Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1875-07-09
The Lanyrrs In the scandal IrInl.

Next to the judge, the bearing and pro-
i,s-ioual action Of Mr. Eyarts will stand the
test of accurate criticism better than those
Of MS adyerSarieS or associates. There WAS
noac Of the baily in his conduct. he did not
deal in hlazing -eiithets nor work himself
into lndicrous aud censurlble passion. His
argument Wa too long. too liue-~pun Tor the
jury h"t it va> suhtl, ,ineonious, and 10 nav
mind very plausible lie acted ,imply q, a
lawyer, and was at 20 time carried away to
such an extent that be stood ready to nhro.
gate MI OF the legal legislation Of the State
m order TO make point in his case. More
ever. it seems to me that he had clearer
idea OF tie situation than his brethren
lie never got angry, never lost his head, bat
sustained his reputation d a too prolix. but
keen and placid advocate. Al Of the other
lawyers were at one stage or other of the
case somewhat Gemoralized. PERHAPS
ought not to include Judge Porter in such A
sweeping assertion. lie was calm. gentle
manly and refined until the moment he he
gan his address. His task was an unrra-
ciouS one-the demolition of T'ilton. the ex-
Dressing Of Moulton and the playing of hari-
kari with the witnesses. |, was necessary.
in order TO do his part, that he should ,aint
Iilton in the most odi1us colorS. and toss in
the face Of the jl-y the most repulsive
and hicous character of modern times.
This the eloquent advocate did with great |
literary skill and think no one can dispute
that a. - mere literary effort his was |
the most telling address 1t abounded in |
short, crisp, striking epigrams lie
,aid things we can all remember and |
10 remember but alas with the ex-
,eption Of some Of the telling paragraphs
# General Tracy and keen wiitcsms of
Egarts. there have been few additions 10
English literature in this trial Tracy real
y wrote some powerful passages, and in
me instance left with Moulton a character
le viii carry To the grave. Mr.. Beach.
the enthusiastic decara-
ions OF his friends. was utterly dcmOralized
when he rose 10 deliver his address. Some
low or other Tire hut-headed Morris. who
lad no business Ia the case, persuaded him
ha- ho was to address bribed iarv, and
his utterly unnerycd him. lie had counted
ipon two or three days of succinct, pow
liui anu tAtct pItStutallOn 81 IlltOn
rieyance and there is no doubt had no
!hered to his original purpose, ne would
ave produced a powerful impression As
was, he difuSed the effort intended for
hrce days over eleven, weakening his argu-
lent, absurdly garnishing it with poems
nd hap-hazard editorials, and winding up
nth combination OF Whittier and Daniel
sehster. His address was rambling, un-
tedious, seldom illumined by ,
riginal and resonant periods, rarely reliev-
1 by a prngent epigam showing high
-iticsil power alone when he came to
cal with the theological side of Beechcr's
laracter. His worst fault was his aliena-
on Of the jury by hot ard inconsiderate
'iticism, and this Is regarded by the pro- y
ssion as a deplorable fault in an advo-
lie - a. ruinous TO the cause Of his
lent. 1t would be unfair to blame
r. Beach for this infirmity when
c remember his splendid talents and {
e fact that he had 10 reply to men like $
,rter and Eyarts. Mr.. Fullerton hardly o
served the unqualified communication that :.
has received, although much of it is his =
e. The secret Is this-he Is good fell
", and has many friends on the press. {
IN. Tracy stands INDICATED BY the Judge,