New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-06-11
MR. BEECHERs TEMPERAMENT.

of Mr. Beecher il alluded to. But, with singular maia-
droi.ness think Mr. Eyarts in his argument TO YOU
presented tho same consideration in these words SPEAK
ing of the condemnation OF Mr. Bcecher by the outside
community. lie says:
Others put It upon what they understood to be the
robstness OF Mr. Ucechers frame. Well now, tlat u
rond 10 nut il upon that 1t very difficult to deal WITH
Tor cannot deny that he is man. as ne prss lsn nun h
figure And yet, and over again, you nave seen
what PROPOSED to DO rational exanlnatons OF ins n
ouiry that arc all made 10 depend when put I'd te tru
analysis Of what the AZ gumcnt on this question OF
ply steal strength and temperament.
Well you will get the idea. suppose.
Why TO be sure that overhrows human vlrtio human
civilization education, religion, morality faltn III men
and for men, faith in God ana lovo W God IL o'cr
throws them all.
We'll, when those terms Of high oratory rolled from
the Inns of my learned friend Mr. Evars they were over
nowe.jng II all these SOURCES Of human hope ana
human reliance be overturned by this doctrine that
men are differently constituted that they have different
force OF appctcs, and that they suffer different seVer-
ties of temptation, If all thcso ideas OF morality ana re-
gon and truth and honor are to be overtrown Dy that
smple sentimcn why it is terrific VIC must abandon IT,
Man ia an animal and when You come to deal with
the question OF natural pfopensitieS you must treat nm
an animal.
Well tina. ia what this doctrine OF robustness does
In other words gentlemen this scandalos ana wlcKcn
and when stated riioul0u5 ana mOnstr0us pfopoitioh
il made that ganst al accusation o ncOntllehco t.re
Is no defense state OF society except the PROOF Vi
impOtency
Well, gentlemen nobody has stated that proposition
that know OF except Mr. Evarts Does DIR. Evarts
mean deny tat there varieties OF human temporal
ment that men are differently constructed that they
have different propencs, that they have different pas
sons or the passions but changed In each In nten
stv and yirulencei Does he mean to say that all mon
havo the same orce of will and the same power OF re-
sstancc TO cmpatont Why, he must say that, or else
BIO must admit that in tho varieties OF human
nature, Some men arc constituted with prone
meas to particular ndulgences, to particular vices
and think do not doctrine which would be
dangerous to tho community when say that they are
infected with different constitutional tendoncic5 leaving
Them in a variety OF cases. to the preparation Of partc-
lar crimes Why medicine AMI In experience there
persons WHO. without any motive without any sort OF
tcmptaton ladies' Of high degree in everything clse cx-
hibng all the graces OF q trre womanhood. wealthy,
reputable distinguished marons OF society," yet who can
not resist tendency. when they under particular
circumstances In the presence of single tcmptation'
cannot help stealing They do steal The instances are
numerous and they exist now in the City OF Now-York
and tho works of medical authors and
tho acknowledged opinion OF medical science de-
clare that such examples OF human infrmty
do exist And then in the tendency to arson, to Ourn in
the tendency KILL all these are maintained not only
Observation-Disclosures By tho most learned men
Of tho community but they sustained By tho clcaros
examples Now the law rejects OF course all this. when
il Is intcrposed as shield for criminal Ocn,o and do
not dispute by any the policy Of tine law That Is
not a subject for our discussion here. I only illustrate
by that determination of SCIENCE and ~ that evidence OF
examples in addition to Others which have given you,
that ali this theory of Mr. Eyarts in regard to the
mon plane OF humanity. to the common rule OF passona
excitement and the level OF controlling will and
Judgment. is illusory and But what does Mr.
Beechcr think about t lie Is better judge than
Mr.. Beechcr says
I care not to havo come to mo and state their
secret could read IN the skin and In the eye
There IA no one sin Gle appetite passion has
natural language and every undue indulgence OF that
appetite passion leaves that natural language more
lea stamped npon the skim upon the features upon the
expression Of the face, the carriage Of tho body Pride
has is natural Language, mrthtuness has goodness has,
Ian .ilage Men think that il they commit their wicked
IN secret places or IN the night that 1t Is not known
II is known although say to him. Thou art
guilty" And again, There very many men
saniEei that their appettes ali their passions FREEDOM
mate with terrific iOfcc'
All! Mr. Evarts II say to you that there Is a certain
form Of constitution that there the possession Of
tain passions and certain appees manifested by the
exterior development of the man. which strong and
terrific their impulse toward sin and indulgence, do
say that the charge Of incOnnence only DO met by
the proof of inpoencyi Mr.. Beechcr says no.
After you have been leading Christian life for 25
years for 30 years you had the strong ten iences
organized in q. the beginning they will he there still
No power will eradicate them where they once existed
they are incradicabe.
Ana IL Is true philosophy, upon the known
constitution OF man, upon the inherited tendencies OF
human nature upon the experience OF tho world That
Is from the plymouth Church Pulpit" Seventh Series
Of Sernons page l45 and the first in the 18th
volume, at page $50. Again Mr.. Beecher says:
The intellectual anil the moral faculties certainly
animal passions Of the race do not seem to have lost
do they to be under greater control
than they were thousand or two thousand years ago
All. yes gentlemen Mr.. Beechcr recognizes tho truth
NJ the pxi, q in
the external FORM which exist In all their original and
terrific power neither abacd in force better governed
than when more animal than now. 10th
Series, 1911 Again:
Men amount Of SANDER against their phys
cal nature, and attempt to repair deficient virtue by
manning their animal passions. These TO be trained
guided restrained but never cruciied extermnated
do not exactly agree In the application OF that term
"crucified" They should be cruciied, perhaps never
eEtermnated.
"The lecherons imagination goes to and fro, robber
OF purity throug the universe And then he speaks
OF these great, swollen. bulnecled men" Find me
preatcs and bishops that have made the world richer
than they found it, and will also find in them q mixture
OF dros "The malign passions rise and dominate over
the higher faculties There is nothing else that begins
to compare in cruelty with the human race Sharks are
mercifu and lions and serpents angelic compared
with men Man the chief monster that the earth ever
bred" And he says OF himself with great candor and
propriety: I" am mam OF passions like your own.
know my own estate and my own weaknesses I shall
labor among you with these weaknesses In tho time to
come"
Now. gentlemen, should not have alluded to this sub
ject but for It's discussion by Mr. Evarts am not going
TO argue against this defendant single propo
son idea that do not believe to DO ust and sound
Whatever may be the constitution OF this defendant
whatever others may say about his physical development
and the indications which his external form gives OF the
possession OF high and intense passions Of particular
apetites do not urge argument In this
justice. believe 1t would he q disgrace Admins
tration OF the law to charge man for in
slant with the idea Of incontlnence or adul-
terry upon the theory Of bis physical constitution