The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-13
I'm stntu Quo.

surfeited the public appetite Tor that peculiar
kind of news. Even the admirers Of the two
contestants-those Of the Apollo, who sees his
hundred thousand dollars damages retreating
to din distance from which it is hardly
visible TO the naked eye, and those Of the
4 jocose Joye, who seems to be able to throw
smile into the very grave Of vast reputation
are turning away from tie heaped and daily
dish of scandal with something like disgust.
The general interest in the matter has per-
/ ceptibly waned within the last few weeks. OF
course everybody wanted to take single look
at the distinguished dead to find out whether
the features were those of Tilron or Beecher;
/ but the truth is the weather is getting warm
and it viii be just rs well to have the funeral
at as early an hour as can be made convenient.
This great trial has been chiefly remarkable
rs a series OF surprises and disappointments,
and if the jury should happen to disagree at
the end of the conflict we might not be exactly
surprised, because we have been taught in the
progress Of affairs that we should be sur
prised at nothing; but our disappointment
would reach Q climax. If tho trial shall
thoroughly vindicate tho honor Of either
party, and put his innocence beyond q per-
adventure, il will, perhaps, compensate for
the subtle and far-reaching Generalization 1t
| has caused. But if it results in Tiltons
swearing that Beechor did and Beechers
swearing that he didn't, then we are and have
! been wa l1ng knee-deep in moral filth for no
purpose whatever.
First, we were disappointed in Tilton's
revelations. He he'd thrown out SO many
dark hints had shaken his head so wisely, as
though he would say, II could or ! would"
and had pledged himself so many times to
tell secrets horrfc enough to cause each
particular hair on the universal American
Uranium TO stand on end, that we rather ex-
pected when he took the stand to hear from
his parched lips OF deeds and purposes bloody
enough to eclipse the sun and send every hen
on the Continent to its roost under the i'm
preston that night had come. But from the
moment when lie swore to tell the whole truth,
he was taken with q kind Of apolepsy, and
only reahirmed the identical story which had
been given us in abridged and unabridged
editions again and again.
Then came Moulton, who has immortalized
friendship. He has made us all feel that it is
very desirable to have third party securely
hidden III some unexpected corner whose
business shall be to listen 70 odd bits Of cor
versation, to take note of any kisses that may
be given, and to keep sharp lookout as to
their facial topography is, whether they
are bestowed on lips or forehead. We were sure
that he would sound the depths Of the marsh
We were on the very tiptoe Of excitement
certain that the walls Of Jericho would tumble
when he spoke. Day after day passed, but
the truth-that will o the wisp, that artful
dodger-was rs far of as ever We were as
close to it as Macbeth was to the tabled dag
ger We cried in vain, Come, let me clutch
thee y aud were compelled TO solioquize, II
have thee not and yet see thee STILL
] The third and great disappointment occur
red when Mr. Beecher himself took the stand.
4 All sorts Of rumors were ahoat about him.
7 Some thought he would borrow tho mutual
friends pistol and end the tragedy with a first
class funeral others believed that the mys-
terious package Of poison which lily IN
touched on his study table would be called
into requistion others still watched the flush
in his check and whispered under their
breath, apoplexy. Mr. Bcccher, however, re-
sorted to none Of these expedients. When
lis name was called he came to the witness
stand with a bland smile. as though he had
done nothing worse al his life than preach
funny sermons. lie gave the lie direct 70 the
accusations Of tue prosecution, and fairly
took our breath away At the iocose and pleas
ant way in which lie disposed Of the gravest
charges. And yet lie settled nothing, neither
did lie bring 70 the subject single new my Of
light
\ The fourth disappointment has been the
i powerlessness Of q severe cross-examination
j to elicit the truth. That there is the most
fearful amount Of lying somewhere no one will
I lie bold enough % deny. 10 ordinary, incon-
\ spicuous lies have been told. They are 70
the level plain d our common life about what
\ the Hlmalayas are among mountains. They
are snow-capped with the subimity Of audac-
\ ity, and yet they have been SO well learned
that ali the skill Of the most acute lawyers has
I not been able to uncover them to public view.
\ Witnesses have been caught and trapped in
slight discrepancies, but no one has been
fairly enmeshed and compelled 70 give up the
ghost. This is 2 great pity II would have
added very materially to the dramatic effect
OF tie trial IL some witness had been turned
inside out like an old glove; but that delight
has been denied Us.
Aud now We wait impatently for the end.
We are, however, like traveller on an old
II f,eLfn,,cl c0urfr,- road To ewnocts AZ e,,,r,,
turn to catch glimpse Of the inn, but alas!
only sees the same dusty highway stretching
its lazy length in the distance. And yet we
have Q single ray Of hope. It IS based on the
law Of contraries. Since we have been dis
appointed all along, i i iust possible that the