River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1875-01-01
THE BROOKLYN SCANDAL.
Official Statement i'm the '.ChrIstian
Unions

FROM the OlIlslHih Union, edlteu by Henry
Ward Beecher.l
Although the readers Of this paper
have had 70 learn the fact from other
sources, none Of them are ignorant Of
the existence of an action at law
brought by Mr.. Theodore Tilton against
the editor Of this journal. We have
RETAINED from all mention Of the sub.
ject for obvious reasons; and, in now
giving brief account of the course If
the affair in the past, and Of the inten-
tons Of the defendant in that suit for
the future, we shall abstain, as far as
possible, from saying anything which
might il fluence the current Of judicial
proceedings in the case.
That the defendant, so long as it
seemed practicable to keep from the
public the names Of those pure and hon.
orable women whose regulations were
threatened 10y false ind wicked Sian.
ders,
MADE EVERY EFFORT TO DO so,--
willingly putting his own name in peril,
if thus they might be spared, he
neither denies nor regrets If the dc.
velopments Of the last year have not
/ justified the motives as fully as they
hove proved the! uselessness Of those
Efforts, then we are unable 10 oiler any
| argument which will roach the uncou-
yinced. We are not Of the mind of
those who profess that they maintained
silence because the welfare Of thc com.
munity, the peace Of families, and the
interest Of the Christian Church de.
manded il, but felt bound to sacrifice
ali those interests the moment that
their own reputation is attacked. On
the contrary, we feel it 10 be the duty
and the privilege Of Christian man
to bear a thousand attacks upon his
own reputation in silence, rather than
to suffer one innocent women to be vii.
lifted for his sake before the world.
We are not alone in such opinions,
or in the course which we have adopt.
ed under such views. Eminent and
honored men in every walk of life, and
notably so among the clergy, have pur-
sued the same policy in numerous in.
stances, some of which arc recorded in
history at intervals for hundreds Of
years past, and others are known to US
to-day. But those which are known
are not 1.-THE Of those which arc gem
orally unknown. For in the vast ma
jority of cases the policy Of silence is
completely successful, and is the best
/ vindication OF the innocent. The limo.
cent man indicates himself by his
life, ana if the innocent woman can at
any sacrifice be kept from becoming
the subject of public comment, the
triumph Of truth Is so complete that
the lie is forgotten.
1t was only IN June last that it
BECAME NECESSARY TO CHANGE THE
POLICY
previously adhered to. On June 18th,
the LET ,er of Mr.. Tilton to DIR. Bacon
was published. On the next day Mr..
Becker resolved to call for an inyesti.
/ cation. He was disposed to place the
matter ~ charge of gentlemen outside
OF the congregation, but was assured
that such proceeding, besides being in
consistent with Scriptural injunction
and Congregational usage, would not
be within the protection which the law
accords TO the disclosures of witnesses
as privileged communications land so
not llbelous), If made in an inyestiga.
ton conducted by the religious society
of which the parties brought in ques-
/ ton are members. He therefore in.
vited six members of his church and
congregation to take charge Of the case,
and left il absolutely in their hands.
Their names were suggested to him by
members Of the regular Examining
Committee, and they were heartily ap.
proved by the full Committee when il
assembled
This Special Committee went about
its wsrk with a determination to be
thorough, and was therefore necessarily
deliberate in its movements, which were
regulated entirely by its own members,
without any attempt at advice or guild.
ance on the part Of the pastor of the
church. It's conclusions were the re.
suit Of It's own independent Judgment,
and in some minor respects
DID NOT ACCORD WITH MS.
Before the Committee had finished
is Investigations, Mr. Tilton, who at
first willingly appeared before it and
testified TO the honor and integrity Of
its members, withdrew from its pres.
ence and brought the suit at Iaw which
is now pending. The complaint was
served Aug. 81, during the defendant
absence IN the White Mountains. The
answer was drawn the next day; but.
owing 10 the distance and succession
of difficulties in procuring correct Off.
clai certificates without which the de.
PENDANTS oath 20 the answer would have
been a nullity), il was not served until
Sept, !, which was, however, still some
days in advance Of the time required by
law.
Much has been said about delay in
this suit. II might suffice to say that
no case If similar importance and com.
plcNity was ever brought to trial before
a civil court in this part Of the State in
so short time MS this will be. But,
furthermore, il has been conceded by
counsel on both sides. in presence Of
the court, that there were not Jurors
enough 10 try the cause in November.
nor time enough in December. The
defendant personally urged his counsel
to arrange for an early trial; but he
has left the ease in their hands. and il