The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-01-16
Mr.. Beccher's Moral Ruin Completed.

IL is not surprising that the mutual coun-
Gil has fallen through. 1t would, indeed,
have been altogether surprising II fair
council, called to get at the bottom facts
In Mr.. BEECHER's case, had actually as
sembled to weigh all the evidence. MIR.
BEECHER has so far succeeded by artiul
devices in avoiding fun inquiry into his
case by All untrammelled tribunal and he
will not now run the risk Of such an nves-
tigation.
lie never intended to go before n mutual
council, empowered TO 20 into the merits of
his case. He therefore got up his trick of
an advisory council, and only when Con-
gregational opinion forced him into it, did
he make n public show of agreeing to Mrs.
MoULToN's terms. He was safe In doing
this, however, because 1t was easy for him
TO defeat the meeting of the council, and
TO offer a plausible pretext for doing 1t.
BY entering his insulting protest against
the admission of the churches OF DIR. SroRRs
and DIR. BUDINGToN into the council, he
knew very well that he could prevent the
assembling OF the body altogether. Not
only those churches, but others OF those
invited by Mrs. MoULToS could refuse to
take part on such conditions. Thus, Mr..
BEEcuER would have no council that he
could not influence or control.
The speech OF Mr.. BEEcHER on the result
Of the negotiations for council, on Friday
evening, affords the saddcst and most
marked evidence lac has vet given that he
is fast descending that downward path to
deepest depravity, which Is the road OF the
pcrjurer, the adultcrer, the hypocrte, and
the blasphcmer. 1t was the language of Il
braggurt and a coward. Ii was the desperate
effort Of a man TO fight of the consequent
| ces Of his crimes. II had that sort Of dcil-
ant tone that the guilty wretch driven into
n corner will sometimes assume. 1t re-
called the bold donials of their crimes ut
tered by murdercrs rs they stood mt the
dock awaiting sentence. Read in the light
of tho past career of HENRY WARD
| BEECnER, and with the remembrance ofthe
tone of his better years, this braggart
speech reveals how rapid and terrible has
| been tho downward course Of this man since
ftst he sought the refuge Of lies against
| his adultery, and aftcrward committed the
awful crime Of perjury to escape from
punishment. His humanity and unmanncrly
filings at Dr. SroREs and DIR. BCDINGToS
would have been impossible to the
BEEoHER Of ten years ago. His demand,
after recting what he had gone through
since accused of his adultery, chow can II
man stand under all tins il ne he n guilty
wrctchi' drew forth the loud hurrahs Of
| the brethren. but they are infatuated par
tisan.. 1t was not the language Of an in
nocent man. but an attempt to use his own
,nrontery and deceit, evasion and per-
| jury, 10 cover up his guilt.
His assault on Mrs MoULToN was what
most indicated II hopeless depmvity. At
the trial and long after he listened to the
dictates of his better nature and refused
to directly assail this lady, whom he had
called n bright ornament Of her sex, and
whose sympathetic tenderness TO him he
had feelingly celebrated. But, now, nj
bay, learning boldness from his persist.
ence in lying and perjury, he on Friday
night had the audacity TO fatty accuse her
OF perjury, and 10 say my answers in the
court were true, so help me GOD" These
wereawful words and they were the words
of coward who took advantage Of hi,
public place TO accuse "A lady of perjury
and yet who had just by artful trickery
prevented her from getting "A chance &c
defend herself against this very charge II
was simply infamous, after he had refused
to try her in the church, had not dared tC
exclude her, and had in every way evadec
her righteous demand that he should be
made 20 confront her and either he or sh'
receive the punishment deserved.
Such conduct as this shows that HENR,
WARD BEECHER has altogether passed be
You'd the range of the sympathies of de
cent men, whether men of the world o.
church members, except so far rs hi
course exctes grief and horror at a down
| fnll so dreadfnl an d so comnlcto.