New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-04-17
THR REEGHER TRIAL.

The progress of this extraordinary in.
quiry has tended to depress greatly the
standard of piety and morals claimed by
all the parties implicated. Tilton is shown
to be conceited, foolish and proaigate
man. There are indications that he has
been actuated rather by spite and temper
than any abstract love of virtue to attempt
the sturdy vindi cation of his honor.
Beecher seems 10 stand like Mahomet, or
the Yelled Prophet, amid wor Slippers,
wEo, in the words of Gather Tom. -
would not ''take the evidence of the
sinses agin the word of the Church"
1t was probable that in this as in all
other cases of sem. meg. the domestics
would prove the most conclusive wit
nesses. so Bessie Turner has greatly dis
paraged the moral motives of Tilton, in
bringing. this suit, but has mani tested her
gratitude to her mistress by visible reti-
cence as to anything which could indicate
equivocal relations, with the defendant in
the suit
We certainly find nothing in the testi-
mony of Beecher to disprove the imputa-
tons which circumstances and his own
avowals have rendered of possible truth.
The testimony of Mr. Beeche r is given
with preparation and in manner cal
culated TO produce IN impressive effect
upon an audience and even upon a dis
tant reader. We doubt whether Bouci-
cault himself could have adopted
more impressive mise en- scene. He
appears as a patriarch. His wife
children and, perhaps, gra ndchildren
form group Of which Mr.. Beecher is
the head centre. From these he ad-
vances to the witness stand. He will not
De sworn upon the Evan gelsts, but raises
bis hands and afir,ns his purpose to
speak the truth in the sight of God in the
Did "New England manner" This is
highly Puritanic. It is in perfect har-
nony with church that bears no scrip
tural name, but impresses the memory
If Plymouth and its rock, not of Moses |
md his rock, or of st. Peter nd his rock. |
50 he is sworn in this patriarchal and !
Puritanic form Of adjuration. He then |
proceeds with an auto graphical detail of
lis personal history. He has gone into
he Western wilderness to a congregation
# twenty-five, and left it with more than
en- times that number. He carried with
lin the confidence and respect of these
'eople. He founded Plymouth Church
With about twenty persons who owned
property in Brooklyn. Perhaps they
ightfully regarded church as add
ng to the value of their lands.
1r. Beecher advises these specula-
i've Christians to organize church.
,hich they do, and call him to minister
its altar. His success is far greater
IAN in his first location. His congrega.
on numbers two or three thousand per
ons.
All this proves life of such ostensible
urity as would render the immoralities
LlAAOutSu W AALA Stlll, IL Is |
} be remembered that previous good
does not at all avail one charged
it'll a specific offense in disproying posi-
We evidence. The fact that man has
ever stolen until he begins to steal, or
at he has been perfectly good tempered :
it'll he murders somebody, is rather a
regulation for the metaphysician than
idence for jury.
The theory of Mr.. Beecher, that his
incidence with Mrs. Tilton was dictated
his anxiety for the eternal welfare of
g skeptical Theodore. will perhaps weigh +
tn the student of theology. The con- c
:uction upon his own avowals that they 4
ew out of soEcitude to relieve his v
end Tilton from the pecuniary con-
quences of his condnct and doctrines is =
uivalent to saying that he would put his s
n moral reputation in pawn to relieve q
1t of his friend.
The rest ofthe testimony Of Mr. Beeoher