New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-07-08


and the increased enthusiasm with which Plymouth
not only innocent but heroic. to be leaned
upon and trusted leader and a
guide. Through him we have been assailed.
for he is our dear, true brother, whose name
is unspeakaby dearer to us than any earthly thing
on which the sun looks down. lApplause.l Nor do
think it necessary, Sir to speak III any degree on the
attitude of Plymouth Church to the community and
the world. To an audience outside of Plymouth
Church should speak some burning words concern
ing the way in which these 1000 men and women
have been treated by the Press and by the pulpit.
This Church deserves much at the hands of the cii
two great principles First the value OF radiant,
transparent character as shield against caumny
and secondly the unanimous confidence in that
character as testimony to its genuine goodness.
should like before such an audience TO characterize
the of those who have prated in public about
suspcnding their judgment until his innocence should
be proved and have revelled in private in inuen--
does-lloud anplausel--or those who have not
hesitated to charge this Church with the de-
tice, or those who have gathered around us
like Jobs friends of DID,, trying to make us
believe that we have been guilty OF loose practices.
We are accused of bribing the jury, of Overaw1ng
the Court. But il is not the place here to 60 INTO
vindication of Plymouth Church. This Is society
meeting The society consists OF 500 menlners -
5000. There are no stockholders and no bond
holders here; nobody is interested in the income
of the church except when the pew-rents have TO
be paid. And yet it has not been easy to
impress the community with the idea that these
things are II has been part OF the accusation
against Henry Ward Beecher that until Plymouth
Church took hold of the matter no was weak pen
itent / need not correct such interpretations
here You can bear me witness that through All Inc
kndled ours; we have not carried him rs orr
wounded and faint it has been he who, standing in
our midst, with wonderful devotion to his pubic
and private duties among lis, has guided us in the
way OF life.
But it is not necessary for me here to explain to
t,. f,..to Tha bipy for oh rlsp Ig
especially word which think we have waited too
long before speaking. / think it is lifting sequel
to the remarks of Brother Sage that we should give
hearty words of praise to those men who have for
many months carried the heat and burden of tins
conflict. And first of all, the gentlemen OF that In
ycsigating Committee, who sat through the Summer
heats unrlveling the web of conspiracy Those
gentlemen made report, which was called the record
of a .whitewashng committee We have had SIX
months of trial, a chief Justice jury, great trial.
The report of that Invest eating Committee has been
closely followed to the letter by the greatest lawyers
i'll the land. and il has been indorSed by the great
majority of the jury Those gentlemen; Sir, dis
played loyalty to truth which IS worthy OF the
highest praise. Moreover Sir, think we Ought to
pay very hearty words of thank to the counsel for.
Mr. Bcecher in this case Appause.l For my part,
Sir il has been great comfort 10 me That MI.
Beech"r has been defended by Christian gentle,
men applause] by men who spoke eioqucntiy OF
virtue and innocence because they believed IN virtue
and innocence, and knew by experience something
about it by men who chose for the line OF thclr
defense the truth, and that only, and who dsdaned
tn plead for anything less than victory unstaned
] am very glad that there was no champion OF ours
that had to spend large part OF each morning III
correcting the mistakes of the day before who
confused the WaveTley novels, who read garbled
extracts in Mr.. Tilton's handwriting from Plymouth
at the end OF the trial found trouble
to clear theiT shiTs the InGnccp cIjn ag
applause. say, cir, this Is an unfortunate record
and am very glad there are none Of them on our
side. ILaughterl Mr. Beecher has been defended
in a way worthy of his greatness and his innocence
Moreover the defense of Mr. Beccher has been so
thoroughly conducted. with SO much vigilance and
care, that ii stands complete before the world to-day
knows how lawyer pleads before jury an aigu-
ment which lie knows viii not bear the stIu;
tiny Of the outside, world, Will understand
what | mean when l affirm that the arguments
f n all time ns' to cOme TIC trial has saved me i've
wears of my future lfe for should have spent that
much in debating the question with people who did
not agree with me; now shall simply refer them 10
that volume.
came out with very elaborate attempt to show the
defects of the defense, covering many columns.
Now, the only thing to say to such malignant fab
relations is, Look at the testimony" That was
prepared by altering the dates of documents by ex-
GLIDING as never brought into court facts actually
laid before the jury, by putting into one Witness
much stupidity, and enlivened by CLEANS of malig
nifty. ISomebody in the audience" The article is
said to have been written by Mr.. liltOn.'J
1t ought to be said that all the money we could
pay these gentlemen would not recompense them for
their labor. They have spent III this case almost
this case fighting day by day, has given up the earn
ings of an entire year. Now, sir, such men, having
such standing in the profession as Messrs
their earnings are beyond What we can
pay: SO whatever fees they consent to
accept we shall still be their debtors for the great
sacrifice, which receive with praise and thanks.
There is one man whom l have not named a man
who went into this case and who threw into it lnre;
servedy restless activity, pertinacity that could
nOt la fIrpI nr
them he should receive from his brethren
nothing but their love and thanks. IAppllausc.l
| need hardly say that | refer to Thomas
G. SheaIman. tApplausc.l His unequaled services
in this case, rendered with that measure of complete
success at every point, deserve the gratitude OF
the members of Plymouth Church and Society. 1t
was not without reason that the conspratOrs sought
to cripple Tracy and Shearnan for when they knew
such men entered the case for Mr.. Beechcr it was
high time for his plotting foes to trembie. We in
sist upon paying ourselves for those who as our
champions have borne the heat Of the conflict.
We have had a little share We have been inter
viewed /; and | suppose it has its humorous sides,
though il presents TO us only a very sad side. The
degradation Of some portions of the American press
is such as TO fill every thinking man with gna-
ton horror, and disnay recOllcct the scene i'll the
French Revolution where the mob broke into the
rooms of Marie Antoinctte and triumphed in rcndng
the beautiful things there. Nothing Sir has been
like that spirit SINCE rs the spirit OF certain psr-
ton Of the lowest class of the press of this country,
the lowest, not in money or position but in morals.
God knows how this corruption on the part of the
American press as TO interviewing and pryIng Will
end.
We hear great deal about the gospel of gush"
and we are forced to make up minds it is IUac-
teal gospel distinguished from theoretical gos
pei If you hand out the truth to men Ill lccles you
arouse no criticism; but if you thaw the cices and
give men water, then you are dispensing gOs-
pei of g1lsh. What gospel is il that makes men
strong for heroic sef-sacriiice-which of the twOf
S.V. White spoke next on the general subject Of
the meeting. He said:
SPEECH OF s. " WHITE.
wish to express in regard TO the action of the
Plymouth pew holders at this time, this thought.
There has been kindly mention made here, Sir of