The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1875-07-22
from the Liberal Christian.
The Unfinished Trial.

Al We COllu NlllC tilttb UHC Wv PAS
er had cleared himself of all charges and
suspicious, had cut loose from all entangle-
ments. and had manifested anew the man
hood for which the whole world has hon
ored him, we should write the most Joy
full tidngs which the people Of this coun-
try could hear If we could say that, in
spite OF all his errors and the intrigues of
his enemies. his stllwart integrity is still
unquestioned, and that now he is free to
speak without fear and without reproach,
we do not know anything we would more
quickly accept us an advantage to the
cause OF good morals and religion. All
good meu would Join in congratulating
the church that this noisome scandal
would no more send out its foul stencil
TO offend the senses and poison the blood
OF all the people In the name of Chris
tianity we should rejoice; in the name
of every church in the land, we should be
glad and tor the sake Of all that is clean
and sweet in human society, we should
offer our devout thanksgiving Let not
Mr. Beecher, or his friends. think that
there is any conspiracy of hell against
him among the people of this country
We have waited long and patiently for
the clear showing of that which all good
AltH ltlli NOllltll XIV HODttl lOI. IL TO-
day Mr.. Beecher's good name is not clear
ed and his fame is not unspotted, it is not
because the people have desired to drag
down popular idol but because there
are words and deeds to which he contesses,
and for which has offered no explanations
which, without strain or prepossession,
fits the plain terms Of the original text Of
which they purport TO be a commentary
"a Inni.I ba
ion, of Joining heartily in the congratula-
quittal. And this happens, not merely
because, in the little world OF twelve men,
obstinate doubts would make verdict of
aequittal impossible, but also because, i'll
the greater world outside, The same dvi-
SION Of opinion existed, in spite of the
most friendly determination
We are asked to believe that Mr.. Beech
er Is not only innocent, but Il saint so rare
and perfect that he has, in fact, carried
INTO practice that Christian spirit Of for
@iyeness which we of grosscr mould can
only admire affair off. and that because of
the rarity of such Christian iorbearance.
we DO not recognize it, and give credit
for it, To the acquittal and the high honor
OF the defendant. But here again the de-
ltIlAt lStIl0 vi H. IuNttNl. MI. btcCIlCl
has attempted to obey the Christian law,
he has only added another to his many
mistakes. For had his Master been in
like straits he would have smitten his
enemies with the lash OF his Indignation,
and not one of them would have faced
him a second time with the abominabe
offence of false accusation of such base
conception. Not by such charge would
he have consented to die.
The Jury has disagreed; SO have the
public We will not make one of those
who viii now take sides for and against
But looking at the subject Just as it stands,
accepting only incontrovertible facts, we
shall speak, as truthfully and as seriously
rs we can, that which seems to us to be
demanded by the present distress The
writer OF these words is one who sat I'M
der Mr.. Beecher's preaching in Plymouth
Church, Who looked up to him with love
and reverence which no other living man
IN the pastoral otlice-nay, we will make
no eNception-a reverence which no other
living man ever excited To him we
looked as the model of all that was man
ly-the brayest, truest, strongest OF men,
we thought him to be, in those years of
early youth and manhood when such i'm
presslons are made most deep and lasting
We accounted him our benelactor in the
highest sense, the one who stirred the
noblest ambitions we ever felt We write
IN no wrath or malice, but with the deep
est sorrow, when we say that, innocent OF
guilty, there is a blot on the fame of
Henry Ward Beecher which, until it is re-
moved, makes it impossible that he shall
stand as a leader Of men and a CONSIDER of
women. The purity OF religion and the
honor OF Christianity demand that no man
who has been accused of gross sensuality
and basest lngratitude shall stand as a
leader OF the people, in that which con-
Germs their highest interests and dearest
hopes. We viii admit that his hands may
be clean and his heart pure, but so long
n he cannot make his cleanness and pur-
W manifest, fidelity to that which he pro-
iesSes To serve makes it an obligation
which cannot be eyaded, that he Shall
9adIy-and if innocent how sadly take
his cross and retire from the church which
this scandal protancs, and from the utter
ing OF words and the administration of
fteS upon which his inability to clear
himself casts suspicion. His is not the
voice to counsel the repcntant sinner, his
NOT The hand TO sprinkle clean water upon
innocent childhood, his not the presence
~ be associated with those who 90 through
the dark valley in hope OF ;n unspotted
Immortality
For few months on years he may 90
On III defiance of the world, but the time
must come soon when the defence of his
friends viii bring no honor to him, and
only evil to them. The men who seek his
nni5tratlons will be accounted accom-
pliceS in his sin, and the women who de-
sire his guidance will be said to court in
fanny, and at last it will happen that the
church which, in defiance OF charges, even
though they be false, and in spite of his
failure 10 make the law his friend, al
though that may be his misfortune, will
come to be accounted an organization Of
those who, protesting goodness, are min
lStera ct iniquity.
IN any ordinary case men would have |
leng ago come to some unanimous opin- |
nom i'll regard to the matter, but the dilem- |
ma IS that, whichever view one takes. to |
have positive opinion, he must suppose |
on the side Which he reprobates, an amount |
and intensity OF Wickedness that seems in |
credible. On the side OF Mr. Beecher, if |
one condemns him, there is not merely |
the first offence, but others, in comparison |
with which the lapse, through passion,
becomes trlvial-the repetition of solemn |
"aths, which We're false; the defamation |
~ those who, knowing his sin, still loved |
hlm and iorborc to punish him the suborn-
hg OF guilty wife to treachery and oft |
repeated perjury; the malicious and ma
llgnant betrayal OF the innocent to what |
must be lasting inlamy that he may escape !
the perils into which his own tcllies have |
lea him and them. OH the other side, |
after making ali possible and impossible |
allowance for misconception and miscon- |
strucuon, we must, holding Nh Beecher
innocent, believe IN conspiracy con-
celved IN disappointed pride and devilish
malice, with intent to drag, from his holy |
place IN the affections of the people, a
saint and leader of men, and in order |
to bring trivial gain, to outrage all that a
great multitude OF men and women hold |