St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1875-03-05
MI. Beecher's Paper on Mr.. Beecher.
From the Christian Union. Feb. 26

FROM llt HIl>IltH mon f'u ~
Wholly without Nh. Bcechrr'S kuowl-
edge. the other conductors of this paper
again take the responsibility of speak
ing in it, nam.. They wish its readers
To- know What attitude they occupy
toward its tditnr-in-chicf during the
PROGRESS of his trial. and what is the
papers position toward him. They
pupu>ck choo>.. this time. W hen thu,
prosecution i bringing torWa ard its most
plausible evidence. and before the de
tense has begun its reply. 1t l. in no in
c"n>idcrItrmr>S or Spiri! of hraNadn
that they speak. The great interests
which are involved on their part are
the ASSURANCE that their words are de
lihcrItr and we'll weighed.
We say. then. that we have mistaken
and absolute confidence in Nh. BrccheI' :
entire innocence. We implicitly believe
that he i Il pure. upright Christian man.
We hold him worthy of the utmost
tIu-t H. Il moral teacher. And the
! Christian mon. which has been proud
to bear his name when the whole world
honorcd him. * proudcr Ia bear il. to-
day. in his adversely. than ever hctnIe
That name viii never hc taken from
the paprl front ;" long a> the paper
r"naIn> III It's present hands. The
Christian | mon i ready To stake its
life ON Henry Ward Brcchcr. We SAY
this. with the full meaning of the words
we'll assured nt tn" ground on which
We stand. The editorial and business
managers OF this paper know Mr.. Beech
cr. We have personal knowledge. and
some at IL haN, life long knowledge of
his character. We know that his life.
III its great principles. i animated 10y
the Spirit of God. We know that he
is totally incapable of the INDUSTRIOUS
hlp"rIi>N with which he is charged 1t
i, ont ct faith. tcrvrnt indeed. hut based
| on knowledge Is rational and we'll
grounded a> the human mind admits.
! that We pledge t" him anew the Hurr-
served allcwianc, Of tll, Christian anon.
In the prosperity of this paper our per
Snual fortunes. interests and aspirations
N" most deeply involved. We freely
aud gladly stake it all on the Christian
purity of this man.
We are not iuSensihlc Ia the >peciouS-
Hess of some of the evidence brought
forward 10y the prosecution non have
We ANY rcu>ure for those who. having
II" personal knowledge oi the man. and
no clear iutinatiun of how his accuScr>
will he met. are for the present >wayrd
against hun. But We ourselves have
no doubts The issue of this trial is
with the Almighty. We look to see
NJ. BrcrhcI'> name cleared before the
whole world. and such honor paid him
aS hc has never Vet received. When
that day comes. we shall rejoice that in
these dark hours the paper aVowed its
faith. But even If the temporary issue
should he in any degree adverse. we
are willing to share adversely with our
leader. If the public should he miSled
into duuhtiug him. the Christian Union
could ask no mor, honorable fate than
to share the evil aS well us the good
fortune OF the man who has better scrv-
ed the American community and the
cause of Christianity than any other in
this generation. In good report. and in
evil report, We trust and honor him and
are proud t. follow him. We know
tlat sooner or later these clouds will
pass way. and his name shine lis one of
the talt htIIl of Cod