The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1875-07-09
EMPORIA NEWS.
FRIDAY. JULY ., 1875.
REECEEER.


The public were not surprised at
the announcement that the Beecher-
Tilton jury failed TO agree. The only
action they could have taken that
would have surprised the public
would have been TO have returned a
verdict Of guilty. This was not ex-
pected, and so far as tho trial is con-
cerned 1t was in q great measure
simply farce. It has had but little
or no effect on the minds OF the peo-
OF good men in the church and out of
pie. There were and are thousands
It, who believe Mr.. Beecher is gull
ty, while there are other thousands
who are convinced to the contrary.
For ourselves we are sorry that the
evidence did not clearly and fully
acquit the great Plymouth preacher
of the charge against him, but we
can hardly believe him guilty of
adultery and perjury. One fact we
think ell will admit, that the men
engaged in the prosecution are
found to be utterly unworthy of
confidence. Tilton sank beneath the
waves OF public scorn and contempt
when he lent himself to the task of
writing an adulatory biography OF
that notorious character, Woodruff.
Moulton, . protested heather, for
his hypocrisy, receives the public
contempt, while Bowen stands but
little higher. While this is true of
the prosecutors and those imme-
diately in sympathy, we are sorry
the Plymouth preacher does not
come out of this affair untarnIshed.
The most charitable position that
can be assigned him is that of ex-
cessive indiscreetness and folly and
the worst sort of associations. 1t is
no easy task to reconcile Mr.. Beech
er's professed innocence, consecra-
ton, and purity of life, with his
bosom compaDionship with the har-
em-scarum, free love set with whom
he has been on such intimate terms
for years. The old saying that
"birds of feather flock together"
bears with strong truth. A man is
judged by his associations, and per-
haps to-day Mr.. Beecher is suffering
greater degree of loss of public
confidence because of his evil asso-
Citations, than from any other cause.
We are of those who believe that a
minister cannot be excused for low
ering the banner of tho Cross. Min
listers, especially, cannot serve two
masters, and Mr.. Beecher's so-called
liberalism" has got him into trouble
and caused half the world to believe
he is guilty of heniOus crime.
The trial was one of strange in
consistencies. Tilton's evidence was
utterly destroyed because of the
double part he played so long. At
the very time he was accusing his
wife of treachsry and inlidelity, 1t
was proved he avowed his belief
that she was pure as snow. Moulton
told so many falsehoods and played
doubled so long, that no confidence
could be placed in him. On the other
hand Beecher's own letters were his
worst enimies. Like the damned
spot" on Lady MAcbeth's hand, they
"will not out" and certainly leave
the conviction that at least Mr..
Beecher was guilty of conduct un-
worthy of q leading minister of tho
country. To what extent this guilt
goes, must remain a secret between
the parties concerned and the great
searcher OF hearts.
IL must be borne in mind that
Mr.. Beecher is entitled 10 every
doubt. This wc accord him fully,
and hope time may restore him to
his old place in public confidence,
II he shall deserve il.