The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-05-28
THE SCANDAL.


then said, in this case, from the time the scan
dal fist burst on the public attention, so far as
the individual accused and the lady inculpated,
the parties accused have not been judged by
the measure of justice we would wish to be
meeted ont to ourselves. Everybody has been
irving everybody Europe has been trying
America, New York has been trying Brooklyn.
and other cities of the state have been trylue
both New York and Brooklyn, coupling tne mem
as Sodom and Gomorrah The old honiisn
church has been trying Protestant chufches,
and Infidels have been trying Christahs, anu
Presby terians have been trying all the more
modern forms of dissenting charches, MetIou-
lists and Baptists have been trying eacn otner,
and finally the Congregational churcnes nave
been trying Plymouth church And III tnese
whirlpools defendant was tried
When YOU come to consider the defendant
nlaeed before this civil justice of the country
there was great expectation OF WhaG ne
should or might do. A proposition was made
that unless he affirmatively made bis innocence
clear as innocence will appear at the Judgment
day people will have the right to doubt him,
thus making this inquisiton like the Judgment
day without giving US the penetrating con,
Science and charity that be ong to God. All
these limitations or the power Of men were dis
carded in these eXactions by the puDnc, ana
their organs of opinion, take the scandal at the
point, whereas as a matter OF ilhculty III nrst
came up so by reference to some recognized Or
gan of the controversy. Beecher was exposed
with us. Then, when the scandal was promul-
gated numbers of course believed it; idle prom
Gates of New York believed it, and discussed
the scandal with sneers aud smiles. The IDEA
that man should err with woman, these classes
saw they had known always and everywhere,
and were glad their doctrines were being ac-
cepted Others received it on the robustness
and physical strength of Beecber, torgetfui teat
civilization and Christianity, God and love TO
God overthrow natural propensltles. IN oIher
-.
proposition is made, that against the accusa'
ton of incontinence, if made in our society, no
sufficient answer can be offered except by proof
of impotence. How shocking!
Counsel then spoke at length, criticising the
outside comments upon the trial and the course
OF the defendant in not giving up his pulpit as
soon as Tilton brought out bis charges.
| He then said, first of all in this scandal came
the Woodruff threat and the Woodruff publ
cation. The flood cannot rise higher than the
fountain, and these did not canse mucn dis-
turbance of the public mind. The next publ
cation of il was in the form OF the Bacon let'er
by Tilton himself and from that time there
had been accusations that would justify man
in Beechers position to demand an invest'Sa-
ton. An accusation connecting pastor with
one of his parishioners in improper relations
ought to be Investigated by well-balanced
minds and reputable men, and venture to say
these men who are appointed have as much IN
telligence and public repute DIS New YorK and
Brooklyn could afford; and these men were all
examined and cross-eXamined. Tllton main
tanned his accusation before them, but Mrs.
Titon exonerated her PASTOR indicating her-
self and saved her children against this re-
proach but at the same time passing over any
hostile exposure of her husbands character.
Beecher was examined and cross examined,
and all these papers were before that committee
| and the unanimous judgment of these SIX men
was disposition of the matter that should
satisfy all candid and sincere minds. But De-
fore that could have effect, the suit was set on
foot. The plaintiff published great argument,
flung out without an adversary; this faithful
champion and two others, full OF arguments
and threats, brave opponents, growing defiance
at an absentee. AT last there came submission
or course to the ordinary forms of Justice.
The plaintiff always enjoys the advantage IN
preliminary arrangements for trial. and DO
doubt this plaintiff showed great wisdom III
| the selection of counsel, and Mr.. Evarts here
compimented the lawyers all around.
Counsel likened the plaintiff to Samson
Agonises, who would pull down temple and
destroy himself, his wife and his opponent. 1t
takes two to commit adultery, and some woman
must be made partner in the accusation and
infamy. The plaintiff knew his wife was pure
as gold, chaste as snow. rlous as SAINT, ana
loyal to her husband as if she worshlpped the
ground on which he trod, even if it was ground
where he was eating the husks which the swine
ate. He had sworn it here that she has been
and is as lovely woman as nature and dlVlne
grace could produce, and shall we before the
throne of God brand her otherwisef But he
has also sworn he would stab Heecher to the
heart for interfering with his interests and for
disturbing as he imagined his domestic peace,
and that he would pursue him to his grave.
