The anti-monopolist., 1878-04-25
The tolls of God seem to be closing
around Henry Ward Beecher...
Ho~olo&o. x~1l 4. 49,

The tolls of God seem to be closing
around Henry Ward Beecher.,.
Herodotes told story of an ancient
king who was extraordinarily fortunate
In every thing; whatever he attempted
succeeded; whatever he touched turned
to gold. A neighboring potentate con-
cluded that such remarkable good for
tune must be followed shortly by dis
aster, and he therefore dissolved all
his treaties with him and ceased to
hold friendly relations with him. The
result justified the wise mans foresight.
In little while the tide of fortune
turned, and the hitherto lucky mon
arch lost both his empire and his life.
In like manner Henry Ward Beech
er has had life career of great pros
perity: wealth, fame, and all the hon
ors of society have flow I'd in upon him
with boundless profusion. His has
been the most fertile mind and the
mostwonderful oratory of the century,
and he has been to hundreds of thous-
ands little less than demi-god. But
his evil day has come at last.
The great scandal left mankind
about equally divided as to the
guilt or innocence Of Mr.. Beeoher.
The lawyers, the shrewd men of husi-
ness, and all the irreligious classes de-
clared him guilty; the religious would,
on the other hand, either defended him
or were silent. But now Mrs. Tilton
has published statement that he was
guilty and that in her denials Of the
crime, heretofore made, she has sslived
a ie."
1t will be impossible for Mr.. Beech
er to live down this confession. The
theory Of his defence during the great
trial was, that Mrs. Tilton was a pure,
sanity, "white-souled" woman, coerced
by base and designing husband. The
world will be slow to believe that this
same pure and "white-souled" woman
could deliberately confess shameful!
crime, with no possible motive. It Is
said that she has done so to obtain a
reconciliation with Mr.. Tilton: but It
staggers human credulity to assert that
pure woman would seek to go back TO
the arms of her husband by confessinx
an adultery she had never committed |!
Ihls would be species Of publication
hitherto unheard of in the world.
It would have been much better for
Mr.. Beecher if, years ago, when the
scandal first became known, he had
boldly admitted his offence, and plead
ed IN extenuation the weakness of hu-
mannature and the temptations to
which his position had exposed him.
Instead of doing SO he attempted to
brazen 1t through, he sought to ruin
Tllton's character and chances in life:
he broke up the Tilton household; and
then by wholesale perjury swore him
self through before court and jury.
He will be known in history as the
greatest moral wreck Of his age. Be
side him poor old Tweed will shine
Like an angel; for Tweed never aspired
to be moral teacher; he never preach
ed Christ and Him crucifed; and when
sore pressed by imprisonment, sickness
and old age he refused to "give away
bus associates in crime. Poor Tweed
simply stOlS no wrecked homes or
bIghted regulations can be laid to his
charge; and when he fell neither religion
nor morality received any shock or sus-
tanned any injury.
Here IS an extract showing the ten
derness of Tweed's heart, even while he
was racked with the agonies Of death,
for the poor black servant who had
faithfully nursed him during his sick
ness:
Early In the morning, Mr.. Charles
Deviin, Mr. Twesd's bondsman and
friend, who has been = daily visitor at
the jail, called and was much shocked
ct the change in Mr. Tweed's appear
ance. just before his arrival, about