Year: 1875

CESSES.


We have seen gentlemen, that in this year 1865


Mr. Tton assumed the absolute and open control Of TIE bde
pendent he was no longer could be longer supposed TO
under influence OF MI Beecher Mr. Beecher had re-


tired from the paper and although correspondent OF It, and
the paper published his sermons weekly still Mr. Tton was the
responsible editor of that paper The first thing his egot
prompted do assuming control Of the paper was
satisfy the world that he d emancpated himself from MI
influence longer guided by him He had
in his estimation become the equal OF Henry Ward Beecher
SUPERIOR and take the first opportunity to satisfy
the world Of thar fact Early in @ he makes political difference
the occasion for denOuncng Mr. Beecher in The Aad@pdsR
And the year following that opposition the opposition OF Ihs
hddet became pronounced against Mr. Beecner ana us
yrulent upon him, tina, he compelled in SELF
respect all with the paper and to reinse
permission longer print his The pretended occasion
Of this attack 1866 Mr. Beechers Cleveland letter which
introduced in evidence before you and which Jon have
heard read will remember gentlemen, that that was
period inst succeeding the close Of the and the ques
ton before the country what should be the policy
of the North towards the conquered States OF the South
and that question depended upon what should be the
policy Of the Administration, because whatever policy
The AdmnistrauOn-haying majority IN Congress
and Of the executive powershoud adopt must
become course policy of the nation. There was long
angry controversy remember within the ranks
Of the Republican party which at that time the party re-
sDonsb for the control Of the Government what should
be policy Of the country, many Republicans aiherng 70
what they regarded policy which Mr.. Lincoln had adopted
prior his DEATH and others seeking to depart from that
policy and adopt and aggressive policy against the
Souh While the policy Of the Republican party was being
formed and settled and debate and argument were going on
within the ranks that party Mr. Beecher among those
who adhered what he deemed be the policy which MI
Lincoln would inaugraed and carried out mad ne lived
That policy was expressed what is known the Cleveland
letter. letter gentlemen, which permit me TO say read at this


nine years after written shows that Mr. Beeehe was
less he q
Gospel that letter. which only argument intending
20 influence policy the Administration and Of the Repub
can party made the preext with Theodore Tton for a
bitter outrageous attack upon Henry Ward Beecher and in
thai know, the policy which was advocated By
the OF the party came to prevail and Mr Ton
tells you upon the witness stand found himself with the
majority OF party This controversy which spang from
letter severed the public connection between Mr. Beeche
and Mr. TltOn The could longer be suspected Of
being Influenced controlled bis public relations by the in
huence Other influences IL replace The
great which had departed The character Of that in
huence gentlemen you judge the subsequent Of
Ny Tl.on The Of every faction Of every view
hoccd around Mr. Ton They found how easily they could
use him To MIN successfully It only necessary 10
They found he possessed mind which naturally
brought hin accept the radical view Of every question:
and they surrounded him. they obtained possession OF him and
they controlled him. long be remained editor Of that paper
But 1866 the second year after be had assumed
control OF TIE L1Hdnt observed that his religious
views began undergo q marked change. For the
extremists who had surrounded him were not confined
to politics or social theories exclusively, hey extended to
religious views also and Mr. Tton began show that he
accepting their views the subject Of religion As early
March 1886 he writes his wife: Il don't greatly Tor
sermons but believer in hymns. February L. 1851 ne
writes: Il conscious Of departing more and
more from the peculiar reou and theological views which
you regard sacred Perhaps this statement may give
trouble bu certainly this fact has given peace" Twelve
DAYS afterwards he again writes: THE old religious
teachings the orthodox view the dread Of punishment the
aonenent ess and power my mind OF course
you will mourn this But must be honest man.
don't believe in orthodoxy and therefore will not pretend TO
do So