Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-09-02
"a CONVENTION FORA FREE PEo-
PIE TO MAKE A FREE LAND"

n
PIE TO MAKE A FREE LAND.
The above is the title OF circular
sent out by Bob lNGEEsoLL and seven
others, ii Omne ge7us, inviting the peo-
ple Of the United States and the rest Of
mankind 10 a Convention at Cincinnati
ON the 18Th inst, where it will be re-
solved that free thought, free speech,
free ballot and free mails must be Sc
cured by a secular republic emancipa-
ted from Church domination"
Bob has not only fallen out with the
order OF creation, the doctrines OF Chris
tianity and Bible revelations, and ridi-
culed the Ruler OF the Universe, but ne
now proposes by way OF variety to
bring the people of the United States
and their form of government INTO
shame and disrepute. When he has
filled this job he will, like ALEXANDER
weep that there are no more worlds to
besmirch.
But his indictment against the people
of the United States, and their govern
ment. like his arraignment OF Moses
and OF GoD, is based upon system OF
special pleading that is peculiar to BOB
himself. Itis often remarked that those
good things over which BOB grows most
eloquent are the fundamental teachings
and tenets of the very book which he
most ridicules and denounces. 50, like
wise. BoB's call for a convention Is pre-
dicted upon the necessity oil introduce
inc into our form OF government GER
tain principles for which We not only
have a Constitutional guarantee from
the general government, but each State
has incorporated them as fundamental
and inviolable in their organic and stat
ute laws.
For example Boss call is first, to ''all
who believe that citizens should not be
Disseminated against because OF their
religious OF irreligious opinions"
We believe that the pilgrim fathers
brought this idea over the waters with
them and made it the pretext not only
for separation from the mother country,
but the establishment OF Il government
in which this principle has become the
most prominent and most sacred feature.
Again Bob calls "All who believe that
the courts should alike be open to all;
that all should be allowed TO testify for
the protection OF their own rights, and
those of others, whether they believe in
a myth to swear by or not"
We have no single instance named
| or intimated in the call, or wOuldit be
possible for BoR to name an instance OF
any man OF any nation, color or con-
| dition to whom the courts OF this
country are not open. The fact that
it is necessary and right for the
| courts TO establish some common
test or obligation to truth and accu-
racy in human testimony, that should
be accepted by all men and render the
adjudications Of the courts more certain
and reliable, has resulted in the adop-
| ton Of the solemn affirmation or oath
whereby a man expresses his recogni-
ton of human responsibility to ahigher
power than man, and to which he I'M
covers himself even when he may be
able 10 conceal his thought or intent
from human scrutiny, and which test
has met with universal appreciation in
all countries, as the highest and most
proper that can be devised for weighing
testimony.
But unfortunately ior Boz, he is the
one i'm million who is dcbarrcd by this
test. lie don't believe Gin any myth
in his responsibility to 4 GoD-and
hence men have determined that his
testimony is not worth the taking. Bon
does not tell us what test he would sub
stitutc for arriving at the value OF
human testimony, but il Bon runs the
Convention we take it that one oil the
resolutions shall declare that the only
criterion Tor Judging whether a man lies
or tells the truth is that he loves or hates
his wife and children, which seems to
be the sum and substance OF BOB's re-
ligiOn.
Hence, when man should be
called upon Ia testify IN
Court and it happened that hc did not
love his wife, because, forsOoth, he had
married Il vixen who was not lovable,
ne would be unceremoniously dismissed
as a man unworthy OF credence.
There are three or four other classes
To which BoB's call is addressed: "All
who believe that virtue is not based
upon ignorance" All who believe that
science, and not superstition, should be
taught in the public schools" "All
who believe that the United States
should protect citizens at home
as well rs abroad "And,
finally, all who are willing to
accord to others the rights they claim
for themselves, are most cordially IN
vited to attend this Convention
II all classes to whom this call ap-
plies shall respond, BOB will have a big
Convention. Ii Bon had condensed the
terms of his call by simply designating
all who endorsed the Declaration OF In
dependence it would be quite as COM
prehensive. and demonstrated quite As
well the absence of any necessity Tor
such cOnvOCatiOn.
To BE "the belle OF the White Sui
phur, is one OF the highest honors to
which Southern ladies' aspire, and with
the exception Of one or two seasons,
when the laurels were carried oil 10y
dark-eyed beauty from the Wyoming
Valley, Pennsylvania, the bellies OF
White sulphur have always been deni-
zpns oi the Sunny south. This season