The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-09-15

sending dCupid's Yokcs," in spite Of law,
to every one who wanted It. Among his
customers was Anthony ComstoCk, the
detective, who ordered q copy under q
ieIgned name-it would not have been
sent TO his real address-and then had
Bennett arrested. There could be no plea
OF Ignorance Of law In this case, as In Hey.
woods. The work had been declared oh.
scene by the United States Court in the
Massachusetts District; was 30 deemed by
the jury and other officials OF the United
States Court in New YOrk-Judge ChOate,
q Unitarian, ilCluded-and Bennett was
sentenced TO two years imprisonment In
tho %penitentiary with hard labor, and to
pay q fine OF 1900. He Is now serving out
his sentence, the President having refused
to interfere.
This alleged persecution OF q noted lib.
eral Is one OF the chief grounds Of the as.
semblage Of the National Liberal League,
10 be presided over by Elizur Wright, in
this city to-day. 1t has other purposes, TO
be sure, but the woes Of the martyr Ben
nett will inspire many OF the u%tterances.
II Is claimed that he was prosecuted not
for %Obscenity, but because he was opposed
to Christianity. So far Is this from being
trte that his blasphemous issues have not
been interiered with, though according to
previous decisions OF the New York courts
they are clearly illegal. All manner Of
abuse has been heaped upon Constock,
and the law under which he works, though
1t can only be proved that he has acted
with iearlessness and zeal. The repeal OF
the law has been urged before Congress,
with what success the following record
will show.
"The Committee on the Revision Of the
Laws, to whom was referred the petition
Of Robert G. Ingersoll and others, praying
the repeal or modification OF sections
1855, 1878, 3s93, $3.50 and 249l Of the re-
vised statutes, have had the same under
consideration, and have heard the peti.
TONERS at length. In the opinion Of your
committee the postoitlce was not eStab.
lished to carry instruments Of vice, or OBJ.
Gene writings, indecent pictures or lewd
books. Your committee believe that the
statutes in question do not violate the
Constitution Of the United States, and
ought not TO be changed. They recon-.
mend, therefore, that the prayer Of said
petitioners be denied
This is plain enough, and suggests the
fact, known 10 all who have investigated
the subject, that until the law was passed
and Mr.. Comstock began his labors the
mails were flooded with vile books and
pictures, and instruments for the abnorm'
al qualification OF the passions. Their
manufacture and Transmission has been
very greatly diminished, to say the least,
There are other liberals besides Mr.,
Abbot, who are not prepared to indorse
the doctrines of Cupid's Yokes, or wholly
70 JutifA Bennett in his course. Still
they iercely clamor Tor release and repeal
At a preliminary meeting held in New
York, August 8, Colonel Ingersoll said
I'VE quote a friendly report:
"For years he had longed to see the
time when State and Church shall b.
really and totally divorced: when science
and not superstition shall fill the routine
Of school hours; when no set OF men car
set up a lecture hall, and labelling it {
church, evade taxesi when majoritiel
shall not dictate to minorities what they
shall do with one-seventh OF their lives
and when laws should bear alike on Jew
and Gentle, Christian and Freethinker
He had felt SC outraged by this persecu
ton OF Bennett that he had told John Sher
man that he would never vote for the
Republican party until Bennett was re
leased. He rather meant to keep his word
but did not know il he could yet give ~
his preference for the Republican party
That party had been the champion Of hu
man rights and he hoped it would b.
again. He had no faith in the Democrat,
party. They stole the livery Of Stat,
rights and individual sovereignty to sery,
the devil oil secession and slavery in. Ii
a choice Of evils choose neither. Form
new party under q new name and appea'
to all parties and all people to help us up
hold Its sound principles. Let us but sim
pity the issues and the people will under
stand and support US. He did not think
1t wise to make q personal matter Of II.
Bennett and his pamphlet might no
DO understood, but every one knew wha'
it meant to pay for prayers and Bible read
ing in schools and to pay a large per cen
more taxes, in order that superstition
might go untaxed."
He addedth hat he believed tho German
Turner'S numbered many thousands anG
had all essential points in common will
the Liberals. The danger was that som
would ask for too much at once. The,
should not strike all the abuses theS
could inventory, but reserve strength fol
the root Of them all ecclesiasticism in State
and school. There was some talk aboul
tho formation Of anew party; some OF the
persons present charging the Republicans
with being responsible for Benefits pun.
ishment. The subject was not definitely
decided, however, being left for the con.
sideration OF the convention which is tc
meet here to-day. The programme is in
brief as follows:
l. Non-discrimination against citizens
because Of their i~rreligious opinions. 2
Protection OF the rights OF minorities. 8
Non.reCognition OF any form Of religion
by the government. 4. Immunity from
prosecution for blasphemers. 5. The
abolition OF the Sabbath 30 far as it Is up.
held by law. 0. The abandonment Of sl.
perstitious teachings in the public schools.
Z. The protection OF United States citizens
at home as well as abroad. s. Universal
education. 0. The protection Of the right
OF the voter to cast the ballots of his
choice.
1t will be seen that some very sweeping
changes are demanded, but we shall not
consider them here. The main purpose
Of the present article has been to make
plain that Benefits easel the great griev.
ance, and that the convention leaders
want no real restrictions on the diffusion
OF obscenity. This will not be deemed so
strange when the names OF some Of those
who have called ii are mentioned. James
Parton isthe husband Of his stepdaughter;
Parker Pillsbury q few years ago was
charged with administering the sacrament
70 some puppies, to show his contempt for
the ordinance; j. P. Mendum is a pub.
Usher OF books in Boston sufficiently
like those by Bennett 10 enlist
his interests as well as his sympathies for
his brother publisher: Horace Spaver ia