Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-04-19

that it would be acceptable to him, and, af-
ter again putting herself under his protec-
ton, she can hardly have taken such step
except as an act of obedience. But what
are We to think of man who could extort
50 terrible and so humiliating confession
Ii all she confesses is true, why should he
dishonor his children by causing their moth
er to confess that she is unworthy of respect?
Why should he degrade himself by publish
ing his own shame? 1t is not difficult to
understand how desolate and forsaken wo-
man, crushed by much suffering. should be
brought to this last act of humiliation, but
how could any creature wearing the form of
a man find it in his heart to force this tor
tured wife to make such a statement and
permit it to be given to the public? If he is
to live with her again this terrible secret
should have been kent between the two,
and the public been lett to itsown conjectures.
Regardingithis confession as genuine, we
imagine nothing viler than the act Of wiring
ing it from the heart of PROSTATE und bro
ken woman by man who still intends to
live with her as his wife.
From the World
Since the seven successive suicides of Mr..
tuCIC Hds bCCu HOtuiHs lihC
confessions Of Mrs. TiltOn. In common We
hope with most of our readers we have so
far discharged this disgusting business from
our mind that at this writing we arc not able
to say whether Mrs. Tilton has three times
assorted and twice denied and twice asserted
and three times denied herself to be what
she now once more insists that she is. Mr..
Beecher consistently maintains that she is
no such person, for which Mr.. Tilton will no
doubt be grateful if, as is now reported, he
is on the point OF once more seeking peace,
mercy and grace in his conjugal nest.
From the N. Y. Tribune.l
The extraordinary document aided by
Mrs. Elizabeth r. TiltOn. this morning. to
the great collection of scandalous literature
which has made Brooklyn one of the most
notorious cities of the world, will be read
with mingled emotions OF sorrow, of pity, of
amazement and of disgust, If this were an
ordinary case, such document would close
the controversy, and the public might well
come any statement, however shocking, that
shut OF the torrents of filth, and allowed the
community to forget the whole horrible bust
ness. But it is not an ordinary case. None
of the strange actors in it are ordinary peo-
pie. Mr.. Beecher had made enough ad
missions to damn a dozen other preachers
yet Jury could not convict and congrega-
ton would not abandon him. Theodore
Tilton had compromised himself by writing
in terms Of affection to the man whom he &C.
cused of outraging his domestic sanctuary
yet thousands believed him. Thus there is
possibility that the letter published, this
morning, instead Of making an end of the
scandal, will revive it more fierce and filthy
than ever. The letter of Mrs. Tilton is like
all the literature of the scandal, somewhat
over-strained in language, and spasmodic in
general tone, but in one particular at least
it bears the appearance Of sincerity. What
ever we may think of this amazing woman,
whichever of her many contradictory state
ments we may take to be lies, there can be
no doubt that she has lived seven or eight
years of cruel anguish. 1t is impossible to
think of her past without mercy, OF her
future without compassion.
From the Hartford Courant.I
Now comes Mrs. Tilton, who has so
solemnly and times without number, in the
presence OF God and man, affirmed her inno-
cence Of the charge of adultery committed
by herself and Mr.. Beecher, and says in a
public letter that the charge was true, and
the lie has become intolerablc. Man s in
genuity could not add to the solemnity and
decision of Mr.. Beecher's denial of the
alleged crime. 1t was well known long ago
that Mrs. TiltOn at one time did acknowl
edge adultery, and Mr.. Beecher's friends in
sisted that it was delusitn of illness.
Having heard and known all that was to be
known on the subject. Mr.. TiltOn became
reconciled to Mr.. Beecher, and addressed
him the most endearing words of their long
friendship. The well-known case of the
respectable dentist in Philadelphia, impris-
oned upon charge of indecent assault
brought upon oath by patient, a lady of
high character, and alterward released as
innocent with the approval of the entire
community, will be quoted again, and the
whole humiliating, complicated, endless
story and quarrel will commence again.
From tho Springfield Republican.
The candid mind will find it impossible to
consider the confession as anything else than
the truth. The sufficient motive for the
woman to tell such lie cannot be found
the ample inducement for a person of her
character to tell the truth, after long per-
sistence in falsehood, is readily to be seen.
A woman who had perjured herself to save a
Beecher and Christianity from disgrace
would never be shaken from that perjury by
any other consideration than a conviction
that persistence in such perjury was a still
greater crime woman who had told the
truth for. four years would not now be per-
suaded to such a falsehood.
We do not anticipate any material change |
in public sentiment on this most unhappy |
con troversy from Mrs. Tilton's confession. |
Mr.. Beecher has plenty of devoted friends,
who set his unsupported word above all the
evidence that might be accumulated against |
him. They will simply accept mis- unqual
flied denial, and continue to yield him unim-
paired confidence. On the other hand.
very large section of the public has long felt |
no doubt of his guilt to them Mrs. Tilton's
latest statement is only added testimony
that they did not need. Between these two |
parties stands very considerable body of
people for whom it has always been difficult |
to retain faith in Beecher, though they have
earnestly tried to believe him pure. A good
many of this class will be shaken by this
atcst development.