Litchfield enquirer., 1875-07-08
Charity.


 Beecher unbelievers are in equally irrecon- cilable antagonism. 1t has become pretty evident that the only resource left reason able people is that of charitable disagree ment. It is not to be expected that any who believe Mir. Beecher innocent will take Hilton, Moulton, Bowen and Carpen- ter to their bosoms. That would be something more than charity. Nor, on the other hand, can Mir. Beecher's friends reasonably expect those of us who believe him guilty to overlook the deprayity for the sake of the genius we find in him. We may have that sort of respect for the sublimity of his wickedness one cannot bat feel for Milton's Satan, but we can go no further. Friends of the respective principals in this quarrel can no more be- come reconciled to the chief parties of the opposite part, than can those opposing principals become reconciled to each oth- er The best we can do is to have charity for each other.
 There has perhaps never been a great issue of fact in the history of litigation that has developed such diversity, and yet such positiveness of opinion as this monstrous scandal. Its slow progress, and yet vivid interest, have combined to in- tensify opinions to an unparalleled degree. At first, indeed, peoples views were con- stantly changing. Then those views hardened into positive opinions, and. by the time the trial had commenced, only new evidence of the most decisive charae- ter could have changed them. Then came on months on months of examining and cross-examining the same old wit nesses in the same old points, with just enough that was new and important to keep peoples attention fixed on the trial. All the while, with that curious faculty the human mind has of seizing upon and assimilating welcome facts, while it rejects those that were unwelcome, the firm friends of one or the other party in..January last have intensified into rabid partizans by the first of July. SO that there seems real danger that permanent arrangements may result from differences on this hateful question.
 It is just here that charity should come in. We may lose all faith in MT. Beecher without losing faith in NIT. Beecher's friends. So, too, the Beecher believer may denounce Hilton without denouncing those who believe him much the better man of the two. Most quaTrels in this world arise from the imputation of evil motives. Charity does not require that we should believe MT. Beecher innocent of crime of which the evidence to our view shows him to be guilty; but charity does require us to coneede that a man may hold Mr. Beecher innocent without being a fool or hypocrite. Charity requires no friend of MT. Beecher to speak or thiuk we'll of MT. Hilton, yet it does re- quire that he should concede that honest men, of pure lives, may believe in the truth of the charge against the great preacher. No doubt many are ready to believe evil of MT. Beecher because he is a minister. No doubt many hasten to the conclusion that an accused man has suc- cumbed to temptation because they feel that they could not themselves withstand it. On the other hand. no doubt many shut their eyes to the facts of this case because they do not wish to believe SO eminent a minister guilty of conduct that may prejudice religion. Many are ready to believe anything evil of Hilton because he is not orthodox. Many are ready to believe that all distrust of MT. Beecher's innocence comes straight from a bad heart. The people, however, who think evil of one or the other party from these evil motives are, we sincerely believe, the small minority of each of the great par ties into which America is divided on the Beecher question. What the great ma jority of either of these great parties need is charity enough to recognize the fact that there is large room for honest differ ences of opinions in regard to this lament oOAO O00CS 0u0 sAA9b bAC 4Ob1NCS kl16b luuus ence the friends of both sides are, on the whole, pure, honest, and reputable.
 The legislative committee on constitu- tional amendments have agreed to recom- mend an amendment giving the appoint ment of judges to the governor. That would be a real reform. The worst ap- pointing body in the world is legisla- tnre. When the people decide there must in almost all cases be some reference to fitness in the nominees. Where a gov ernor appoints. there is heavy responsi- bility thrown on a single individual. Where legislature appoints, it is mere matter of arrangement between cliques and Hobbies.
 Yale has captured the college ball championship. On the 26th ult the first game was played at Boston with Harvard, resulting in a victory for Yale, g to4. In this game, Avery. the pitcher of the Yales, was disabled, and Maxwell sprained an ankle nevertheless, at the return game, played at New Haven, Monday. the Yales again defeated the Harvards, II to4.
 Judge Heman H. Barbour died at Hart ford, last week, at the age of 45. He was prominent lawyer of that place and an ardent advocate of temperance and other reforms.
 The legislative committee on agricul- ture have voted against an appropriation for an agricultural experiment station and in favor of giving 5000 to state fair. The state fair may be we'll enough. but we imagine the experiment. station is much the more important of the two.
 The judiciary committee of our legisla- ture recommend the appropriation of $2,-