The Democratic advocate., 1878-09-21
A CARD.
LEY Haye Given Up the ehOst.


MEssRs. EDrToRs:-The following is my
reply to a sscard'i signed by Messrs. A. Ii.
Norris and +. I. Deviibiss, and published in
last weeks ADVOCATE: THE gentlemen say
that We, of the affirmative, challenged them
to debate certain question and compelled
them TO take the negative. Now, the fact IS,
We never challenged .he=a at all; they ehal-
lenged us, and we have their written challenge
to debate silly little question above love.
We did suggest, as a substitute, the ques-
ton which has lately been debated, and our
suggestion was acted upon-so much for the
challenge. AS to compelling them to take
the negative, that they were only too glad TO
get 1t, is proved by the fact that we have
never been able to shame them into taking
the other side from that day to this. They
say the decision was given to us because the
committee irds packed; then they forgot all
about the packing, and say it was given to us
because the committee did not kRolc anything
about certain agreement, t1hich Ice had en-
tered into, tcith them, concerning miracles.
Now, If the committee IcdS packed by us,
what was 1t packed for, unless TO give us the
decision? aad, if already packed to give us
the decision, what difference did it make
whether the committee knew anything about
the agreement or not? If the committee tcds
not packed, and if such an agreement really
| existed, and if it was to their advantage, and
| if the gentlemen of the committee were igno-
| rant of it, whose duty was it to inform them
Why did they not say something about so i'm
portant matter before the debate commene-
ed? guess they forgotit. Don't everybody
guess they forgot it?
Oh, what tangled web we weave
When first we practice to deceive
The committee was composed of two Ply
sueians, one Clergyman, one Judge of the Or
phans Court, and one Merchant. We se-
lected two members and they two; so, if the
committee was packed, they packed just one
half of it, as il left our hands, and this hacked
committee itself packed on the fifth, for which
packing they should be thankful, as it was
the only vote they got, both their own men
voting against them. To say one word in
defence of the gentlemen on the committee
would be a needless insult; they are db0re ssts-
ptciOn. If the gentlemen of the negative
knew the meaning of the word agreement.
they must know that the affirmative entered
into no such thing with them, as they claim.
They say we begged the question. Well, we
discussed it just as it was written on the bills,
which hung unehallenged for two weeks.
We discussed IL just as they handed it to the
president, without protest or explanation:
and it was not until after the debate was over,
not until they found themselves defeated, that
they suddenly discovered O strange fact-they
and we had debated the scr0ng question Not
till then did they begin TO whisper and to say
that we had taken advantage of them as if
they had been a pair of poor little orphan
children, and we had taken advantage of their
tender years, and that right in the face of one
OF the Judges of the Orphans Court. They
talk about fleeing US the next time. Why
the plucky little lambs! the wool has not
grown out on their backs where we took it
off ~ tba 1ch, al. a
l call that modest. Don't everybody call
that modest? Finally, we said to them:-
Gentlemen, we have accepted your ehai-
Ienge, but we hear never a word about debate:
we defeated you fairly; TO discuss the question
over, keeping our respective sides, we think
would reflect upon the committee, which was
kind enough to serve us, we cannot do il: but
If you think our side, as debated, is the easy
side, you may take it, and we will take the
other; or, If you are afraid to stand where we
have stood, let us agree upon some other good
question and try our luck again. But no;
they keep crying over their spilled milk, until,
like the babes in the wood, they have cried
themselves to death, and now the robins will
cover them over with leaves, and the children
at the next centennial Will read their names
an Mother Goose.
While really have the very kindhest re.
gard for them, and hope they may live to
grow old and gray, still, so far as this question
Is concerned, must insist upon it, they have
cried themselves to death, and so, of course,
upon this subject, we can never hear from
them any more. If see anything relating
to this matter over their signatures, can not.
will not, answer it. / must look upon it as
an abnormal product; ! must consider it as
only the posthumous adumbration of incales-
cent ideas, originating in the superintendent
pressure of extraneous influences, acting upon
the abnormally sensitive condition of the
psychological organization.
ReqHieScdRt IN pace. GEO. II. BROwx.