New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-06-11
HOW CHARACTER SHOULD DE CONSIDERED
IN TIE CASE.

(tiAkAt
IN TIE CASE.
Bnt III, learned friend says this is mlracu-
Ions selection and herein lies tho the kernel OF the
,ic.,rse IN this case Now have no objection gentle
ueu f M fiult with the exrayagant glorifcaton "a
Mr. IIe:ry Ward Beecher by bis counsel. Aside from
tbs ouession aside from what think can show has
been his In the matter under investigation they
have no higher admiration for this defendant than my
sc they have no better appreciation OF his great ana
commanding qualities than myself, and they have no
more readness in according to their client than have
the R,c appreciation anu reverence. But when from
all that They derive principle whom upon that they
erect proposition either of fact or morally that 1t was
impossible Henry Ward Beecher not to sin. diner WIN
thcir conclusion The argument prevailing through all
tie addresses o: my learned friend is: "Why, MI
Beeeher IL good man; he has been sorviceable man TO
the world he has been great preacher great author
and distngusht IN the yceum and upon tho platform
rendered great service to the world he is great man.
aui therefore," says my friend. MI Evars, t Is I'M
possible be should have committed this offense 1t
is against the Of his nature Ii Is against all the I'M
pulses OF his beng is against all the training and the
discipline of his life he cannot have been guilty; Is
miraclo it is miracle IL he guilty; and you. gen
tcmcn the part OF tho plaintiff why you must produce
sufficient evidence % convince the jury that miracle
las happened in or midst" Well, what is this teach
Ing ccnemoni Is all experience of life to be dis
rcrdcdf Are have version ofthe Scriptures
Are we 10 have teachings In regard TO the nature
ami the fall Of mani Are we to be told that there IS no
sin among the apparently pure aud grea1 That there is
no hypocrisy the world That there is nobody who
steals the livery Of heaven to the devil int is that
our osery alton OF the worldi know Mr. Beecher does
not believe In original SIM think; am sure he does not
believe in total depravy but what becomes, under this
doctrine Of M Evart of tho teachings of Scripture that
utterly deraved that none of us are good no not
one that the heart is deceitful above all things and
desperatey wcked What becomes Of this theory OF the
~ bt,rna pafu Wal
IN the sin OF Adam did all men sins Is
81 tho teaching Of inspiration that human
nature is depraved, deceitful and desperate
And what becomes OF the AtOnement, II not sol what
necessity there for the suffering OF GOdf What
becomes OF the agony OF Gehsemanc, and Of Calvary
Where the necessity that God should descend and
die TO redeem the OF humanity All this is to be
rewritten If it Is a miracle that good men apparently
should with all this leaven OF unrghteousness. with
all these wicked and sinful tendencies Of the nature
when IL requires the constant guardianship of the Holy
Spirit TO hold the redeemed heart true to its faith and
professions in its life II these things true what be-
CONES of the doctrines OF my learned friend who stands
before you ana In the presence OF direct proof In the
presence of confessions and conferences which
coAd only be produced by the consciousness
OF most deep deprayi:y, who yet says that
this man pure and sanity and Godke, and that never
IN his whole life has his garment been stained by the
sme OF spot OF sui Well gentlemen, this has been the
theme upon which the most pathetic eloquence and the
highest uerances of the greatest oraory have boon dis
played for thirteen days before this jury and the world
~ IL the only impressive, stirring moving argument
which has been addressed in many forms, with such
powerful ngenuity by my learned adversaries
deny the proposition. Great and good as Mr. Beecher
may have been he is yet in the eye of God and in the
eye OF men, albe sinnr There is no one perfect no
GOT one know the value of character In this land of
ours where character is so valuable and 80 Efficient
where aided alone By good character aud an honest
c the humbs Of may aspire to the highest honors
Of society and Sate know the value OF character, and
esteem IL properly, and give 1t its due weight don't
know, gentlemen but may SO far as my own judg
ments and convictions concerned that IL this case
depended upon oral evidence alone, leaving out at
least one witness, Mrs. Moulton, that would
hesitate long before, against tho oath and chaiac-
ter and position Of Henry Ward Boceher would be-
Ieye this ofense, although imputed TO him By men who
believe to be honest and as honorable as any two
WHO have adorned either the ranks OF learning or
that business position so highly extoled by my learned
friends [Appauscl j give great value to character,
character and specially IL II is that holy char
animated by sincere pey by worship OF that God
whom, IL do not adore In Christian spirit, yet rev.
erence and fear character which, under such i'm
pulses and with devotion given to the interests OF
religion and Of and will not assail 1t lightly
will be tho organ of light assault upon such char
acter bat when it forces me into court OF Justice
challenges investigation claims entire purity and excel
icnce when it seeks to overturn the regulations OF men,
If not holy. yet as exemplary rs himseR. reputa
tous dear TO them as his Is so himself then ex
that character fearessy, and shall talk OF 1t as
IN my Judgment the evidence shall Justify lApplauseI
Judge Neilson-Ocer Rogers. you instruct your officer
up stairs to exact from tho people in the gallery
promise TO keep silence, otherwise the gallery Will be
closed i am quite ashamed OF the gentlemen on this
noor and Of being compelled to say 10 them that this
applause dsiespectfu to the Court and disrespectfu
10 YOU Think OF II momen-ifit had been any single
man or some one In this that disturbed speaker
and an auditory by demonstrations OF appause could
not bccy. it but for this exhibition. ITO the jurors
Gentlemen. return at o'clock.
The Court then took recess until O'Clock.