The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1876-02-13
THE BOWEN TORPEDO.

/ KuOWloOXm0ut, Oh mht0IlhA WuIC1 N1Is AuSIhAu
had forwarded at his request.
THE BOWEN TORPEDO.
| For more than a year the daily Graphic has
maintained that in reference to the Brooklyn
trouble Mr.. Henry @. Bowen held the key to
the situation. This has been repeatedly
stated in our columns, and notably expressed
in recent cartoon which the event OF the
day will wildly recall. Mr. Bowen has been
the silent sphinx through years Of clatter and
calumny and detraction. He has been
| urged, entreated, badgered, and buliied
to speak, but has held his peace, even at the
risk Of losing friends and reputation, till COM
PEELED to break silence by the summons OF
Plymouth Church through its committee.
His response to Mr.. Whites bill of griev-
ances has broken like bombshell in the
| camp and has created both Confusion aud
CONSERVATION. II is the most significant tes-
timony yet offered of the terrible guilt of
Mr.. Beecher, and presented as it is, with evi-
dent reluctance, under compulsion, in the
most solemn manure, challenging investiga-
ton and inquiry by proper authorities before
q regularly constituted tribunal, it falls with
almost crushing effect on those who have pried
it down, like an enormous mountain rock,
upon their unprotected heads.
the incidents of the controversy with Mr..
White, and details which are mere prelimi.
nary to the main statement. The substance
of the charges against Mr.. Bowen is that if
he knew anything against Mr.. Beecher he
has not distinctly said SO, but by discreet
and ominous silence has conveyed the impress
sion that he had damaging facts in his
possession. Mr.. Bowen replies that
he had entered into solemn COM
pact to keep quiet. and it is not his
habit to break his written word, even though
Mr.. Bsecher has done 50. But why should
he speak? If it is facts that are wanted there
are q plenty of them plain as day. If Ply.
mouth Church wants charges against its pas
tor, why does it not deal with those already
preferred? "Why summon me to the front?"
he asks. "Do you think can use palmer or
stronger language than that much-abused lady
"a member Of this church-whose awful
charges against the pastor have stunned all
Christendom? I think if such language as
hers remains unheeded, no other voice,
though one should rise from the dead to speak.
would ever reach your ears.
He says that during the trial he was waited
on one bright sunny norning and told if he
would come forward and testify in behalf of
Mr.. Bsecher the arms of Plymouth Church
would be thrown around him and he would
be the greatest man-almost-in the country"
He refused, and in referring to the circum-
stance SAYS, 81 can not help remem bering,
however. how easily-by simply violating my
own conscience and telling q lie-I could
have been applauded then and to-day as one
of the most worthy members of Plymouth
Church" In other words, he could have re-
lieved Beecher only by lying. Then he adds.
respecting Mr.. Beecher:
az have heard attentively, but with pro-
- r1ok hoo hon~ "a 10
fidentially against him. have felt my heart
stirred to its depths for dear friends who,
years before the present scandal was pub
lished, sorrowfully begged my counsel. as
they assured me that their pastor and mine
had craftily betrayed the sanctity of home
the very chargs long after presented to me
BY Theodore Tilton in regard to his own
home. never can or will be base enough to
allow single name to be bruited before the
world, although am now ready to testify to
the essential facts before any proper tribunal.
These disclosures I heard with sad heart,
and tried to accept the evidence brought to
me that Mr.. Beecher was grief-stricken and
penitent
Now, being summoned here to speak,
and to speak the truth and nothing but the
truth, I solemnly give it as my unwavering
opinion, in view OF al the facts and evidence
presented to me, that the Rev. Henry Ward
Beecher, without even the shadow of doubt in
my mind, is guilty of the awful crimes of
adultery, perjury and hypocrisy. This, say
again, ana before the bar of this committee,
is my deliberate opinion, and I may be per.
mitted to affirm that give it calmly, without
malice, and with no other than sincere de-
sire to do my duty faithfully to God and to
man, to the Church and to the world"
This terrible arraignment at once explodes
all th0 ubs nb
the bottom facts Of the scandal have been
covered up. The whole black business is re.
opened and exposed to the daylie ht, and no
cunning of lawyers, and no subterfuges of
advisory or other councils, and no patent
ecclesiastic Il whitewashing can ever cover the
loathesome and putrid mass. For Mr.. Beecher
and Congregationalist clergymen to talk about
ecclesiastical usage and UNCONVENTIONAL dis
cipline in the face of this document is as sheer
q piece of folly as to hold convention to de-
eide on the best means OF securing the door
plate of house on fire with barrel of gun
powder in its cellar. Mr.. Bowen has thrown
down challenge which to pass by
is confession and 70 pick up may be
" refrains from giving facts and
names aud evidence. He does not uncover
his resources, but intimstes in the plainest
language that his position is fortified and that
he has q whole arsenal Of proofs to draw from.
This invests the matter with terrible serious
ness. The real issue now is as to the guilt of
Mr.. Beecher, and every attempt to evade it
by talking about the Congregationalist polity
viii tend to confirm . sad but deepening inn
preston Of the truth of the blasting allega-
tons against him and drag him down. The
truth must come out, let it smite whoever
it may, and the sooner it is told the quicker
the agony will be over and the country will
be relieved of what has become q nuisance
$40 - oG.ass.->E. Z. Gsara...c.