The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-02-13
A Forthcoming stream of Fiith--H tragic
Conclusion Feared.

Tpro,a Or Syntax's Letter in Chicago 1ribnnel
ttAe, sometimes, that a tragic conclusion
will abruptly and terribly end ms mater
As Il progresses, the Theatre mantle OK nero
ism drops off, fold by fold, from liz shoulders,
and presently all will be wholly undrapec,
n lewd and hideous TRANSPORTATION of Pra-
pus To be the laureate of such reeking an
nails might crafty the hot ambition Of Swim
burne; but to impartial nostrils, the Willis
and stenches of wide spread RIGHTEOUSNESS
are nothing else than sickening. Its tableauX
are as vile as the encaustics of Pompei; lis
episodes fit only for the pruricHt comtempla-
ton of a Messallna and its actors seem to
have lost their aptest opportunity in the sup.
preston of Aphra Behn. The argument of
The defense, on the moral question at issue,
not between Beecher and Tilton, but between
Beecber and the world, is no lofticr than a
grnning "tu quoque." If Beccher be lib
ertine, Tlton is a freelover; and, If Beecher
seduced Elizabeth Tilton, Theodore Tilton
permitted and cNtenuated that seduction by
| his adulterous alliance with the woodruff.
So far, it looks like amatch at mud-throwlng,
with ioner ammunition, however, than the
cheap ordure of the streets.
All manner of beastly condolences are to be
torn from their graves, and shown up in the
wtness-chair. A true Corinthian orgie is
promised, in which every brutal appetite
shall be markedly represented. We are only on
the threshold OF the scandal. If it be nccessa-
nv to save Mr. Beecher an exhibition so mon
stious may be made that the anger OF his
countrymen Will rescue him by a prompt and
wrathiul extinction of the whole proceed
ings. Other adulteries, other seductions, 9th
er bcstial incidents in the unwritten history
of Plymouth, are to be paraded before the
puzzled jurors and the stupeded world. At
! least two dead women are to anticipate the
| Last Judgment by cOntessing, through the
mouths of their own kindred, that they we're
ielse to their marriage vows; and one OF them
that her iilthiness was beyond even the aw
full of Juvenal. At least one incest will be
dragged from under the protective shadow of
Mr. Beechers church, and stripped bare and
putrid for the consideration Of these Chris
tan States. If Henry G. Bowen ever reaches
the witness stand there will be squeezed from
his lean person such Il stream OF poisonous,
Recommendations knowledge, that the whole
tcountry would stop its nostrils and ears, and
cry Enough Testimony will be produc
ed upon this trial, aad may, perhaps, he
spread upon its records, TO which the iccu.
Hence of all eXtant literature will be as Sa.
bpan odors. | know OF one tomb which has
already been ransacked to prove prior guilt
on Beecher's part; and | know of another
grave into whcn Beechers lawyers will
presently descend to grope for the shameful
affections of Tilton. Human dust and ashes
cited to demonstrate the wickedness ii com
mittCG in the flesh is ose of the cerlainlies OF
this, our tedious Dies lrG.
But, though the horrors which | have
family oUthned-and which are as well
r known 10 a score OF pcrsoas as TO myself
form an irrcirigable chapter in the lewd re-
cord of this case, yet do | hrmly believe
without being able - give a reason for my
! belief, that sudden and mortal stoppage OF
this trial will be made by one or both of its
, principals. dare not predict that Beecher
will take flight from this terrible arena;
dare not predict that sudden death or drama.
tic confession will startle his worshipers, and
silence the process of his accusation. But
| though II would be something worse than au
daciiy TO conjecture the form in which the
end will come, yet do verify and earnestly
believe that some other climax than the yer
dict of a jury Will conclude this appallln 6
religious tragedy.