Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-03-31
THE BROOKLYN SCANDAL.
What the Trial Has So Far Re-
Vealed.
A Strange state of Society.
characteristics of the Plaintiff
and Defendant.
- York Herald. ,l.rch b

New York Herald, March %.
To-morrowthe TiltOn-Beecher trial opens
on its thirteenth week. For three long
months this case has occupied public atten-
ton and afforded a spectacle not only
amazing in its developments Of human
character and thought, but full Of surprises
TO the mode Of life and personal habits Of
the principal actors. The plaintiff and the
defendant, the witnesses on either side and
many people who have been accidentally
drawn into the case, have already been
placed in lights that are wonderful in their
aspects. Before the trial began an air of
mystery hung over the scandal, and the
public was led to expect remarkable deVel-
Opments. The developments that have
been made are remarkable enough, but not
in the direction anticipated. Most people
supposed the plaintiff would bring forward
evidence that would prove the guilt Of the
defendant or else he would fail and lose his
case; instead Of that, the evidence for the
prosecution has been indefinite and ram
bling. But it had one result. It placed
the defendant in 4 most peculiar position
for minister Of the Gospel. The testimO-
ny offered against him shows that Mr.,
Beecher was not by any means the strong
minded, clear-headed man we would ex-
pect to find in a teacher of divine truths
and lessons. Instead of being a valiant
shepherd, ready in the hour Of trial and
difficulty to fight for his flock and himself,
he appears to have been easily frightened
and anxious TO tempOrize. When
threatened by his enemies, he failed
to stand up and defy them, as most
men would do under similar circum-
stances. The defence claims thai he is
the victim Of a conspiracy; and, taking that
view Of the question, it is unfortunate that
the defendant did not seek the aid Of his
church officers and repel the attack. In
stead of this he tempOrized, prOcrastinated,
and, having taken one false step, found it
easier to continue to run down hill than
attempt to climb up again. 1t is not with
in the scope Of this article to discuss the
question which the jury must some day
next summer take into their hands. The
result Of the trial now in progress remains
with the future. But it is interesting to
review the developments being made from
day to day regarding the life that must ex-
ist in the community out Of which this
hideOus scandal has sprung.
Now as to the defendant. The testimO-
ny given by the witnesses on both sides has
greatly shaken the popular idea regarding
Nh. Beecher. Before the scandal was hint
ed abroad, and even up 10 the opening of
the trial, he was believed by many to be a
man of sense and discernment. For many
years he had sought to teach and advise his
fellOw-men on both religious and secular
topics, and while doing so assumed to be,
by force of character and long study, pc
culiarly fitted for the task Of his life. In
the pulpit, on the lecture platform and in
the columns Of secular, literary and relig-
iOus journals, he had instructed mankind
on diverse subjects. Doing this with great
success and cOnsummate ability, Mr..
Beecher became leader among thinkers,
and his Utterances were considered valuable
and instructive. Yet, if We are TO believe
the testimony, he was unable to put into
practice many Of the lines Of human con-
duct laid down by him for the guidance
Of other men. Possessed Of q san
yuine temperament, he has been
shown to have had no Judgment Of
character, and has invariably leaned /
upon those who were wholly untitled 10 be
MS cOunsellOrs and friends. Taking the
most charitable view Of the case, it appears i
wonderful that a man Ike Mr. Beecher /
should have taken 50 many false steps.
Judging him by his labOrs one would sup
pose that be would readily fathOm the
lepth Of character Of those about him, and,
inding himself in false position, have, by
/ decisive movement, thrown Off the false
riends and real enemies by whom lie was
surrounded. To do this would have need /
a nerve, and that Mr.. Beecher seems to /
ack in a greater degree than most men Of !
lis supposed calibre and method OF thought |
n study. Indeed, it is this lack Of nerve |
nd decisive courage that has placed the /
lastOr Of Plymouth Church in his present |
and, no matter what result
nay be attained by the suit, the fact that
e does so lack nerve will greatly iniure /
i'm as a public teacher. But the trial has
hOWn Mr.. Beecher to be 4 man wholly
-ithOut sterling common sense, for we find
hat he does not possess that in.uiiive
autiOn so common among men. Even the |
nipple rules Of life were overlooked. He
lrmed abnormal friendships, and, having |
them, was unable to sever them.
we are to believe his counsel he
the plaintiff and helped him to
lake a path in life that was honorable and
npOrtant; vet when TiltOn turned against
in Mr.. Beecher failed to assert his rights |
nd discard the pTOtege he had fOstered. |
1stead of cutting the tangle by which he /
as surrounded by a few vigorous cuts Of
le weapons in his hands, and so released
imself, he seems to have done his best 70 |
ghten the knots and multiply the strands
1t living loose and untouched. A more |
linful spectacle than this cannot be |
nagined, and is another proof that real life |
stronger than any fiction. Taking the !
leory Of conspiracy as the true one, it is
nazing that a man in the position the de- |
ndant stood did not at once defy the con-
orators and maintain a bold front. In /
iling to do this, Mr.. Beecher armed his |
lemies and betrayed the weak points in |
IS own humOT. In the light Of these de-
slOpments the average reader must coincide
ith Mr.. Beecher's own estimate Of him
If for he has not hesitated to call him
If an ass and a fool. in fact, this esti-
ate is the solitary bit Of evidence We pos
IS that the defendant has any perception I
I'd knowledge Of human nature. With
It these utterances he would be consider
a bigger fool than perhaps he really is.
The plaintiff, on the other hand, is
aced in an equally unenviable position
? the revelations Of this trial. Vain, and
lyiDg false idea of his own power and
anding, he appears to be a man without /
ly earnest conviction and Of a very sU-
,rfClal character. Changeable in dispO-
ton, he turned from the truths Of life to {
lrsue shadows that led him into dark {
aces and hidden dangers. OF no fixed
lief as to the future, he dallied with athe- '
N and affected to believe in doctrines
hich, if permitted to gain ground in the I
Orld, would postpone the millennium we '
look forward to as the acme Of religion. S
e seems to have held extremely loose
Unions regarding the great truths and &C.
Dlished rules Of Christian life. Half 7
ormon. half infidel, he was likewise in 1
med to communism and the sO-called | &
ghts Of mankind, which, in reality, are no 7
,hts at all. One thing is very certain, a
e plaintiff must have lived a peculiarly |
se life. In public he was a great moral {
-iter, full Of wise sayings and sage ad-
ce, while in private he was very weak e
an, who was too fond Of doing things d
lich, if not positively wicked in a re- ,
,iOus point Of view, were at least silly and Y
holly foreign TO his public utter B
ces. The evidence given by his 2
end and himself established this Z
{, and Il is naturally more strong n
mi nfHHf.H