The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-02-23
JOHNSON AND nErcnER,s QUIT.
Documents from Johnson's Hand that Shed
Light OH the Truth.
Prom olrer Jo'l.o' Lfger z jan :, 1871, to Hcarl


Prom ohro Joh'so''s Ltger n Jaa :, 1871 to Henry
All, Mr. Bowen, If Mr. b. is Mt to be your
pastor tlr. I. cannot lie unit TO ede for you
secular Journal y ou may say tnat the one mas
reu,nted, while the other has not. But MIR. B..
since lie confessed 10 YOU, has repeated HE
deception. You probably know something that
l 40 not or the chhi1es against Nr. liiton; tut
| als know something that you do not OF tie
evidence against Mr. b.; aud II he denies his
ghiii IT. tho matter whereof he was accused In
that Cnrisimas-day interview at your house, he
lies IN iace Of evidence int would convict
Inn in court OF justice. Ihdt criatHcc haze
seen.
GOuia's ItbuHe.
After this | became managing editor OF the
Christian linton, IN the tul ram Of Mr.. Bctcier's
innocence.
johnson became managing editor Of neechcr's
PAGER on Jan. l, 1873. On May 80, 1876, tho
triparitte covenant was published by Mr.
Deecher's friends. This was followed by TIL
toms threat to publish Beechers so-called letter
Of conirition. Under this threat Bccchcr sought
Mrs. Moulton, on June >, ls13 and made the con
ie-sion t. her, 10 which she s0ore on the wit.
ucss etond. Oliver johnson knew Of this threat Of
TIL ou's, and Oh the fth Of June. lisa, Ave months
after johnson became editor OF the Chri,dIn
Union, az he now rretcuds "iu the fun faith OF
Nj Boeoher's innocence he wrote to Iilton
the sui Joined letter:
l2S EAST TWELFTH STREET, June 1, 1879
My DEAR THEODORE: May l tell you frankly
that when | saw you last you did not seem T.
me to he the noble young man who inspired my
warm affection many years ago. You were
yielding to an act which could not hello think
ing dishonorab.e ana relidiuus, and although
it Is easy for me TO make every allowance for
the circumsts noes which bad wrought YOU TO
such q frenzy was drcadfully SHOCKED. My
dear Theodore, let NE, as an Old friend whose
heart is wrung 10y your terrible suffering and
sorrow, tell YOU that you we're then acting igno-
bly, ana that you can never have true peace OF
mind til YOU conquer yourself and dismiss ali
purpose and thought OF inju.ing the man who
has wronged you. or NIL the promises our Ill 3
can frame none are 50 sacred as those we make
to those who have injured US, ana whom we
have profcssed TO forgive; and they are sacred
Just In proportion us their violation would work
injury to those to whom they are made. You
CANNOT PAINT TOO BLACkLt TUE WRONGS YOU
HAVE SUFFERED. On THAT POINT | MAKE 80
PLEA IN ABATEMENT; but teg you to remem-
Der that nothing can change the law which
makes forgiveness noble ana God-like. h We
prayed for YOU night and day, with strong cry
Ing and tears, bosceching Goa to restrain YOU
from wrousing yourself by violating your SOL
emu eng gements. Tonight am happy in the
thought that YOU have been preserved from
committing the act SO much dreaded.
OLIVER JOHNSON.
II on June (, 1s;3, Oliver johnson knew that
Theodore Iiltou's WRONGS could not bo painted
too bl ckly then Ohvcr johnson must be lying
now when lie saws that ON Jan. /, i,ii, he had
run iath ia Nr. b. ochr' int.a, nee.
Gentlemen oil tins sort ou-ht to have good
memories,