Year: 1874

sucn large share OF attention was first made
public From that day to this it has dragged
its slow length along, one surprise following
another, but the end seeming as far away as
in the beginning. This prolonged suspense
dramatic interest to tale that is little short
of tragedy. First came Theodore Tilton's
statement, containing charges against Henry
Ward Beecher of the most serious nature.


These charges were apparently supported by
proofs in the letters of MIR. Beecher himself.
Against these Mr. Beecher interposed a gen.
eral denial but as he failed to make any
specific explanation of his own words in so
much as single instance his answer had no
more effect than the plea of ''not guilty" in
criminal procedure. Mrs. Tilton also entered
general denial and submitted to o cross
examination which revealed the inside history
of an unhappy home, suggesting some of the
reasons why faithful wife might turn to
guilty love, but denying actual guilt ON her
own part or that of her alleged seducer.


At this stage of the case two facts stood out
in very bold reGef-the unexplained letters of
the clergyman and the damaging admissions
of the woman. That which was bad had
become worse Apparently it admitted of but
two answers-guilty love between these two or
platonic attachment which had its founda-
ton in the sufferings of the one and the sym
pathies Of the other And it must not be for
own hand the accusation against her pastor
and her womanhood. This, it is true, she
alleged had been extorted from her by her
husband, but it was only another reason why
the whole truth in this matter should be told.
AS it stood, the weight of the testimony was
terribly against Mr.. Beecher Many of his
countrymen believed him guilty, but all of
them were anxious that he should establish
his innocence. He was teacher of religion
who was little below the prophets and apostles
in the minds of his disciples He was great
man, and men and women had long fondly
believed he was also good man. But for
weeks and months dark cloud of suspicion
and doubt has enveloped him. He is charged
with debauching the wife of his friend and
using his high Office as means of the basest
sensuality. Surely this is an offence which he
would be anxious to disprove 1t is an offence
too, which society has right to demand shall
be disproved or punished


A committee of MIR. Beecher's own choosing
sat upon the case to judge it, The accuser
went before it, making his charges and bring
ing the proofs in his possession. The accused
answered, as we have indicated, only in
rofr1 10 ,o;4
until another person, who had occupied the
position of mutual friend to the parties and
who was the depository of the condolences of
both had testified before the committee. This
friend was Frank Moulton. Moulton's posi-
ton certainly was an unenviable one, but it
was position that he seems gladly to have
assumed. and now he need not complain
because he finds it involves other RESPONSE
biliies than those of keeping other peoples
secrets. 1t sometimes becomes greater duty
to reveal secret than to keep it. This is Mr..
Moulton's responsibility in this case. The
interests Of truth, Of justice, of womanly and
ministerial purity alike require him to tell all
that he knows. Both Beecher and Tilton
have adjured him to tell it. The confidential
relations he once held toward the parties
have been stripped from his shoulders by
those who imposed the duty of silence
upon him. But he stands behind spectre of
his own raising and talks nonsense about the
sacredness of friendship. He has written two
statements, which he may or may not publish,
but according to his own account of these
statements, they contain nothing that was
not known before. Then he offends by hint
ing at mysterious exposures under i'm
possible circumstances and tries to play the
hero when the hero is not required. In all this
he is simply Nick Bottom, the weaver, assum-
ing the character of Pyramus; he is worse,
for he is playing the clown at funeral In
the meantime some of Mr.. Beecher's friends
call this 'svindication'' 1t is vindcation
with q vengeance. But neither party can
afford to let the matter rest here If Tilton
should be content with this disposition his
enemies would believe his charges as base as
they were baseless Should Mr.. Beecher be
satisfied even his sincerest friends would feel
that the dark cloud has not been lifted. We
cannot believe, then, that Mr.. Moulton will
persist in his later policy. 1t is crafty, we
admit, but it is unmanly and unworthy;
worse even than this, it is more deathly than
pestilence This terrible secret is under
mining public morality and bringing the
Christian religion into disrepute Every day
that the controversy lasts is the continuance of
moral plague. The only cure for this fear
full malady is to tell the truth and 80 have
done with the matter, fall who may. Moulton
cannot evade his responsibility and retain the
respect of his fellow men, and hence we be-
lieve that in the end he will tell what he
knows and so afford an opportunity for fair
and just Judgment in case that otherwise
will be prejudged because it is not judged.


Trxr WrI PIcrrrcs -Eiftaan thouaard