Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1875-04-10
BEECHER.


The most important event III the re-
markable trial now in progress i'll
Brooklyn, that has yet transpired, or
is likely to transpire during its con-
tinuance, began last Thursday, when
Mr.. Beecher mounted to the witness
box. His first poise and declaration
was seemingly for effect, and during
the two days he has been upon the
stand he seems to have given studied
attention to his manner and words,
pointing them all with good dramatic
force. lie refused to make his oath
upon the Bible, and when the Clerk
passed it to him, he waved it off with
majestic air and swore by the uplif-
ted hand. The story of his life from
infancy to age was plainly told, inter-
spersed with little bursts of eloquence
and a general denial made of the
charges of adultery and at times some
fair explanations of points, which
have, heretofore, been obscured, can
be detected. But, ON the whole, he so
far, has sadly failed to satisfy ordina-
ry eXpectction.
His first essay as witness in the
case was a bad one. To most men
the inquiry will come, whether or not
the '1great preacher" in refusing to
kiss the . Good Book" did not feel
that the obligation of the oath he took
TO tell the truth, the whole truth,
and nothing but the truth, was less
binding upon his conscience than
if it had been made upon the sacred
pages, and that he is now adding the
crime of perjury to that of adultery.
His story, SO far, reads well. 1t has
many Well-rounded points and fine
sentences, and it is well watered with
tears, the ordinary accompaniment of
the story of this remarkable case
But it lacks that full, manly and qui-
ct declaration of innocence that
comes of q clear conscience and car
ries the weight of truth with it, and
q conviction steals over the ordinary
mind that it has all been prepared and
rehearsed between him and his coun-
sci, to be flung at the public and the
jury with the weight of the witnesses
great and powerful position and elo-
quent delivery.
The ordeal for Mr.. Beecher is, how
ever to come. ina few days his story,
as agreed upon and prepared, will
have become a part of the history of
the trial, and to new and unstudied
act of this drama he will be uShered
with Judge Fullerton as the master
Of ceremonies. How he will acquit
himself in this terrible ordeal of cross
examination by this, the most skill
ful lawyer in all the land, the
whole world waits to know. If he
shall shear his testimony then of
its dramatic tone and gather more
sincerity and simplicity to his decla-
rations and come out of that ordeal
without any perceptable faint ,thenall
christendom viii rejoice at his victory
He has no enemy now but his own al
legged guilt, and if he can put that to
rout then he, indeed, deserves, and
willreceive the sympathy of the world
for having been the victim of the foul
est SANDER ever uttered against a hui
man being But this vindication
must be full and clear as the noon
days sun to the most ordinary COM
prehension for Mr.. Beeeher long since
ceased to be on trial alone before the
twelve men who face him in the jury
box, and is to be judged by the great
public, who viii deal with him sum
marily, unless a far better showing.
be made than has yet been set down
to his score.