Year: 1874




When last week ended, we certainly hoped
that the deplorable scandal i'll Plymouth
Church would not be allowed to disturb the
public mind and poison the air for another
week. The plan of investigation adopted by
Mr.. Beecher and his friends, while there were
many things Objectionable about it, had this
in its favor, that the Committee, being re-
stricted by no rules of law, could proceed
promptly through to n close unchecked by
any dllatory process. Mr.. Tilton's statement
was at once laid before them. 1t should have
been followed promptly by that OF Mr.. Beccher
and Mrs Tilton, and such subordinate wit
nesses as the Committee required; and no
time should have been lost in delivering the
verdict to the world. The COMMITTEES do not
seem to recognize the harm they are doing
in dragging this case out to such a length
They have no right to keep this mass OF moral
carrion injecting the air moment longer than
is necessary. But we have come to the end of
another week and no decided steps have been
taken towards making an end of the matter.
The scandal has been forced into the daily
thought and conversation of millions of peo-
pie. With few exceptions the whole country
is divided into two camps-the better part
hoping that Mr.. Beecher will be proved guilt
less, the baser part gloating over the prospect
that he may be dragged down into the mire.
Every hour that the investigation is unneces-
sarily prolonged adds needlessly to the sus-
pense of the first and the brutal delight of
the latter class.


From the very beginning of this sckening
business we have meant to leave no doubt as
to the position of THE TRIBUNE, and we be-
lieve we have left none in any intelligent and
candid mind. We have of course seen our
selves accused in certain quarters of partiality
toward Mr.. Beecher. That was only to be ex-
pected. We deplored the appeal to the cor
" deal by newspaper" as The Nation styles it,
made necessary by Mr. Titon's letter to DR..
Bacon. We refused to publish that letter
when an early copy was brought to this Office.
| When, by the action Of other newspapers, the
matter was made public scandal, we had no
remedy but to give the news to our readers
| in as decent form as possible. Since then we
have, according to our custom, given fuller news
| of the progress OF the case than any other
paper, endeavoring, however, not to pander to
pruriency or malice on the one side or the
other We have suppressed no facts favora-
BILE or injurious to either party. Of course we
| have no hesitation in saying we have shared
the earnest desire of all cleanly people, whether
| members of churches or those merely holding
Christianity in high respect, that Mr.. Beecher
might satisfactorily answer the charges brought
against him, and that the modern pulpit might
not lose its greatest glory and light in so foul
a ruin That our sympathles were rather with
him than with the ignoble pack at his heels
surely requires no explanation. When a great
temple is threatened with destruction, no one
| cares much for the fate of the rats that swarm
in its vaults But we ask for him only justice
and fair dealing, and we have given this to
both sides, in the interest of noble name on
the one hand, and in the interest of domestic
purity on the other.


We are constrained to say that at the close
of this week the case does not look so clearly
hopeful as it did a week ago. The statement
of Mr.. Tilton, which fell with stunning force
upon the public, had been met and partly
answered by the cards of Mr.. Beecher and
Mrs. Tilton. So far as Mr.. Tilton's own state
ments were concerned, these cards were
complete answer. He has shown himself S,
destitute of any correct conception OF truth
or manhood throughout this matter, that his
word and his oath are equally worthless when
unsupported by other evidence. But precious
time has been lost by Mr.. Beecher and hi:
friends in explaining the documents printed
under his name. His line of defense was
merely indicated in his card and that o
Mrs. Tilton and although it seemed
natural and reasonable, it is impossible
for the public " rest content With SUCH