Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1878-12-04
HOW THEY FLAaELLATE US

Won denounce Ingersoli for trying to
bring different state-ef -things.--Ne
can see already the good he has accom-
plished in this country in routing out
superstition and priest craft, and you
are mistaken when you say that the
pressdenounce him almost unanimously
1t. is Just the opposite, they almost
unanimously endorse him. A few years
AGO you would not have dared topublish
his lecture, but now you are glad to get
it to make sale for your dailles.
l. could have sold one hun,
dred OF your papers which had
his.lecture il could have had them.
| claim that Ingersoll is doing more
good in the world with his lectures than
all the clergy and false prophets. 1t Is
to his doctrine you men OF the press
owe your freedom of speech; His lee,
ture Of the 2Sth is every word true, ana
if we would all live according to his say
ings we would not even need any laws
here to punish people, because they
would all do right; and you should have
either not published his lecture or said
nothing about him in the editorials.
Mind YOU this is Republican form OF
Government. / have no, ill-feeling to-
ward Won, but did not like yonr edi-
torial on Col. 1ngersoll.
We publish the above as specimen
of the diverse criticism which comes to
us, and the opposing views which exist
in the community on the subject of the
lecture delivered by Mr.. INGERsoLL
few days ago, in this city. The position
taken by the REGISTER in reference to 1t
hasbeen attacked on one hand and COM
mended, from such sources. on the other
as were highly complimentary. We ex-
pected the attacks and were grateful for
the concentrations, and, indeed, well
satisfied with both. .u.-
There is nothing that men will not
differ about, and difference is a good
thing. 1t means growth, as opposed to
bigotry and fogyism. Our critic, LIB
eral," mistakes us when he supposes
that we have any disposition to throttle
Mr.. INGERsoLL, or any other man who
has an argument to make. We do not
object to him delivering his lecture
wherever he can find an audience to
listen. The lecture platform in this
country is one of the teachers and
preachers of this generation. It's with
out creed, party, or special congrega-
ton to please We would be the last to
raise a voice against his occupying
it. That is not the course In
this country, nor is it wisdom in
any, for establishing truth or putting
down falsehood. We believe in the
eternal character OF truth. The kind OF
truth" that can't stand the test OF argu-
ment and opposition, we take no stock
in. If Mr.. INGERsoLL's position is right
it will prevail, and if wrong, if will go
down by the very process he is using to
establish it-free discussion.
The doctrines of Christianity have al
ways advanced in proportion as they
have been opposed. The greater the
effort made to weaken their hold upon
men, the deeper the roots strike into
human consciousness and human rever-
ence. To say that now after eighteen
hundred years of successful strife and
battle with the best minds of every age,
Christianity should belittle itself
with an attempt to put out by force
so small a light as Bob INGERsoLL, or be
disturbed at the effect of such witticism
and flash and glitter, as well as such
impudence and audacity, as he presents
for argument against the truth OF
Christian doctrine, would be the sub
lime Of folly.
1t would be sufficient answer to Mr..
INGERsoLL and his apologists, it seems
to US, that they should simply ask,
what is his mission? "What the end of
his teaching?" His avowed object is to
batter down the belief in God, and
bring the Christian religion into ridi-
Guile. To those who can find any con-
ISOLATION in the accomplishment of such
a purpose; who think there is in it any
promise of good to themselves, or that
it is an GRAND of mercy to men, we can
only hope they may find the consola-
ton they seek. That kind OF phil
osophy, however, has not seemed to
suit the human race and the human I'M
derstanding in the last eighteen hundred
wears. Whatever sentiments of love, OF
liberality, OF charity, of regard for
home, and wife and children he utters,
are simply the direct offspring of Chris
tianity, and the first fruits of the Bible
he dcnounces and ridicules. Like an
adroit sophist and humbug, as he is, he
puts the lie alongside of the truth-he
introduces himself as lover of liberty,
of home, of charity, OF all the virtues
that are most dear to men and women,
that he may, thus under cover, turn
about the next moment to undermine
and destroy the very foundation stone
of all he processes to admire.
Our critic Liberal" and other OF Mr..
INGERsOLL's admirers must not there
fore, think strange il we both give pub
lication to his lectures, and at the same
time take issue with what he advances.
We are not afraid OF their effect, and it
is the office of the press thus to publish
whatever OF opinion is OF interest
to the people, and it is also our privilege
to dissent form opinions We do not en-
dOrse.
THE following isasummary ofthe con-
dition of the Cincinnati market, yester-
day: The demand for loans was good;
discount rates firm at co. per cent.