The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-10-01
IXDEogNCIEs on INFIpELITY.
prREY. q. 9. oEoRdE. 3. j.

BYREy! "a. Q. GEORGE, D. n. 'o''il''
\ call was issued in the name Of "Tht
National Liberal league" signed b,
Robert G. Ingersoll as Chairman Of Com
mittee on Invitations, for a Convention o.
Liberals to meet September 18th and 18th
in Cincinnati, to secure "free thought
free speech, free ballot and free nails
for the oppressed people Of the United
States, and to give the liberals ian op,
porLunity Of consulting as to the propriety
Of taking political acton" and to agitate
for "a secular Republic emaucipated from
Church domination" ta'a .s..ei G..
The matters Of which these Liberals or
infdels, as the word means in this CON.
nection, complain, are, as we gather from
the proceedings Of this convention, that
they are Disseminated against because Of
their religious opinions; that their test.
mony.is not received in the courts; that
they are restricted in publishing and dis.
seminating their ideas, and that they are
not allowed ITO act as thew please "a
every day Of the week, MISUNDERSTANDING"
As We understand it, a man can hold
in this country. such religious views
as he chooses, but II they lead him
into the practice Of immoralities and in.
deCencies, then society arraigns him for
his Ge!-not for his opinions. In respect
10 inhdei testimony in courts, the theory
Is, that an oath has no Significance II IL be
without the sanction Of an appeal to God,
OF what value, then, is the oath or what
weight can be given TO the testimony Of an
atheist? The Sabbath is not only a relig.
ious, but also civil institution, and It's
observance. Is essential to morality, the
peace and order Of the community and fhe
general welfAreot the State-9 With scarce!
ly any limitation men do as they please in
this Republic, provided they do not in
any way Interfere with the rights OF 9th.
ers;" but the rights OF others are often
more real and comprehensive than the self.
ish and skeptical and sinful are likelyjto
perceive or ready to admit. The point,
however, otgreatest interest TO the Liberal
League is its demand for "the right Ia
publish their opinions and conclusions
and disseminate the SAINT as they may sec
proper" The demand, in other words, il
Tor free mails" How much is. included
in this demand two facts will show: o 8 :
/. Its violation Of the Fedefal lAv q
import into this country any obscene
books, prints, pictures, drawings, 'tor any
cast, instrument, or other articles OF an
immoral nature, or to transmit through
tho mails ANY obscene book, picture
paper, print, or other publication Of an
Indecent character" or to give iuforma,
ton by what means ''any such, articles o.
things may DO obtained" A petition wSI
sent 10 the Senate Of the United States
asking for the repeal Of these laws alleg
ing that they were designed ITO abridgt
freedom Of the press and OF Conscience
This petition was inspired by the Liberal
League, and was signed by obSft CT In,
gefsoIl and others. When Nj. 1nEersolI
and his fellow skeptics elamor
about "free mails they mean the
abfogati6n iof those Seetons- of4 the
United States Revised Statutes which de.
clare, In substance, that the national Gus.
tom House and the public mails shall moi
be used to promote obscenities, indecen:
cies, and grSss immofalides; These men
can circulate through the mails then inf.
del orations and harangues and appeals