The Hawaiian gazette., 1875-08-04
MIR. Beecher's Position.

Opinions differ materially as to the effect of
the disagreement of the jury upon the position
of Beecher. 1t is true that this outcome
neither clears nor convicts him, but it may be
urged that when nine men out of twelve con-
cluded that he was innocent, the decision will
be regarded, and rightly, as entitled to respect.
Had the jury stood nine against and three for
him, his position would have been very differ
ent; in fact, we do not see how, under such
circumstances, he could have continued to
preach AS it is, his vindication has not been
had, but neither has his conviction, while the
actual facts are so far in his favor that three
fourths of the jury were ready to declare him
the victim of conspiracy. 1t is not a full
settlement of the charges, but it is perhaps as
satisfactory settlement as could have been
fere with the career of the preacher. If lie
could justify to himself his continuance in the
pulpit while the trial was proceeding, there is
no reason why he should withdraw now that
the case is lat least for the time) ended. But
there is ground for the expectation that much
fuller vindication may be in store for the pas
tor of Plymouth Church.
The Loeder and Price conspiracy threatens
to involve Tilton, Moulton, and Tilton's attor-
neys in a most disgraceful and odious piece of
villainy, and if the facts should prove as re-
ported we do not perceive how Tilton can ex-
pect to escape the penitentiary. 1t is impossi-
BILE to avoid the conclusion that he procured
the perjury of these men, and that he did it
for the deliberate purpose of blackening the
reputation of his own wife, whom he had pre-
viously failed to crush by the original charges.
1t appears to us that man who is scoundrel
enough to perpetrate so inefably infamous
deed as this is not fit to live, and ought to be
taken out and hanged incontinently. What the
testimony of such wretch should be allowed
to weigh, against the character of man like
Henry Ward Beecher, is also an interesting
the case is not ended, and if, as now seems
possible, it should conclude by the conviction
of Tilton and Moulton of subornation of perjury,
in regard to the Loeder and Price afidavits,
the effect will be quite as great as though the
jury had rendered a verdict for the defendant
without leaving the box.
We confess that as the part played by Til
ton and Moulton in this yillainous plot begins
to come out more clearly, we find it extremely
difficult to accord their testimony on other
matters the least possible authority, and can
scarcely regard their attack upon Beecher as
serious thing. AS the case now stands,
however, it is not possible to conjecture what
the ultimate effect will be upon Beecher's
fame and usefulness, simply because the new
developments tend to cast doubt over every
thing that has gone before. If Loeder and
Price are convicted, and the completely is
fastened upon Tilton and Moulton, we believe
the public judgment will be to the effect that
Beecher has been the victim of a foul conspir-
acy, and that he is an innocent man. In any
other event it will become necessary to con-
slider what attitude the great preacher is hence
forth to occupy.-Sac. Union.