The Portland daily press., 1880-09-14

for DIR. Stebbins- and Dr. Stebbins neither
here nor in the East, has ever done anything
that should prevent any good man from re-
specting him-why write at all? why, under
profession OF respect, condense into few lines
all the condemnation, all the bttern ess.
against him and those he loves that language
can convey? Even as a lawyer. Pixley should
know that no American jury ever harmed one
hair of a mans head for doing what Schroeder
did. AS man of years and editorial expert
ence he should be able to unravel the acts and
trace the springs of action which move the
mildest men to desperate deeds. As lawyer,
he should be accustomed to weigh evidence
and pick out from contradictory arguments of
hired counsel the hidden truth. What has
Schroeder done?
That Schroeder loved his wife, and thought
himself happy in her love, none can deny.
When the blow fell which has shipwrecked his
life, while stunned and bleeding he sought the
counsel of the tenderest wsest and most low
ing man he knew, his father-in-aw Horatio
Stebbins Mr.. Stebbins counselled his fallen
child, his outraged sou-in-law, kindly gen tly,
and, in the worlds eyes, prudently, burying his
own trouble out of sight, he assuaged the grief
of one, while heaping no deeper shame or re-
morse by reproaches on the other. Ho advised
his children to bury it all among themselves
Ii DIR. Stebbins was selfish in desiring to keep
from the worlds cruel knowledge his daugh
ter's shame; if he would have sheltered his in
nocent grandchildren from future scorn: if
he wished to keep idle tongues and idle pens
from making ribald comments on himself and
his sacred profession, who shall blame him?
There is a seltshness that is more yirtuous
than much that passes in the world for gener-
oslty. Advice given as DIR. Stebbins could give
it, and falling on heart that loved the erring
woman and her children better than life, was
naturally accented and acted upon Most un-
fortunately for Schroeder, DIR. Stebbins erred
in oyer-trusting the moral strength of the in
1ured husband. Had Schroeder separated from
his wife instead of condoning and striving to
forget her offense, the villain Lefevre might
to-day have been alive and Schroeder a free
man, petitioning for divorce. DR.. Stebbins'
mistake was in supposing that young man of
gentle, cheerful nature, who had never borne
great trouble, nor learned to bury sorrow and
carry himself before men as if all were we'll
within, could take up such cross and bear it
over the rugged path of life without falling by
the way. Calamity the poor fellow lifted his
load, gallantly he stroye to carry it, sweating
out his lfe's blood under the cruel weight, but
only showing his cruel wounds or letting
groans escape him when he was alone with the
loving suffering father. What a narrative of
misery, helpless, hopeless misery, was that
which DIR. Stebbins told ON the witness stand
His SON suffering he described in ELOQUENT
words His own anguish, asking no sympathy
from the world, and help or pity from none
but his God, he concealed.
But the self-imposed burden was too heavy
for Schroder's strength. When to father and
wife it seemed the worst was passed. Schroeder
fell with n shTv Go1t W.
live in the same town-in the same world with
the destroyer of me and mine'' The fatal act
which he had struggled against until his mind
gave way and the future was forgotten, was
done. And then came out to our mind the
greatness of DIR. Stebbins. With Roman firm
ness he made Just decision between the SON.
in-law whom he had first learned to respect
and then to love. and the daughter whom he
loved but could not respect. Dr. Stebbins
whom many think 50 proud, and some so cold,
went into court and boldly threw the mantle
OF his great name over his son-n-law. The
father nerved himself to the task and with
iron heart told the story of his daughters
shame and of the disgrace that had befallen
his family and name. Does history show any,
thing more generous or more terrible than this
Oakland story? Is there anything in poetry
or drama more tragic than DIR. Stebbns's de-
tense OF the young fellow who, ten years be-
fore, had clandestinely wooed and won his
daughter while she was yet child? OF what
stuff are mems hearts made who can throw
stone or make cruel comment on the actors
in such drama?
And can no word of pity be said for q girl
who by Gods act in affecting her parent, was
deprived at a most critical age of that care and
guardianship which only mother can exer-
else? Let no woman who has been blessed
with mothers counsel throw a stone; let no
mother who has daughters growing up, and
who knows by the experience of ber own
young life, the dangers she will have to guard
them against, Danish pity in her condemnation
of this fallen wife.
For the manner in which the prosecution
was conducted, we have nothing but detesta-
tlon 1t was not calm and deliberate though
severe investigation into an accusation of
crime by the State of California, but mali
cious, vindictive persecution, born of hate and
shamelessly conducted. Counsel, in the name
OF the State. not content with weaving a web
OF testimony around the prisoner which might
end on the gallows life hitherto innocent
and honorable, for single offence against the
law, strove to torture the accused, the agon-
lied and guilty woman and the unhappy faith
er by sallies of devilish wit; stabbing them
with gross and vulgar epithets, showing in
their author wickeder heart than is in the
breast OF the man whose cause they were in
charged.
The Argonaut's respect for DIR. Stebbins has
not prevented its having its most unprofession-
al and inhuman fling at Schroeder, his wife and
her father. Ihe Merchants respect for DR..
Stebbins leads him to speak his mind. We do
not forget when, years ago, the greatest mis-
fortune that can befall husband and father
fell on the writer, the kindly, warm and all
most affectionate sympathy which DR.. Steb-
bins showed, and when greater, far greater,
misfortune has befallen the doctor, we
should be ungrateful If we left him to bear it
without one word of sympathy.
We say, God help DR.. Stebbins in his great
trouble; may he be strengthened to bear the
heaviest load that good citizen of this State
has ever bowed under; may the innocence, the
moral innocence of his son be established in
the sight of all men; may the unfortunate
cause of all this misery live, and by acts of
humility, virtue and self-denying charity win
back even from the severest judges of female
frailty, a name as good, or better than that
she has thrown away. May DR.. Stebbins live
long in all mems good opinion may his wounds
heal, and, though the scars will go down with
him to his grave, may he long have the oppor-
tunity in bis ministrations, by spiritual aid,
counsel, warning and reproof, of turning tc the
best account for the human race those lessons
which he has learned, not only in the school of
philosophy, but in the hottest fires of mental
suffering.