The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-06-27

\ attained to when Mr. Tilton entered his test-
mony, when Mr. Moulton confirmed his story,
when Mrs Moulton, with indisputable cao-
dor related her conversations with the de-
I PENDANT and again when Mr.. Beecher was
\ cross-examined and told the sad tale OF his
moral cowardice and superhuman forgiveness
Of his enemies The climax Of the trial was
again found when Mr.. Porter Numbered his
anatnemas against the plaintiff, when Mr..
/ Evarts with skill SURPRISING that by which
he recovered fifteen millions Of dollars from
Great Britain at the Geneva Conference, WoVe
the ingenious argument which was intended
to exonerate his client from the entangled po-
sition into which his own folly or guilt had
placed him-a web which IN ~ove web Of
almost equal completely OF circumstance
and when Mr.. Beach, with sword keen as
the thin film Of gossamer floating IN
air. Again the climax came when Judge
Nelson, with steady arm outstretched, held
before the eyes Of the jury the even balances
Of stice-impartiality, not blind, as IN the
ancient statues, but tar-sighted and percep-
tive Of the i2ht in which both plaintiff and
defendant have a part and the wrong OF
which neither may be acquitted. But all
these climacteric effects were Elusive The
true climax SO far as the trial is concerned,
comes only when the verdict Of the jury is
expected.
Upon those twelve men the eyes Of the
nation are fixed They we're almost acct
dentally chosen from community, yet, 50
great is the faith in the jury system inherited
from Anglo-Saxon customs, that their true
saying is anticipated as if it were fnality OF
Judgment All the interest that has attended
this six months investigation Of a scandal of
four years is concentrated in the deci-
sion Of the jury. These druggists,
manufacturers, builders, grocers, mechanics
and merchants are expected to decide
q question which such great inteilects rs
those of Evarts, Beach, Morris and Porter
have carried to the extremes Of perplexity and
difference. Thus all doubts are by an adj
mirable system Of jurisprudence relegated to
the common sense OF the people. The great
lawyers may argue but the ordinary citizen
must ultimately be the judge from whose
verdict there is no appeal The jury, there
fore, by its inability to agree at once, has be
come the central point Of tire trial Evarts is
forgotten for the time, Beach is dismissed to
oblivion, in tho desire to know whether Jeffrey
will stand firm or whether Carpenter will
conquer his antagonists.
But here is reached one more illusion Of
tho public. Tie jury may decide the trial, it
is true, but it can never decide the case.
These twelve men cannot speak for forty
millions Of people in America and almost as
great a number IN England In beth coun-
tries Dir. Beecher is known as man OF ex-
traordInary influence and distinguished rep
uiation, and in both the question Of his
guilt has been debated till the sim
pie issue Of one mans character has
/ transcended the possibilities OF war or
\ peace, Of governments or nations. Even the
/ fate OF freedom, as it is threatened by the
\ thru term danger, is eclipsed by this spectre
I OF social crime, as when the dark and Grim
soned moon interpcses bef efsanguined bulb
\ BET ween tho earth and sun. The Brooklyn
\ jury, the opinion Of Mr. jeffrey, or Mr.. Car
7 pepter, OF Mr.. Filter, or Mr.. Whelan, it is
notorious, can settle nothing. AS a matter Of
\ legal form their unanimous verdict, it is
true, would be final; yet they are but individ-
uals The nation has watched the trial as
carefully as they have done, and the verdict
upon the verdict will be immeasurably greater
than the legal verdict itself
The world IS waiting for the verdict Of tho
jury, but will il accept il when 1t il delN-
cred? Mr.. Beecher himsef-accused Of moro
crimes than one not merely Of adultery, but
Of perjury, not merely Of perjury, but Of the
worst ingratitude, and not merely OF adul-
terry, perjury and ths worst ingratitude,
but Of a systematic de- erminntion to ruin
the innocent that he may protect his own
reputation Mr.. Beecher may answer. He
who IS most concerned in this trial is not
waiting for the verdict Of the jury In bis
sermon on Friday evening, when he stood be-
fore his congregation, while twelve men were
discussing the evidence Of his innocence or
guilt Mr. Bsecher Saddle don't lie with
you or anybody on the face Of the earth to de-
termine my future. That is a matter that lies
with me and God, and God and against the
world" Again be repeated However
pressed am, however ! am put down, will
come upmagain / do not care what
people think Of me / know what | am.
Living or dying, am the Lord ).
Ny future Is in His hands. will do my work
though ten thousand devils stand in the way"
This is the position Mr.. Beecher has assumed
he defes the result Of tho Judicial inquiry
into his personal actions. He 10 not waiting
for the verdict, yet he Of oil is the man most
interested in it's nature
Mr.. Beecher has appealed to Heaven FIRST,
and secondly to man. He has refused TO
submit 70 the Judgment Of jury Of his coun-
trymen. lie will preach, even il be should be
found guilty Of adultery, 80 long as sinners