Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1876-09-07
Col. Robert IngersOll.

This gentleman proposes to speak
in Indiana on the political questions
connected with the present campaign,
and our neighbor, the Democrat is not
pleased with his religious belief. 1t
asserts that Col. Ingersoll "does not
believe in any God" and indeed does
not even believe in "a creator of the
world and gives in evidence extracts
from his book, "The Gods" which we
are willing to accept as genuine.
And what then? If the logical
premises and Investigations of Col.
Ingerson have led him to a disbelief
in the God of the Christians or even
in "a creator of the world" we can
only express our regret that thinking
men can not more nearly harmonic
in the results Of their religious inves-
LEGATIONS; but we shall be thel asst, on
this account, to attempt to discredit
his political utterances, or to excite
prejudice and antipathy toward him
because Of his peculiar belief in re-
gard to the genesis of the world.
That is matter, that OF itself, only
concerns him and his Maker.
We are not the defender of any
mans religious belief or even want of
any religious belief, but we are the
defender of the right of every citizen
of the United States to believe what
seems right and true in his own mind,
and so long as he deports himself
like a gentleman, disobeys no law
of the land and does honor to the cit
izenship of his country we do not pro-
pose to stand calmly by and see his
right of free speech attacked or at
tempts made TO engender religious
intolerance towards his political faith
publicly and decently expressed
Indeed, the fact that Col. Ingersoil
thus openly published his unpopular
religious convictions only adds new
lustre to his honesty in this age of
hypocrisy and religious cowardice,
and is presumptive evidence that the
same honesty and courage will char
acterize his political utterances. Can
it be that the Democrat is afraid that
Col. Ingersoll may say something
which shall strike home to the hearts
and conscience Of the people wi tn
telling effect? The Democrat ven
lures the assertion that "Ingersoll
can not make political speech with
out abusing Christianity as the ene-
my Of progress and the great obstacle
to liberty" We have read the speech
Of Col Ingersoll delivered at Port
land, Maine, short time ago and fail
to find a single reference to Chris
tianity, but we do find this: "Now
don't forget to tell the Democrats the
Who'll truth-tell them in Christian
spirit, just as do"
The Democrat will not claim, we
think, other than the highest respect
for the Constitution and does not
that instrument guarantee to every
citizen the right Of private belief on
any religious subject, or in fact to the
right Of belief in no religious faith?
Are not Jews and Gentiles" the
same in this country of freedom? Is
not the French theist and the Ger
man free thinker allowed equal priv |
ileges and protection from our laws |
with the orthodox Presbyterian or
any member of the "true Church,"
Does the Democrat wish ii to be I'M
derstood that it places under ban of
respectful attention any citizen OF
these United States who does not be-
lieve in the God of the Christians or,
indeed, in any God? Would it shut
the mouths Of the German free think
ers OF Cincinnati (most OF whom, we
are given to understand, are for Til
den and Hendricks)?
Michael G. Kerr, on his death bed,
explicitly denied his belief in the di-
vinity of Christ. VIII the Democrat
dare to cast odium or distrust on his
political teachings because OF this
heterodoxy? But it may be answer
ed that he did not deny God. That
may be true, but as between him and
Col. Ingersoll it is only question of
degree in the offense OF their hetero-
doxy-the principle Of free religious
belief or the freedom Of having no re-
ligious belief remains, and must ever
remain the same; and he who under
takes, in any manner whatsoever, to
cast odium or excite religious aver
sion toward such citizens because OF
any peculiar religious or doctrinal be-
lief is one Of the greatest foes to the
purity and stability of our republican
government
We do not seek for any religious
discussion with our contemporary, the
Democrat, believing it not to be of
general interest; but we make no |
apology in thus defending citizen OF
the United States from any limita-
ton of his right Of unprejudiced pub
lie speech because of his religious or
non-religious views. II the Demo
crat wishes to discuss the question
on the above ground we are agree
able, and propose to "hire a hall +"
and agree to be on hand punctually. |
Charges Against Gov. Hayes.