Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-08-27

New York Special.
Colonel Bob Ingersoll has been inter-
viewed concerning the formation of the new
party with which his name has been con-
nected
81 consider myself as good a Republican
to-day as any member of the present admin
istration ever was or ever will be. I am 90
ing to Ohio, by invitation, to be present in
Cincinnati September 18th and 18th at a
convention of the Liberals
"For what purpose is this meeting held %
"To consult as to the propriety Of form
ing new party-a party that will be non
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, II per cent. of our
time, that is now wasted.''
Chow will you do this?''
by repeating bad laws and making good
ones.''
.'Do you object t." the teaching of re-
ligion?''
"No, I object to superstition, and also
object to the use .! public money to support
sectarian schools. Taxes should not be COL
lected to pay men for guessing
GLOW about the church property that is
not now taxed? Would You do anything
about that?"
"Iax it all. Why, do you know there are
S9OO,OO0, 900 worth of church property not
taxed in this country? would have it all
taxed, and relieve from taxation homesteads
to the valne of, say $1,000. 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-
lieve the poor?''
"That is one object, but we also wish to
do away with unjust laws. For instance,
there are two or three States in the Union
Tennessee, Delaware and South Carolina
IN which ministers are not allowed to be-
come members of the State legislature.
Ibis is wrong. Clergymen should have
every right that is extended to any other cit.
lzen. The civil rights of all should be the
same. There are several States in which
free-thinkers are DISTINGUISHED, not allowed
to hold office, and in most of the States in
this Union they are not allowed to testify.
The greatest and best men in the world
would not be competent to testify, while the
smallest and neanest would, provided they
believed in hell: and such mon always do
so In many States 1t is crime punishable
by line and imprisonment to publicly deny
the inspiration Of tho Bible. Think of q
book that has to be protected from ridicule
by laws
DO you think the Republican party have
received sufficient benefit from Hayes ad-
ministration to justify the steal committed,
and which it is alleged you advised and abet-
ted?"
81 will write that down.
With that Col. Ingersoll wrote the QUESTION
down, and. after thinking moment, said,
as if to himself, 'Never mind" and pro-
ceeded as follows:
Hayes administration can only be Judged
when its time has expired. Republican stock
has been fuctuating. Sometimes it is up,
sometimes down. One cannot judge until
the time comes. AS to my connection with
the Louisiana and Florida matters, 1 had
none. was invited to 60 to New Orleans,
bnt did not, and know no more about the
transactions there than what became public
property through the press
"What effect will the capitalization of the
new party at this precise juncture have up
on the present important campaign in Ohio?"
"That can not tell. The liberals of Ohio
will, of course, decide for themselves. For
myself, Iwant to do what can toward effect
ing the absolute divorce of church and State,
the divorce of church and school, the repeal
of all laws discriminating against men on
account of religious or irreligious belief, of
all laws that exempt the property of ohurchs
from taxation, or in any way abridge the
freedom of thought. That, in short, is my
platform