New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-06-03
MR.. TILTONS STORY OF THE INTERVIEW
INCONSISTENT WITH HUMAN NATURE.

INCONSISTENT WITH HUMAN NATURE.
Is adultery in a reputable family, in respect
able connection OF society and with woman of even
the ordinary traits OF purity Of intelligence Of piey
and OF domestic affections, commonplace occurrence
Is 1t TO be treated like cut Of the finger bruised
brOwi Is there anything that upturns the deep
est feelings Of the husband and Of the wife, when,
brought by the urgency OF conscience guilt is disclosed,
pardon begged and either the wife is slain by her hus
band or is pardoned by his superhuman charity
What tears what sobs, what solemn silence, what deep
contrition what conflicting. cOnvusive emotions I'LL the
husbands heart and show themselves in conflicting
hbiton OF his purpose and finally of his conclusion And
them when the injured husband meets his friend the
rupter OF his wife, the destroyer Of his honor the
deer of his marriage bed and the shame and disgrace
OF his children, and his chldrens Children when hus
band thus outraged Of whom it is said by wise man,
that have had frequent occasion TO refer to- not much
in repue doubtless with the dispensatons that get
direct revelations from heaven through mediumistc fits
Solomon says that Jealousy is the rage Of man :"
and when two such parties come together You may
imagine that If there be at the bottom either information
the part Of the accuser, mistaken you please
tanly II welfounded and conscious guilt the part Of
the accused that you will have scene that cannot be
handled by any conception and preparation before
hand Nature WILL ciH show itself in such an interview,
the great and central fact exists, either truth
as q conviction on one sde that of the accuser
And now. gentlemen. shall satisfy you upon mere
reading Of this plaintiffs story Of that interview rightly
interpreted. by that knowledge OF human affairs which
you and that knowledge of his character and Of
Mr. Beechers which you have gained in this trial. that
that narrative upon its reading. is a selfexpOsed
and seconvcted invention, framed by that degree Of
cunning that believes in words their instrUmentay,
their rhetorical connection. This plaintiff understood
that the wfes confessions there had been any,
could not be made the subject Of evidence against Mr..
Beecher Our law convicts parties their comics
$40 Of fhqra lie 11o
about Eizabeths Confession Mrs 1ltons confession,
that has been dragged by MoultOn and TltOn often
might be during their prOtraced evidence Is sOccsm
in terms. 1t accusation OF another a
fession of her will show youwhat was supposed
be cunning the part of this inventor Of this story,
TO his disgrace in bringing 10 light the shame OF
his wife that he had pardoned to make it probable
and possible that such a woman could be
in such q guiit-that he has covered it with
Inconsistencies with human nature that make
the whole story incredible and selfcontradictOry.
he knew that the CONFESSIONS say Of wife could not
be given in evidence he knew too that confidential in
tercOurse between the husband and the wife although
the law OF evidence much relaxed as it was held
by the Court permit the husband to testify against
the wife, against the defendant, in the wifes cause =
that the law did DOT permit ls statement Qt anything
that passed between him and his wife, He knew that
the only mode IN which he could bring to your notice
having occurred between himself and his wife, what it
was by weaving It into a recital narrative that
he should repeat 10 Mr. Beecher; and then he thought
d" Now have opportunity TO weave the web
OF my metaphysical argument that a woman that
was good and piOus, and that loved and that still
loves me- could be led into what all the world considers
as betrayal Of the husband, prostitution OF herself de-
sertOn OF mothers duty 20 children an abandonment
of everything that makes up good character and conduct
and pure fame and yet remain unsued in her conscience
and untouched in her purity. So too can weave into it
explanation Of how good man and great man can
ind in conscience and In religion, and In duty provo
catlye and support course Of conduct that, In the
general Judgment Of mankind would be- must dc con-
sdered base vile injurious TO all the interests OF
society as fatal the fame Of eveyD and everything
that the good and great valued it is possible to
portray even in the imagination Of poet IN the conduct
OF wicked man. thus" he said, "by the enchantment
OF my words and the prettiness Of my sentiment Will Gid
this awful guilt with what will make it credible or else it
never can believed" And there he is, the victim of
his own shallow philosophy.