The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-07-16
Rritton's Little Joke.

We never suspected District-Attorney
Winchester Britton of being a humorist,
although we knew he had a great many
serious matters to answer for; but his reply
to Mr.. 4. ID. Moulton's demand for a
speedy trial on the indictment for libeliDg
Mr.. lBeecheI is one of the prettiest speci-
mems of light and lively letter writing that
we haye read this summer 1T would
afford me great pleasure" says Mr.. Brit
ton, Ito try you for any offense coming
within the severer duties of the summer
month" that is for any offense serious
enough to be made Jail case-but at pre-
sent there are several criminals who claim
precedence. Later on" adds the district
attorney, II may be able to accommodate
you to your entire satisfaction, and then
you may have reason to rejoice that the
ordeal had not taxed your energies and
"fortitudc during the heated term" We
think it indeed probable that Mr.. Moul
ton would not enjoy the luxury of a pro-
secution so highly as he processes to be-
ieve, and when he wrote to the district
attorney demanding a trial at the earliest
practicable day he must have known, if he
took the trouble to reflect, that the course
of justice was not likely to be FASTENED in
the least by his application.
Ii is natural however that he should feel
that he has got to do something. The
great trial has left him in position which
to q sensitive man would be insupportable.
A very large majority of the jury have
virtually voted him alibeler and something
worse, and nothing but the destruction OF
Mr.. Beecher will ever reinstate him in the
place he held before-if even that can do
it. The ruin of the pastor of Plymouth
church is his only hope. Unless he is
ready to step down and out, he must make
up his mind to live in a turmoil of state
ments and lawsuits. For him as well as
for his friend it is struggle for social exist
ence. Now it is hardly reasonable to ex-
pect that the county will set the machinery
of the courts in motion for his persona!
qualification. The prosecution for libel
must traverse precisely the same ground
as the action for Grim. CON-; there is nc
skilliul counsel. Mr.. Moulton's request
then is nothing more nor less than that
District-AttoTney Britton shall cause the
six months battle to be fought over again
Immediately, with no prospect Of any other
result than such as has been reached al,
ready. Of course Mr.. Britton has better
occupation for his time
If there is any difficulty. however, about
pushing the indictment to trial-and indeed
it seems to US highly improbable that il
should ever be tried at all-Messrs. Tiltou
and Moulton need not be at loss. The
district attorney reminds them that st is
among the misfortunes of the civil courts
that parties may there indulge in al
manner of quarrels and exploits, natural
land artificial, lat their will" There is no
thing to forbid their bringing new action
against Mr.. Beecher for Grim. con.-and
we put Moulton and Tilton together, fol-
they seem to be about equally interested
in it. Their vindication can be obtained
just as well that way as any other; they
need not wait for a dilatory district. at
torney; and perhaps if they make haste
they can get a jury before the rising popu
lar feeling of Brooklyn in favor of Mr.
Beecher-a feeling which is rapidly be-
coming intense and general-renders the
search for twelve men who have not form.
ed an opinion hopeless one. If they are
not willing to repeat their recent expert