The Portland daily press., 1875-06-17
The Meaning Of the Beeeher Trial.


In all the comments upon the BE echer trial,
no attempt has been made, so far as we have
seen, to give the rationale of the event. no
effort by looking beneath the surface to solve
the meaning OF the whole transaction. 1t is
eminently fitting that its real significance
should be made apparent by the advocates of
Equal Rights for Woman.
Here is trial which attracts the attention
of the whole world, which many say will be
considered of more importance a hundred
years hence THAI it is nova trial which
some think more significant in its bearings
upon human destiny than any which has taken
place since the one before POntlus Plate,
Then what does it all mean? Surely the guilt
or innocence of one man or one woman cannot
be of wordwi importance; not, indeed, un-
less they represent principles universal in
Their application.
That this is the case with the defendants in
the present trial, will, we think, appear upon
investigation.
The va1ue and significance of history are
due to the fact that all abstract principles ul-
innate and find expression in living human
representatives. Thus Napoleon may be said
to have been the representative OF absolutism
founded on force. The doctrines OF state SOW
ereghty aud secession were ultlmated in Gal
hOuD, while Washington and Lincoln each
represented principles which were dominanh
during different periods of our national hfs-
tory. Other examples might be gwen, which
will readily occur 10 every one. But, while
WaShiDgton and Lincoln exempGfv some OF
the principles OF American liberty, they do
not form a complete embodiment OF all which
we conceive to be embraced in this term. The
most distinctive of those ideas, those which have
given character and individuality to our civil
Zation were those brought over in the Maytiow-
er They embrace a recognition OF Supreme
Beiug to whom man owes allegiance tolerea
ton of the opinions of others, an equality OF
rights among individuals, and general belief
in all the ideas which are included in the term
Institutional Self-Government.
hov haon foil in ayrnOnn6lnO
and exemplifyng these doctrines; thew have
not vet met their perfect fulfllment; but they
were undoubtedly held by those who landed
at Plymouth Rock in 1920. and they form the
basis upon which the government was con-
structed. Literally as well as metaphorIcally
our Republic was founded upon a rock. 1t
was the Church planted in the wilderness; not
an ecclesiasticsm nor hierarchy, but an edi-
fee whose foundations were truth, and whose
walls bear the inscriptions Of love to God and
good will toward men.
And now, where shall we find one wso snau
be a fitting representative OF the ideas mere
contained'-one who by character and historr
ical association seems fitted to fill tha placer
Washington was the founder of new civil
polity-a union of free States with one federal
head; Lincoln was the prestrver OF the Union
thus founded and the liberator OF race.
Where tshall we find man who shall repre-
sent not only all the principles here implied,
bat who shall include others not yet con iider-
ed? 1t will! be seen that, hitherto, an lmpor-
tant factor in the body polite has been over
looked. Woman, while performing the duties
aud sharing The burdens of citizenship,
has been regarded as political noDentliy
Woman in special sense represents the
Family ard typifes the Church; therefore we
should expect to find her repres eEtatIve also
representing the Church and the Family: and
if the Church SHOULD be one truly American In
character and bearing, the name most closely
associated with our American ideas OF religious
liberty, then the conditions would be more fully
H.. hot flan VRaG
Plymouth Church comes nearer to hlllng the
requirements of such representative than any
other individual.
But il must also be remembered that, grow
irg up side by side with the tree OF liberty, we
have plant of another kind, resembling 1t IN
outward appearance but utterly at variance
with it. 1t is plant not native to the soll-lt
is of foreign growth, but,if not checked, II bids
fair to rival the rightful occupant. 1t Is feIt IN
the form of oppositi0nsto TO iDstitutlonal govern
mept TO law and order, and to all that spring
| therefrom. IL strikes at the institutions or
| marriage of the family, and of the church. IL
| would reduce society TO chaos in the vain ex-
! pectation that from the universal ruin new
order of living might be evolved. The support
| ers of this strange doctrine regard the marriage
| bond as one to be broken at will by the con-
tractipg parties. They have an ill-concealed
| contempt for religion and for all the Institu-
| tons connected Herewith In their efforts TO
reconstruct society they strike at the very toun-
| dations of all we have been accustomed 10 re-
| we're Having increased in numbers they have
| become bold and OutsrOken during these later
| wears, aud the trial in Brooklyn is but the cul'
| mination of their efforts. They desire TO es-
| tablish themselves by assaulting the powers
| which form the strongest barrier to their sue
| cess--the Church and the Family.
| If any one DOUBTS this, il is only necessary to
observe the character of the parties arrayed
| against each other in this suit On the one
hand we have, first, an eminent Christian mi n
lister upon whose name, hitherto, not even
| breath of scandal has fallen; second, a woman
| whose virtues eXt0rt even the admiration OF ner
| enemies; third. wife whose unfailng Ialth ll
the integrity of ber husband viii be theme OIL
praise through future generations; and, fourth,
alfamly whose love and sympathy only N u
crease as the storm darkens On The other siae
are arrayed-but we will let others NIL up tne
picture; the contrast is too vivid to escape oo'
servation!
Even the groupings in the court room are
snoGestive. Here is the defendant with his
own individual family with him and with the
members of his church closely gathered ABOUT
| nim There is the plaintiff, the apostle OF easy
divorce, supported by those who hold ike
views. Having destroyed his own family he
appears without the tender support which such
surroundings would give him. The enemy oi
the family and of the church cannot nope iol
help from the institutions which he attacks
There is 10 cohesive quality IN IaIsenoou' an
those who make it their trust VIII generdrly
! fiud themselves deserted even by those VINO Iol
| n time make common cause with them. linus
the adherents of the plaintiff diminish as INT
trial proceeds. t,o,
let no one fear the final result. Whatever may
be the decision of the twelve men VINO 1orn
the iurv the ultimate verdict must be acqult
tai, and not only acquittal, but triumph. Ihis
assault upon the Church and the Family, and
upon Woman rs the representative OF potn
can only end in Womdn's journal.