The New York herald., 1875-06-11


and tried on That charge. The trial was pro-
tracted, but no proof Of the direct act was az,
depended entirely upon rumors and slight cir.
cunlstances, which were thought insufilcientst0
justly vei diet of guilty, and COMMITTEES was
appointed 20 bring IN the result OF the determine
tlon of the church judlcatory and this committee,
through their clerk, VINO was friend Of Mr
Tracy, as he was waiting the result OF the deo
GRAFTON OF his judges, sent tnat clerk Mr.. TracJ
with the welcome information that the judgs
ment was favorable 70 him. Tne COMMITTEES
determined 10 recommend veroict o. acqulp
tai, and they did; out IN Their report and in the
Judgment winch they recommended Tor tnelr adop
iion it was stated that the Court had examined
All the rumors and charges against MN. Well
there were CONSCIENTIOUS men upon that tribunal
and one oI them says, ~ cannot sign that reports
all tho rumors and charges made against The ac
cused nave not been examined He named one,
ana he SAID, 'LeL us not adjourn untll TINS thing
Is looked 10 and then we can consclenLously
renaer our verdict The trial was prolongels
There was nc proof OF the direct act ana the COM
mittea appointed TO investigate recommended
verdict OF acquittal. But one member OF tne com,
mittee SAID he could not conscentousiy slga tnai
verdict. The clergyman was informed tnat one G
the committee determined 10 investigate one re
naming scandal, and tnereupon tne clergyman
resigned and admitted that re had Deen gulityoi
adultery.
fell And so IL Is through the long list OF exam
pies, ali proving the doctrine OF manis depraylty
and his proneness 10 sin. All the examples Of ne
tend to prove that the most exalted aud nonored
are not only subecG TO temptation, but are too
weak 70 resist the passions. All tue lessons or our
own experience from which we can derive proof
are opposed 10 these unsound and corrupuna
theories.
You remember the case OF the learned and emil
nent DR.. Webster OF Boston. DR.. webster, VINO
was connected with the faculty oi an institution
which is a brilliant rival OF any in the Od or the
New World lie was exalted IN the estimation OF
society and OF the community OF Boston; yet ne
was III an evll moment, tempted by mercenary
motives, and he murdered DR.. Parkman He was
arrested, ne denied ms guilt. lie was put on trial
ana with all the influence OF his great character
and despite the most OF influential friends tnat
gathered about Eln the evidence sustained the
charge OF his guilt ana ne was convlcte and ex.
ccuted. And the argument IN MS behalf was
then, as It is now, that tns mans power. aud his
life and character, which were 1nbedded IN the af-
1ectons OF the community, were suniclent ,ii guar
eye saw that deco committed. No ear mad heard
the CRY OF the vicum, and u was on circumstan-
iial evidence alone that tnis nlgn ana dlstin-
guisaea character yielded to the sIrong Judgment
OF the law.
You. gentlemen. have noticed the recent case OF
Palmer, who stood high III the estimation of the
society In which he moved, out who, IN moment
or temptation. absconded with the FUNDS OF the
widows and fpnans which had been lnlrusted TO
his care. But day or two ago ne was brougnE
uack to the country by me police How long
ago ls IT since one ol the most prominent lawyers.
an acquaintance OF my learned ifiend ana oI
mine, said ne was found 70 be delauller anu 80
he mas his head hidden III shame and disgrace
And yet we are 10 pe teld that because Henry
Ward Beeeher IS great and powerful, because he
aid noble services TO religion ana 10 humanity,
and because he nas been shielded oy the affections
of the world, nat ne IS ineanaols OF sin; and aa
against the PROOF he can stand on this miserable
document e lncapaoillty lor offence.
