The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-08-26
An Interview witl, Bob IngersoIr.

WASHINGTON, D. G., August 25.-Col.
Bob Ingersoll was interviewed yesterday
concerning the formation of the new par
ty with which his name has been con-
nected.
II consider myself as good a Republican
to-day as any member Of the present Ad-
ministration ever was or will be. am
going to Ohio, by invitation, to be present
in Cincinnati September 18th and l4th at
Convention Of the Liberals"
For what purpose is this meeting
"To consult as to the propriety OF form
ing new ,party-a party that will be nom
sectarian."
"What will be the object OF this party?"
"To do away with the ghosts that
haunt, the superstitions that control, and
all laws that deny civil rights to honest
men. We would like also to reclaim for
the use OF man the seventh day, IA per
cent Of our time, that is now wasted"
GLOW will you do this?"
"By repeating bad laws and making good
ones"
:. "Do you object to the teaching of re.
ligion2"
''No; I object to superstition, and also
object to the use of public money to sup
port sectarian schools. Taxes should not
be collected to pay men for guessing"
"How about the church property that is
not now taxed? Would you do anything
about that?"
"Tax it all. Why, do you know there
are sSOO, 900, 900 worth OF church property
not taxed in this country? would have
1t all taxed, and relieve from taxation
homesteads to the value Of, say, 81 900.
Tax the church property and take the
burden from the poor. Do you think God
would object to that?"
;. "Then the object of your party is to re-
lieye the poor?"
"That is one object, but we also wish to
do away with unjust laws. For instance,
there are two or three States OF the Union
Tennessee, Delaware and South Caro-.
lina-in which ministers are not allowed
to become members OF the State Legisla-
ture. This is wrong. Clergvmen should
have every right that is extended to any
other citizen. The civil rights of all
should be the same. There are several
States in which free thinkers are disfran.
chised, not allowed to hold office, and in
most States in this Union they are not
allowed to testify. The greatest and best
men in the world would not be COM
petent to testify, while the smallest and
meanest would, provided they believed in
hell; and such men always do. So in
many States 1t is q crime punishable by
fine and imprisonment to publicly deny
the inspiration Of the Bible. Think Of q
book that has to be protected from ridi-
cule by law"
"Do you think the Republican party
have received sufficient benefit from
Hayes administration to Justify the steal
committed, and which it is alleged you
advised and abetted?"
II will write that down."
With that Col. Ingersoll wrote the que9.
ton down, and, after thinking a moment
said, as il to himself, "Never mind" and
proceeded as follows:
Hayes Administration can only be
judged when its time has expired. Repub-
lican stock has been auctuating. Some
times It is up, sometimes down. One can
not judge until an end comes. AS to my
connection with the Louisiana and Flori-
da matters, l had none. Twas invited to
go to New Orleans, but did not, and
know no more about the transactions there
than what became public property
through the press"
"What effect will tho crystalization OF
the now party at this precise iuncture have
upon the present important campaign in
0hio2"
"That can not tell. The Liberals Of
Ohio will, Of course, decide for themselves.
For myself, l want TO do what can to.
ward ,ettecting the absolute divorce OF
Church and State, the divorce OF Church
and School, the repeal OF all laws discrim.
mating against men on account Of relgi.
Gus or irreligious belief, OF all laws that
exempt the property Of churches from
taxation, or in any way abridge the free.
platform"