The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-04-11
what Beechcr and his Partisans are
Driving At.

Why are the members of Plymouth
Church and OF the Advisory Council par
tisans OF Mr.. BEEcHER? Why are they so
busy aud eager to have the scheme of a
Scandal Bureau put in operation2 These
questions are often asked, and they deserve
answers.
The scandal bureau scheme, osteusibly
the work of the council, was plotted for
and contrived by certain members of the
church aud of the council la conjunction.
Tho council is only the stcpfathcr of the
scheme. The voice is the voice of JAcoB,
but the hand is the hand OF EsAU. BEECH
ER's partians in the church and his parti-
aans in the council are now pushing every
thing TO get an accuser, an accusation, and
an appearance of ~ purpose TO investigate,
so that the committee OF three may have
authority 10 select the commission OF
Ave. For the first time in upward of a
score Of years the pastor of Plymouth
appeared at the late meeting OF the Minis
ters' Association, and, with the help of
drumming, succeeded in getting "a ma
jorty 10 vote for committee to ooUper-
ate with that commission. Two OF his
most violent partisans in the council DR..
LYMAN ABBOTT ana DIR. HENRY NJ. SToRRs,
did the machine work and ground out IA
committee.
The purpose of all this is Obvious. To
make the scheme work. n responsible per-
son is required TO prefer formal charges.
But responsible persons have no conf
dence in the scheme, and will have nothing
to do with it. 1t has therefore become neces-
snf u IN Vf.la xt.fth Hnh "A
candles to find an accuser, and the men,
bers of the council have gone into the high
ways and begged any one TO come in who
will act in that capacity. whyi Be.
cause IT is necessary 10 head of the pro-
posal of the Andover Church to institute
IA true and thorough investigation; aud
because the scandal bureau, as the up
shot of that contrivnuce will demon
strate, is merely intended to put another
coat of whitewnsh upon BEEcHER's
blaosened character. The design is TO
assume that the testimony heretofore
produced Is insufficient TO convict, and re-
quires no further consideration, and then
TO say that the testimony of the new wit
nesscs, taken by itself, is also insufficient.
Separating the several parts of the case,
ohH NNNi"iih- thhA puit,
by itself, is conclusive of guilt, they
Will then declare that the whole case
fails. There are plenty of people who wish
to be duped, who Will be duped by this
But the long-suffcring and patient public,
who will decide the question OF guilt upon
the whole case, rs "A unit, Will not he i'm
posed upon by so shallow an artifce and
will insist upon true investigation and
all impartial decision.
Depend upon it, venerable fathers and
brethren, though the Plymouth DELILAH
may cut of your graceful locks, the roa-
son Of the American people cannot be 50
shorn away. Your attempt to take the
sting out Of Mrs. TMToN's confess
sions by calling her insane, and to
destroy the effect OF BEEcHERs con-
LESSONS 10y calling him sentimental, Will
fail. The confessions OF the eliminated man
and woman. made repeatedly, and at long
intervals, and corrobOrated 10y the sur
rounding circumstances, cannot be covered
up by any thickuesses of whitewash; and
every such attempt rs YOU are now making
Will give increased moral force to the con-
viction which daily becomes broader and
deeper that while innocence boldly chal-
lenges inquiry 10y common methods for the
Investigation of truth, 1t is only guilt Il at
seeks 10 hide itself under shaun inquiries
10y partisan committees.