After rolling of his long series Of cases Illus.
tratve OF the inhrutties OF preachers, or the se-
auctions and immoralties with which they have
been charged and OF which so many have been
found guilty ana dlsgraced the counsel cried out,
"And now are we 10 be told that this man, Henry
Ward Beecher is incapable OF the weaknesses
that adhere to human nature S'
Mr.. Beach said tnat Mr. Evarts, in order to give
you the clearest idea OF the immaculateness of
this Judgment, said. ''You must Judge ana try him
as you would Judge and try any other man 50 m
1Ica aH fna n Nar a 10
To be placed against the preponderance or truth
why Is there any hesitation among men as to the
unavoidable result upon the evidence IN this case2
II my frlends VIII relieve themselves from THIS
theory OF incapxcty from sin: II they CONFESS tnat
Mr. Bcecher 10 mortal and subject 10 feel all taat
otaer mortas Ilay, tney VIII abandon the pretence
that there y not the slightest evidence OF guilt
against Mr. BcechaE.
oil MIR. Eyarts' argument wherein he dwells upon
the charge that Mr. Bcecher's physical strength
was an indication OF his iiaOlllty 70 fall Mr..
Beach asserted that IL was absurd to pretend that
all men have the same degrees or passlonal
emotion.
The whole scope OF the argument now Is to
prove that Deecher IL not above temptation nor
above human ln1rmltes The audience are pro-
foundly attentive. for evidently the counsel mas
condensed vast quantity OF suggestive facts into
this part OF his speech. he reads from Beecher's
sermons language or strange significance regard
ing the passions and rrailties OF men.
In medicine and In experience there are per-
sons wno without any motive, without anY SORT
OF temptation, ladies VI high degree, IN everything
else exhibiting all the gsaces or true woman.
hood wealthy, reputable, distinguished matroni
dency, wnen tney come under particular circum-
stances, ia the presence q a single temptation.
CANNOT HELP STEALING.
They DO steal. Tue instances are numerous and
they exist now Ia the city OF New York, and the
works OF our medical authors and me acknowt
such examples OF human innrmity do exist. And
then In tue tendency to arson, 70 ourn, in tnd
m klIl ma mi
only phIlOsophlcally, scientifically, by ne most
learned men OF the community, but they ara
sustained sy The cleares. examples. Now, the law
re ects this, oil course, wagn IL ~ interpOsed az
shield for criminal offence and do not DISPUTE
Subject Tor our discussion. / only Illustrate by
that determination Of science, and by tnat EVIL
denco OF examples 10 addition 70 the oLnsr
which have given you, that oil tnis tnsory ol Mr.
Evarts In regard 10 the common calm or hu'
manIty, TO the rule OF passlonal excitement, "a
the level Of controlling VIII and Judgment-ttH IA
all fllusory and vain. Bot wnat does Mr. Beecnef
say He is better Judge. Mr.. Beechor says
~ care not TO have men come 70 me and state
their secret courses. can read IL IN the SKIN and
In the eye. There is not one single appetite or
or passion shows tnat natural language
more or less stamped upon the skin, upon the ex'
preston or the face aud upon tne carriage or toe
body. Prlde mas its natural language. MHtnuL
ness has. Goodness mas Nobody DOUBTS tnis.
80 nave the passions their natural language. Men
think THAT they commit their wIckecness Ia secret
places or Ia The night ana tnat it Is NOT known.
1t Is Known. AlINOu&H DO uAu ever saws 70 ullu
tnou art guilty. And again, there are very MANI
men so organized tnat tnelr appeiiies and theu
passions predCmtnate with terrific lorce.p
Ahl Mr.. Evarts, III we say TO you tnat there IL
certain form Of constitution, that there Is the pos
session oI certain passions and certain appetltes
as manifested by the exterior development OF the
man, which are strong and terrific IN tnelr im-
pulses toward sin and indulgence. do we say-do
say tnat the chatpe OF incOntlnence can obly oe
met by proof OF imp0.cncef Mr.. Beecher saya
no. "Afler you nave been living Christian life
for twenty-five years or for thirty years, II yoI
mad the strong tenuencies organized In you at the
beginning tneY VIII be there sui. No power vii
eradicate them where they once existed. TheI
are fneradicaD.e.r And ii Is true pnilOsoDny
founded upon the known constitution or man
upon the inherited Tendencies u human nature
upon tue experience OF the world. Well, sir, ina
a. from the plymouth Church Pulpit, Sevenu
series OF Sermons page las the FIRST one ron
the 1lth volume, at page $50. Again, Mr.. Beecnel
says THE intellectual and the moral faculties
are certainly stronger to-day than ever they were
before but the animal passions OF tue race do not
seem 10 have lost any iorce, nor DO tney seem
10 be under any greater control than