The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-08-02
[From Harper's Weekly.I
Mr.. Beecher.

A year ago we had something TO SBy OF
character under fire." which was suggested
by the innuendoes and open charges made
against Mr.. Beecher. Ever since that time,
during all the twelvemonth, in the investiga-
tion by the Plymouth Church committee and
in the formal trial before jury, as we'll as in
the greater trial which has been conducted by
the public press and the private comment of
the whole country, Mr.. Beecher's character
has still been under fire. The real result is
not to be sought in the formal verdict of the
jury, but In the general public impression, for
the evidence in no cause was ever more
universally read, so the verdict in every mans
breast was never more entirely independent of
that of the courtroom. 1t is undoubtedly true
that legal forms and the rules of evidence,
which are imperative in courts of law, are of
great assistance in ascertainipg the truth; but
they are ALSO as has been shown in this trial,
very often serious bars and distractions. For
inst ance, one of the most important witnesses
against Mr.. Beecher was Mr.. Richards, the
brother OF Mrs. Tilton. He testified to certain
app earances that he had observed. but the
really important point, namely, whether he be-
lieved that these appearances actually meant
what, unexplained, they would be taken to
only the fact that he had observed, not the in-
ference that he might have drawn from his OBJ
servation. Nothing was more evident than
that he wished to say some thing which would
have thrown very much more light upon the
subject than what he did say; but the laws OF
evidence forbade, and the effort to ascertain
the truth was so far DISTRACTED by them.
The technical result of the trial, therefore,
could not be accepted as final by those who
limitations imposed by the rules Of evidence.
1t might be regarded as the best result attain
able under all the circumstances, but not con-
elusive. The real judgment is beyond the jury.
1t is remarkable that very little new evidence
of Importance was introduced during the trial.
The assertions of the various Statements of
last summer made up the bulk of the testi-
mony, and the chief witnesses were the au-
thors of the statements. Moreover, the only
point of doubt from the beginning has been
the explanation of Mr.. Beecher's letters Was
his own Interpretation of them correct, or
were they the effusons of the moral mon
ster which, if guilty, he necessarily is? This
has been nothing but circumstantial evidence
offered. Now when a man who has lived for
more than generation in light as fierce
as that (which beats upon a throne, and
whose character has to the public knowledge
never been assailed, is suddenly, at the age OF
sixty, accused of the most infamous offenses,
implying the most appalling and exceptional
tur pitude, not "a lapse from virtue" not a
sudden outbreak Of hot passion, but the long,
elaborate, crafty undermining of the moral
character of trusting woman, who had held
to him almost the relation of a child peculiarly
beloved, and who regarded him with tender
reverence-a young woman, moreover, the
wife of a young man, his disciple, whom he
brother, and when, simultaneously with this
corruption of pure womanly nature, per-
sistent declaration of innocence flows from his
lips, an avowal of absolute reliance upon the
ID ivine arm and an intimate and peculiar con-
sciousness of the Divine favor, combined with
careless buoyancy and joyousness OF manner,
OVERLOOKING in gay jests upon the very situa-
tion-when such charge, so complex, so re-
voting, so horrible, is made against such
man, and attended with circumstances so mag
nifying and multiplying his guilt, if guilty
he be, the best and holest instincts of human
nature demand that it be instantly and indig-
rantly rejected. unless it be made by man OF
equally uDspotted reputation, or unless the evil
dence be clear, incontrovertible, and conclusive.
Character must and does protect man so far.
1t shields him, under the circumstances, against
doubts suspicious, and inferences, and ceases to
protect him only when his reputation is distinct
ly seen to have been the most humiliating OF
deceptions, and himself the most crafty and
plausible of villains.
1t will not be asserted that the evidence
against Mr. Beecher has been incontrovertible
or conclusive. 1t has been throughout inferen-
tial. The allegation that he confes sed his guilt
is made by those who, in absence of corrobora-
tive proof, are no more to be believed than he;
and the question recurs whether his theory
and explanation of the circumstances, includ-
ing his letters, are more or less probable than
those of the accusers. Here the question be-
comes psychological. 1t is one OF experience
and observation of human nature and character
and emotion; and the in iuiry is whether a man
of an exceptionally emotional temperament,
naturally inclined and carefully trained to ex-
cessive and profuse expression, man OF the
utmost generosity, simplicity, sympathy, and
credulity, might not very readily, aud in his
case most naturally, feel and express an over
powering sorrow and regret wholly dispropor-
toned to the occasion, which might easily
and, from common experience, even naturally
but most mistakenly, be interpreted as evidence
of narrowing remorse and self accusing contri-
tion for enormous crime. Religious history is
full of illustrations of such phenomena The
best men have accused themselves as the worst,
and their agonizing protestatioDs of guilt and
despair for very inconsiderable acts or for moth
ing at all but the accusations of their own i'm
aginations, would be infinitely ludicrous if they
were not profoundly pathetic. There is an in
stance of this kind, which has been related to
US on excellent authority, in Mr.. Beechers own
career. When the late war began, young
man, the only sou of a widow, who had been
fascinated by Mr.. Beechers preaching, was
moved oy his patriotic exhortations and infiu-
ence to enlist, and was presently killed in bat
tie. His body was brought home, and Mr..
Beecher, going to the house, led the mother to
the coffin, and said to her that there lay her
son before her dead; that the young man, the
hope of her life and the stay of her age, had
been murdered, cruelty murdered, and that ne,
Beecher. was the assassin. And thereupon ne
burst into so passionate paroxysm OF seiI-sc-
cusation and reproach that the mother became
from him. Such an incident, entirely conso,
nant with what is known of MIR. Beecher, would
find a natural place in the pious chronicles
In what manner this key OF temperament
and cha ractpr unlocks all the doubtful passages
of the Brooklyn story has been already stated
| in the article in the Weekly OF a few weeks
since which considered all the testimony from
| the beginning to the end, and which explained,
as. we think, simply, naturally, and without
sraining any fair Interpretation, that the occa-
sion of the letters and the secret with which
| they are burdened was not the alleged offense,
| but a very different and innocent and sincere
| belief of the writer that he had unwittingly
become the agent of terrible wrong to persons
dearly beloved, who had fully trusted him. and
| that circumstances had arisen which seemed to
him to make concealment the wisest ,justest, and
best policy for all concerned. Nothing is clear
| er than that all that was said and done in such
a situation-which may have been foolish,false
and mistaken one-is susceptible of sccomm9da- Ia.
| TO adopt that theory is not only to suppose
| moral guilt, but guilt so monstrous, hypocrisy