The news & observer., 1897-06-20
SHATTERED IDOLS.


The recent announcement of the death
of Elizabeth Tilton, accompanied In some
papers by reference to the lonely gray
haired old man, Theodore Tilton, living
almost the life Of a recluse in Paris, where
he will soon issue a volume Of his poems,
reminds me of an incident in his life
which occurred just previous to his
charges against Henry Ward Beecher
and his own wife, just mentioned, and
which must be remembered as keenly by
him as it is by me-indeed, much more
keenly. since with him it marked
turning point in his career, while to
me it merely illustrated a terrible truth.
In order TO tell the story with all its
details, each in its proper sequence, 1T
will be necessary to introduce another
character, that of James Redpath, IN
some respects the most picturesque one
of the group. Mr.. Redpath was running
the famous Redpath Lyceum Bureau at
the time. which he had established in
Boston just after the war, and through
the management and direction of which
for something like ten years gave to New
England particularly and the country
generally in smaller degree the famous
lecturers of that era-Wendell Phillips,
Henry Ward Beecher, Anna Dickinson,
Theodore Tilton, Mary A. Livermore and
others.
1t was some time after the famous
Beecher trial. when the pastor OF
Plymouth Church was renewing his
more than local fame, and Mr.. Tllton
had already gone into retirement in
Paris. that in one of my off afternoons
/ wandered into Mr. Redpath's rooms
and prepared to enjoy myself for half
an hour or more, since l saw no sign
of 'sThis is my busy day. displayed
conspicuously. In some way the con-
yersation drifted to the great trial,
and ] remember asking Mr.. Redpath
what he really thought Of the possi-
bilities of Mr.. Beecher's guilt His
nerves were charged with electricity,
as it were, in an instant.
"Neyer mind what think, or what
/ know" he said, stopping for the mo-
ment the work of detail on which he
was engaged. But just let me tell you
story-a true one, just before the
explosion came-the explosion winch
followed the charges made by Illton
against Beecher-Tilton sat in the very
chair in which you are sitting now,
and told me what he was going to do
that Beecher had wrecked his home,
and he was going to wreck Beecher's S
life He told me Of the charges he
should make against Beecher, and
went on to recount his proofs. told
him to spare me those. The question
of guilt or innocence, told him, did
not enter into the matter at all. Beech
er is public IDOL / said to him. You
may break him down, but you will be
buried beneath the ruins. And remember
that the people will never forgive the
man who destroys their idol. If you have
no generosity in your heart for Beecher
look at the matter from a selfish stand
point and refrain in your own interests
But he was determined. He declared that
he was the butt of all sorts of people, and
was determined to set himself right be-
fore them We talked for an hour or
more. Such. eloquence as he pourned on
me for fifteen or twenty minutes. II he
had been bofere an audience, inspired oy
their magnetism, he could not have been
more impassioned. Then / talked
pleaded and reasoned with him for half
or three-quarters Of an hour, but all to 10
with me for opposing him so resolutely. /
wonder what he thinks today-with
Beecher speaking to the capacity of Mu-
sic Hall and Tilton grinding out editori-
ais and correspondence, unsigned and un-
known as to authorship, in his lonely
quarters in Paris"
This was said twenty years ago. If it
was true then-and God knows how bit
terly true it was-how much more en-
phatic its truth today!
every shattered belief in goodness
held by the people," said Mr.. Redpath
*every seemingly noble and pure life
which is shown to be an imposture,
destroys a certain amount of faith in
the world and degrades the general
level Of virtue, lowering in consequence
the standard whereon the people al
large place the chosen ones of the
world as the leaders Of virtuous people
and inspirets of virtuous thoughts
There is too little faith now in regard
to the leaders Of the world in religion
morals and thought, of whatever grade
or in whatever direction. Destroy an
idol, and you have a broken pedesta
TO shame the community evermore; cut
out a hidden sore on that idol, and
you leave a scar which never can be-
effaced. If an idol of the people has
blemish in his character, or has
committed some sin in the past, LEI
him ponder the question in secret, ant
not make cesspool of the thoughts
of people by a mistaken notion of the
desirability and even necessity Of con
fession, where that confession can only
do harm. Expose a person unfinch
ingly where a continuance in wrong
doing, to the injury OF the morals OF
the community, is intended; but le
repentance wipe out the necessity fol
doing so. Tearing down an idol i.
earious husiupSS NV moor friand u';1+o,