Counsel spoke of the worldwide reputation or
Beecher, and charged that this attack Is not
personal but against morality ana reHglon'
Beecher was also known ia hts person as rec
ognized object of common knowledge in your
CITY, He never could take secret walk, or
take secret drive, or go in privacy to any
Photographic saloon or picture gallery, where
there were not eyes enough TO see ana ears
enough to hear whatever should show itself IN
his demeanor and speech, and now his cnlpa-
blity with this woman is alleged to have &C.
CURED at their residences.
Mr. Evarts continued: These are the hunted
parties; who are the pursuers? Tilton, Moul,
| ton aud Mrs. Moulton. In law the husband
| brings the suit, but the plot, scheme, pnrpose,
| has been the common ground of action OF fii-
| ton and Mou'ton for years, and Mrs. Mouooh,
| somewhat cognlzant of what was going on,
comes to choose whether she shall be counted
| with the pursued or the pursuers aud she took
| the latter. For that no man can look on her
| without pity, when the common experience Of
| society carries it to the husbands account.
The issue is now raised, and we are Drought
| To consider what is the form and nature OF the
| qnilt IMPUTED The seduction of married
woman, who gives children to her husband, is
| there any greater crime? Leave ont the rela-
| ton of clergyman and parishoner, of age and
| of circumstances, that give Nervousness to the
| crime, from the paramours rel atioh TO MS ow u
| family and take as the action OF loose calcula-
| tors on the virtue of women, is there greater
| crime? Is there crime visited with greater
| severity in the Judgment of all moral men? An
gentlemen, this is the first clear DISCRIMINATION
| you are to make for the general accusation q
| sexual intercourse from sexual temptation, and
with greater or less guilt, but this seduction OF
| pious, discreet childbeariur mother IN her
| home is a crime that needs to be proved. In
| deed you are not to judge of the crime in the
| abstract, but of this crime, and consider, the
| compatibility of it with any pretences to love,
| and generosity in the breasts Of this man and
woman.
Plaintiff made bis choice and undertakes tc
| carry conviction, but when L come to take up
| the narrative of his accusation. if don't prove
| to you these words never came from the lips OF
| woman, / will lose the cause. The father OF
| lies has played some trick with him, as with
| all his dupes. What becomes OF human max
| inns of human society, of Watts with his e1pe'
| rence of what comes to idle hands, and the
| experience of all men, that these offences are
| bred out Of luxury, idleness, opportunity and
| allurements? Have you maxims by which a
| parent saves son ana daughter, by keeping
| them out of bad company OF the idle and disso
| lutte? Why your honor and gentlemen, the
| intellectual traits that framed this charge are
| as contemplate as the moral ones that permit.
| ted it. Well, the charge is adultery. Maternal
| Instincts of grief for buried child, and of joy
| for the birth of "a man child, begins and ends
CUTS domestic tragedy. Parties may fall by
| overpowerIng temptation and mutual attrac-
| tons suddenly, and it is wicked to God, society
| and human nature, but in this case the charges
are such as to cause blasphemy, sacriIege, false
| witness, perjury. The whole decalogue is rent
| asunder by woman that is most lovely and a
| man who is now the greatest preacher of the
gospel of love; the greatest defender of the
| foundations of society and cheerer of the beau
ties and charities of family relations; the great
est advocate of all that is pure and good; a
man that when he is cross-eXamned about his
life from indianapolis down goes from The
stand uDquestioned by the audacious cross-ex-
johnson whether he did not pick up a strup-
pet IN Canal street and take her to bawJy
house, "The fool saith in his heart there is no
God" There is no moral element lookip out
on man. nothing that keeps society toetner
but policemen and handouts, and noting thaG
Keeps women pure but mprisonwnI ana
eunuchs. That is the doctrine of he World:
This mans case leads you to, and you must
take the divine faith as the basis ga tne glory
of virtuons and strict society, anehnu t1aI as
long as the relations of man to han auo man
to God continue as they are, syn CRIME is I'M
possible.
Recess.
At ten minutes after to O'Clock Evarts re-
sumed. He said the incedibility of so fragrant
and heinous an imputtion on Two eAcelieht
people as he was justied 10 pronouncIng the
parties irrespective of this imputatlon was
sonoht tn ha no raed by the plaintiff by certain