New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-06-11
EPITHETS APPLIED BY MR. MOULTON TO
MR. BEECEIER.

Now | pass from all these SUBJECTS, gentlc-
men. Mr. Porter alluded to an expression used by Mr..
Mouton the Of his testimony which he thinks
OF so calumnious character as to be utterly
destructive OF the credbty Of Mr. MoultOn. He says
Now the testimony of Moulton is that Beecher Is liar
and libertine This Is the spirit In which this man
pure woman and pure man There Is his photography
made by himself and for you The man VINO uses such
IS e Sas the 81 the man in respect to whom he used
it-can you trust Alnf
Now have hesitation, gentlemen, IN saying that
dsapproved the expression but II that Is to dscredu
Mouon when he appears under the solemnity OF an
oath witness, what are you to think OF the Impair
TALLY and sincerity Of my learned friend when he ap
plies not only to Mr.. Mouton and Mr.. Tton, but to a
woman the epithets which he has used in this
Why by parity OF reasoning, II MoultOn is to be dscred
ied my friend Porter is not to be beeyed these men
are not 80 bad he represents them tobe he not
yeracous witness you will not accept the character
which he has given them.
But what the circumstances, gentlemenf Not
here do propose to review comment upon the con-
duct of Mr. Moulton in his association with Mr. Beecher
that is matter for future consideration. But we can
glance at the general aspects Of that relation think
none Of you will hesitate to say from your recollection
the evidence that up to the time when this subject
came within the Jurisdiction, the effective Jurisdiction
OF Plymouth Church, during the Investigating Com
mtee and az shall show you, after that PERIOD there
render within the limits of his theory and effort that he
did not perform He has been called traitor; with
chosen and deliberate language he has been pictured as
an infamous Judas but my learned friends have
failed to show that up that period he fatered for an
instant under any circumstances upon any OCCASION In
his devoted fidelity to Mr. Beecher But when was
il that these relations were changed, and how
came they to be changed Not by the
simple appointment Of the Investigating Com
mittee (Which Mr. Moulton dsapproved), for he still
abored on as will show you, in effort In conjunction
with and under the approval OF Mr. Beccher and his adj
vsers suppress this investigation 1t was when Henry
Ward Beecher in his statement before the Committee,
charged this and unfnchng friend with attempting
to blacLma him, it when, from that examination.
that statement hurricane Of denuncaton went out
through the land against Mr. Moulton under which his
reputation and his prospects confess have suffered
1t was then that these relations changed Now. il be
true that up that hour Mr. Mouon had been the faith
full and devoted friend Of Mr. Beeeher sacrificing time,
aud effort, and character, and morality, If you
please, 10 save him from the consequences Of
his ofense; and Mr.. Beecher, under the
ditions and with the fact, he swears to 1t
upon this stand made against him the false and calumni
Gus charge that he blackmailer, some extrava-
gance expression will be pardOned the part OF Mr.
Moulton Mr. Beecher is great man; he is revered and
trusted by many souls he has occupied great position
in the eye OF the world and young man, like CIR.
Moulton-nay, old gray-headed man-has the right,
whatever he may think OF his purity and morality 10 say
In his pre- sence and his face that he Is liar and lib
ertne 1t Is sacrifice OF that respect which belongs to
age, culture, dignity, poston-aye, 1t Is dircspcct
which feeling and upright will offer even to fallen
greatness. do not justify it; do not approve 1t but
this man. Mr. Mouton, is OF ardent and
mpusve nature and he has exhibited 1t through all this
complication OF circumstances. He used rash and in
temperate expression grant, but does that prove him
dishonest unfaithfu does that Justify my friend in
SAYING he these sentiments In regard to
Nh Beechcr during the period in which friendly relations
and intimate intercourse existed betwocn them
BY no means-by means Mr. Mouton never uttered
disrespectful or irreverent expression about Henry
Ward Beecher until after the event to which have d.
rected your attention. and The has snned he has snned
under great provOcatiOn II he true friend the in
gratitude Of Mr. Beecher Is nexpressble. II Mr. MOul
honest and trusty friend, must be permitted
to say 1t base and hord for Mr. Beecher to inn
pute him q character and practice which rendered
him. IL it true infamous In the eyes Of the world
But then my friend says:
The man who said that referring expression
titled to by Mr. StOrrs the man who went out
and the other on clergyman, and carried pistol for his
prOtecton-I am wrong rs TO the date 1t was the day
needs pistol his pocket walk down the house of
Theodore Tton In order TO get from his wife letter that
ard that when he goes Mr. Beecher he wants to i'm
press him with Of peril by showing him that he
that is not the kind OF man that had better talk much
about whom he is going TO shoot down.
Well now, gentlemen, in the light Of the evidence Of
Mr. Bcecher there sophstcal perversion
OF the condition things than that statementf YOu
know from evidence that Mr. Moulton, by Of
the conditions Of his business and the necessity ct bcig
your large warehouses and docks among rude and
violent persons, and at oil hours Of the day and night
In the habit OF carrying q pstoa habit that do
not approve habit that think under ordinary circum
stances never should induge In, habit which think
produces great part OF the Ourages aud crimes which
afict the community. But 1t necessity Of his busi
description u that pistol and you know from Mr.
Becchers evidence that that pistol not carried for
any such purpose that imputed by Mr.. Porter and
that was not used for purposes OF intimidation But
the necessities Of this the determination to talk and
abuse these men out Of court hrs led learned friends
" indulge The must pardon me for sayng In this perver