Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1875-02-18
The Broeklyn Duel-Dutslne sf ahs
DefoMces


D6f00Ces
Correspondence Of the Chicago Tribunel
One Of Beecher's friends-nay, his principal
agent in dealing with the public-has issued an
official explanation Of the case. It ia taken from
the Plymouth brief and is virtually An epitome
Of the defence. 1 guarantee it to be the author
lied synopsis Of what Beecher will swear to, and
what EvArts will elaborate. The defence will be
an entire denial Of any wrong against Tilton,
but not Of An offence, which Tilton could we'll
Afford to oondsns, in 1870, and which the world
will willingly and gladly pardon now. II Mrs.
Tilton 10 to be credited her marriage experience
and her husbands is that OF thousands Of famil-
les In this country.
Theodore Tilton is naturally vain and egotisti-
cal beyond moat men. He married young wo-
man who was then quite his equal. He grew
rapidly and In every way At thirty he was the
friend and companion of men of worldwide dis
tinction. His name has been identified with
great moral and political revolution. He was
Ane writer, graceful and eloquent speaker, and
man of exceptionally good presence. He was
pointed 1t In the streets ~ 4 remarkable man.
He waA followed, fattered, sought, and sued in
his Office on the platform and in the lyceum, by
mon who were honored by his companionship,
and by graceful women who were proud of his
attentions.
HIS WIFE GROWS PLAIN.
His wife lost her youthful charms, for she
life had blossomed. "He used TO say" says
Mrs. lilton, =" that onr appearance in the street
caused ridicule, because he Was so much taller
than I. On one occasion, when joined him on
the street, he angrily said he would wish for
thousand dollars, that had not came up to him.
On another occasion, at party, he charged me
not to come where he was again during the eve
ming" He was not perhsps entirely conscious
of the wrong he did her, but he did it all the
same.
His business as lecturer took him away from
home. A greater man than he had free ACCESS
to that home during his absence. He found
compAnionship in . little lady who felt herself
neglected by her husband. She was the envy
Of other women because Of tho great preachers
manifest preference for her. He read manu-
scripts Of his articles and books to her, admitted
her excellent taste, consulted her judgment,
And-most delicate and seductive hAttory OF all
sometimes accepted 1t, and the glory WAS
greater because the world did not recognize in
it the paragraph that was turned as she advised
it to be, or the literary character that was FASH
ioned or shaded as she had recommended. 10
the preacher and author this companionship was
very grateful.
THE HUSBAND FALLS DOWN TO STRANGE GODS.
The husband came to see this. He was too
proud or too weak to resent 1t, but he revenged
it, ~ he could SO easily, outside his home. The
pastor saw that he was encroaching on the
rights of others, but he readily convinced him
self that he was injuring nobody. He was made
to see at times, that he did give offence, but he
was not conscious OF any great wrong. The es-
arrangement between the husband and wife
deepened aud widened. Finally.it came to be
whispered about chat Tilton had formed allan
ces with other women. The wife blamed him,
but WAS the blame all his The beloved pastor
did not say that 1t was hers. Reports grew
louder OF the husbands infdelity. He
WAS the avowed associate and companion
Of women that even "men OF the world
avoided as being too notorious or - holding
their fayors too chesply. The husband goes
step further, and defends the theories Of women
who seek to defend themselves and drag others
down to their level by endeavoring to show that
women may become prostitutes upon principle.
Still the pastor holds that the trouble ls from
without and not from within. HIS sympathies
all go out to the woman whose home he is half
consciously breaking up-his censure to the
man whose ruin he is unthinkingly accomplish
ing. The pastor goes as far as to advise u sepa-
aration. Another mans wife loves him. He
knows it, but the knowledge is sweet to HIM.
The husband knows it, but he is too proud or
too weak to resent it. All at once the wife's
| consciousness is awakened.
THE ELIMINATION.
All At once the husband asserts himself the
PASTOR the friend the counsellor, tho father, is
soafrunssh with she ruin he has hsouSht about.
His repentance ls exuberant In It's expression !;
his remorse as absolute as il the worst offence
had been committed. Lives are blighted, a
home is shattered. Tlton, with an essentially
weak nature, follows up his advantage he
| kFku6e ulWe6lI lALO C0t Deliel tuht u0 uAb SUI
fered tho extreme wrong through his wife and
his friend he goads the one into the admission
that she Was at least tempted and solicited. He
argues himself into the belief that the
sther had not solicited and tempted in vain,
because they both were too close in conf
dence. He insists that they both were guilty OF
sin they never imagined. Beecher, having
told his story with certain frank, boysh shame,
| fret, because he bundered into Mrs. Titona
affections. and, second because he blundered
out Of the ENHANCEMENT in manner derogatory
to his self-respeot, will leave the stand as one
who, in telling the whole truth, has not only
has charged nothing worse than insane
jealousy to his prosecutors. Having showered
his Goals OF fire, he will
RETIRE WITH AN EMPTY scur1LE,
and allow his counsel to supplement what was
generous and forbeaTing confession of error, but
not An admission Of CRIME. They will further
| show that on Tlton's Jealousy waited his desire
to supplant Beecher that when he found his
opportunity in the enlargement Of his wife and
the boyish simplicity Of his pastor lie digested it
for six months, and then, drawing Moulton into
his confidence, enlisted that shrewd wordling in
. conspiracy not 80 much against Beecher's purse
As against his standing in Christendom. That
conspiracy ceased to be aggressive only when
Beecher burst his bonds and appealed in desper-
alton to his committee.
At first the defence contemplated only charge
of mere blackmail-of an attempt to extort
money-by threatening TO submit for the mis-
construction of the world folly which could ca
silly be exaggerated into crime, but Evarts saw
at once that to argue TIltons willingness to
break up his home and expel his wife from his
embrace merely to gain 5000 from Beecher
would be to submit proposition too monstrous
for sane man even to consider. SO, at his sug-
gestion, the baser animus Of envy and Of era
wing to destroy Beecher was assumed as the in
spiration Of the attack.
DR. sToRRs TO BE AN IMPORTANT WITNESS
One of the witnesses who will inhict some
damage upon the theory that Moulton origins-
ted all the suppressive and deceptive projects
for the preservation OF the triune secret will be
the Rev. DIR. Charles Storrs. He it who
nearly thirty years ago, held out the right hant
! Of fellowship to Beecher, when he came here
! from Indianapolis He it was, twenty-five year.
later, at the silver wedding of Plymouth Churcl
and Beecher, upon whose neck Beecher fell, ,ant
whom Beecher kissed with fervor that thrilled
rapturous congregation. To him Tilton hsd
early recourse with hesitating confession o.
his homes desolation. To him Beecher had re
course Just before the great Congregations
Council Numbered over the grave from which
its Moderator compelled the scandals resurrec
ton. Storrs will present clearly and succinctl,
the uuwritten history.