Year: 1874

EDITOR RHERALD:-Having noticed
in the press of the State, great deal
of comment on the Beecher-Tilton
scandal, thought would have few
words to say on the subject in the
cause of justice. 1t is in keeping with
the universal custom of the American
press to (figuratively speaking) kick a
man when he is down. That is as it
should not be, for as "Fools can ask
questions it would puzzle sages to an
swer," so evil disposed or thought
less persons can accuse where it
will take impregnable evidence to sue
cessfully disprove. In this sad seam
dial (for it is truly sad to every one
who has the country's reputation and
national honor at heart, for it must be
acknowledged national disgrace we
have no proof of any of the charges
of Mr.. Tilton, except his statement.
Yes, to be sure, we have the same (or
nearly so) statement from two of the
most degraded and unprincipled
women of notoriety in America for
what it is worth. In contradiction to
this we have the simple denial of said
statements by the accused, the Rev.
HenlyaWard Beecher, without any ex-
planation. When such statements
were first made, that is to say, in the
last eruption of this social volcano, it
is doubtless that Mr.. Beecher know
ing his reputation for virtue, truth
and veracity to be without a blemish
with the exception of the minute
cloud cast upon it some two years ago
by the notorious old interloper afore-
mentioned, Mrs. WoodhulD, and trust
ing in the justice and generosity of
the American people, considered such
denial sufficient to arrest popular
judgment until he could PROPERLY
make such statements and expiana-
tions as would wholly wipe this stain
from his once fair name. But the
press of the country with its accus-
toned love of the sensational, has
given him no chance or time for any
legal investigation to be made, but
with an almost universal clamor have
called for an explanation without
knowing themselves hardly what
they wanted. We may truly saw.
"Father forgive them; they know not
what they do" That every man is
innocent until proven guilty is time
honored rule of law. Where is the
proof in this case as yet? Nowhere.
No man is convicted until he has
made his defence if he has any to
make. do not wish to uphold crime
or licentiousness in any form, but /
am in>favor of giving to every one a
fair chance before we rob them of that
most valuable of all possessions. a
good name; for of all robbery we can
be guilty of, that is the most dastardlv
and cowardly.


If a man should be accused of embez-
element and should deny it, would any
person or persons be justified in taking
from him the amount of the missing
funds until he had fair trial at law?
Undoubtedly, no. Therefore L cannot
see how the press or people can possi-
bly, be justified in seeking to deprive
man of his good name, the value of
which cannot be measured by "gold
or precious stones" before he is even
granted the same opportunity to clear
himself as would be accorded him if
1T was gold instead of character at
stake. There must be a doubt in the
mind of every person as to Beecher's
guilt, and he is surely entitled to the
benefit of the doubt. What encour-
agement will there be for another man
to spend long lifetime for the good
of humanity, in furthering every
scheme for the deliverance of the op-
pressed, for aiding every benevolent
cause and using his influence in every
possible way for the aid of the suffer-
ing, Of no matter what race, color,
country or creed, if his whole life can
be blasted by one unproven statement.
l am in the hope this will convince
some persons that they should at least