Year: 1874

The second thought of the public mind
after reading the statement of Mr.. Tilton is
one of relief. The anxiety in reference to this
affair has been so long continued the interests
involved are so delicate and widespread, and
the whole story itself is so much a comment
upon our domestic and religious life, that we
cannot exaggerate the impression it has made.
We can recall no one event since the murder of
Lincoln that has SO moved the people as this
question whether Henry Ward Beecher is the
basest of men. If the story of Mr.. Titon is
true, then neither history or fiction shows
character so dark. It is certainly noble
trait in our people that they have resolved to
stand by MIR. Beecher with the largest and
noblest charity and confidence to believe that
be has done no wrong until the evidence
comes in such shape as to leave no room for
doubt.


As We showed in our comments upon Mr..
Tilton's statement, there was abundant reason
to doubt the correctness of his story upon in
ternal evidence alone We saw nothing incon-
sistent with the theory that Mr.. Beecher and
Mrs. Tilton were innocent of the crime i'm
puted to them apart from the mere aver
ments of Mr.. Tilton All that he shows in
the way of documents and citations could be
construed in another sense. In dealing with
a man like Mr.. Beecher, who had lived to age
and gray hairs, not only as O citizen of high
character, but as clergyman who has no
rival in his generation, we were bound to SO
scrutnize any charge against him. For it
would be On evil day for the fame and useful
ness Of any citizen if the gathered honors Of
long years of service and duty could be rudely
blighted by the words of an enemy and
rival


This consideration governs the public opin-
ion in reference to the whole matter. The
statement we print from Mr.. Beecher this
morning was anticipated in the HERALD of
yesterday Mr.. Beecher admits that there
arose between Mr.. Tilton and himself an
offence, which became the cause of unusual
suffering. which he endeavored to explain and
undo. and which grew into the tenor and bur-
den of his life This offence was an interfer-
ence in the domestic affairs Of Mr.. Tilton,
an interference which was directly the
work of Mrs. Beecher and indirectly his own.
The only question that will arise is this, Is
the offence grave enough to have justified the
morbid and passionate letters addressed to
Mr.. Moulton? We can probably answer this
question when we remember the peculiar
quality of Mr.. Beecher's mind, his exuberant
and exaggerated rhetoric, his intense nature.
marked with all the old Hebrew fervor and
passion Of speech. II is hard for
the cool observer to see in the
offence which Mr.. Beecher admits
the cause for such letter as the one addressed
to Mr.. Moulton. And it would, we admit be
practically impossible to permit such con-
struction were it not that it is confirmed in
every way by the conduct of Mr.. Tilton before
the publication of his statement. Mr.. Titon's
whole course, as shown in hundred instances
before this publication, can only be under
stood upon the theory that he believed in the
purity of his wife, and that Mr.. Beecher had
been guilty Of an offence and not crime.


To this we now add finally the testimony of
Mr.. Beecher himself. He tells us that he will
answer to the committee in detail every
charge made against him. For the present he
denies the statements of Mr.. Tilton as '.abso-
lutely false" "To every statement he con-
tinues, (which connects me dishonorably with
Mrs. Elizabeth II. Tilton, or which in any
wise would impugn the honor and purity of
this beloved Christian woman, give the most
explicit, comprehensive and solemn denial"