ali sides. His own utter
ances were used the most effective weapons
against him. He was confronted by the most for
midable army of legal ability, led by a general
who was constantly aggressive and always relent-
less 1t was Bcechers mission to dsentange
web that bafied all other effort, to bring conss-
tency out of mass of Inconsistencies, to involve
conviction out of tumble of contradictions. 1t
was the work of an intellectual giant because he
had to meet circumstances, evidence, letters, doc
uments and confessions that would have over
whelmed and buried any other man. He was
called TO put upon the appearance Of guilt the ap-
pearance of innocence. 1t was task for Hercu-
lean brain.
1t is in this view Of the matter that the outcome
of Beechers cross-examinaion must be regarded
as a great intellectual triumph. And in review
of the ordeal through which he has passed it is
notable that he struck out for himself, indepen-
IDENTIFY of his friends, of his church people, and
even of his lawyers. The theory of his church and
lay supporters was that he had advised Mrs. Til
ton to separate from her husband on account of
the latter's infdelties, and hence the dissension
and the remorse. The theory of his lawyers, de-
lberately formulated in Gen. Tracy's opening,
was that of conspiracy against him for the pur-
pose of biackmaii. Mr.. Beecher, in turn, had
given tacit acquiescence in both these theories
before the Church Committee and in the earlier
conduct of the trial. But, in his own sworn evil
dence in the trial. he has chung to one point never
before made distinctly, and, in spite of every eff
fort to the contrary, he has caused all other CIR
cumstances, all other utterances, all other testl-
mony, to hinge and turn upon it, 1t is the only
theory advanced that can command any respect as
an explanation Of his letters, and his general poll
CIV with reference to the scandal up to the time OF
the final explosion in the Bacon letter. 1t is
equally well adapted to the lawyers charge of
conspiracy, and to Mr. Beecher's present declara-
ton that he did not believe he was undergoing de-
Ibcrate blackmai. 1t is the only theory that rem
deYs possible msconception on the part of Ill
ton, Mouton, and Mrs. Moulton Of what they took
to be confessions of adultery. 1t is the only n.y.
po,hess consistent with his assertion that the
charge Of adultery failed to make any impression
upon him. There is nothing else which could
sustain Beecher's honor, remorse and intelligence.
Nothing else, in the assumption of his innocence,
could excuse the folly Of an innocent man and en-
| intelligent man committing himself to so many
evidences of guilt and remorse. None other could
preserve the chvalry of the man and the honor of
| the clergyman at one and the same time. This
| alone is consistent with the great magnanimiy in
volved in Beecher's present professions of kindly
feeling toward Mr.. and Mrs. Moulton.
This central, pivotal explanation from which
Mr.. Beechei has never departed, and from which
Mr.. Fullerton has been unable to drive him, is
that Mrs. Tilton had transferred to him the affec-
tons which she ought to have saved sacred to her
husband alone and that he (Beechcr) became con-
scious of and did nothing to prevent it. Here
Mr.. Beecher rests, and here he has been strong
and tenacious as only man OF his colossal intel
lect could be.
If Mr.Beechcr is guilty, how shrewdy has he
counted upon the sy,mpathes of mankind, and
how marvelously he has analysed the processes
of human Judgment, in adopting this line of de-
Tense! He has penetrated the depths of human
nature further than all his lawyers. lie has
opened up opportunities for the imagination, the
that no other position could have afforded. He
has adhered to it with persistency that has al
ready carried conviction of his innocence to the
hearts of many people who are in doubt. lie has
confessed his inability to explain certain things,
and has acknowledged himself poweress to recall
the impressions that any other theory than this
it would have been absurd to admit the possibility
| of having been ignored or forgotten. lie has
been committed to lapses of memory which, in
mau of his great intellect would have been incred-
ible except under such circumstances. What may
not true, righteous. and honorable mau, occupy
ing the first pulpit in America have done when
he had a revelation that woman whom he re-
spected, and the wife of his most intimate com
panion and friend, had conceived an unholy love
for him, and which he had not repressed! This is
the speculation which Mr. Beecher has left to the
jury and to the public, and it is fruitful theme
which will in most cases be worked out to his ad-
vantage. 1t is answer to say what a plain,
common-sense, matter-of fact man in the ordinary
relations oflife would have done. There are two
reasons why such an answer will fail to break
down the strength of Mr.. Beechers position-
first because he was not ms Ter of-fact rE.n in
the ordinary relations of life and, secondly, be
cause commOn-sense judgments are the exception
and not the rule. Mr.. Beecher has created bis i'm
preston, and it remains to be seen whether the
subsequent Developments OF the trial shall he
able to remove it.
What magnificent adrotness, coolness circum-
spection, and elaboration there have been in
Beechers conduct on the stand, with all his excite
ment, tioqucHcc, anu upure-ol-spttcH. uIeI-
ton, as the cross-eXaminer, was not more incsive,
analytic, and cold blooded than was Beecher I'M
der his his knife. There all the fortitude and
impertur5ability which Socrates exhibited in de-
scribing the experiences of approaching dssolu
ton. There was all the alertness Of French
duest in the use ola rapier against skillful an
tagonist. There was all the deberation and far
reaching vision OF the expert and devoted chess
player There were the light and shadows of a
great melodramatic actor, from grave to gay,
from lively to severe" 1t was a deathstruggle in
which all the advantages were against Beecher,
and he fought for his life with the desperation of
a mailman, but with the deliberation of philoso-
pher; and, whether innocent or guilty, the power
and resources of his intellect as developed in his
cross-exam nation, will cause future generations
to say There were mighty men in those days.
GENERAL NEWS.
Benjamin Dodd and Henry Upham. prominent
Bostonians, died on Sunday.
The ffty-sixth anniversary of Odd Fellowship in
America, was commemorated Monday.
DIR. McNab of Woodstock. the oldest physician
in Northern New Hampshire, if not the State, is
not ma cpfa