The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-06-02
REu. MR. RRInas, EXPLANATION

Briggs has correctly assumed the motive and
the spirit which inspired our criticism, and
we are pleased to hear from the eloquent
lecturer that the editorial is regarded as
"breathlng a spirit that every thinking man
will approve" that it is an article she HIM
self can endorse from beginning to end and
tn 1t "there is scarcely II word in it denuncla-
tory of bigotry and intolerance that he VIII
not underscore and make his own,
although it is tho only one he has yet seen
on the subject calculated to harm him." The
trouble in all this matter seems to be, ac-
cording to Mr.. Briggs explanation, that the
Galveston News reporter did him gross in
justice in the report. We are glad that MIR,
Briggs has sent to us his lecture in full, for it
is the earnest desire and the invariable prac-
tice of this journal to do full justice to every
man and measure discussed. Being under
no sort of unrequited obligations to any one,
and proposing never to be, we acknowledge
obedience to only justice and truth and pro-
gress and equity, and these and these alone
shall ever influence our course. In our crltl-
cism of Mr.. Briggs wo proceeded upon the
report that had been rendered, our deduc-
tons being built upon the state
ments rs then furnished. The fol-
lowing is the passage on lngerSollism,
wherefrom arose the unhappy discussions
"But, why argue this What he asks for is
not liberty, but license. AS | study these
sheets sec in them the face Of a monster
with power to devour all we love. A mon
ster which seems to be tho special danger of
this century and this country. 1t is true the
hideous features are carefully hid in garands
and tho effort of keen sophist is made to
hide the fact but look closely, you cannot
be mistaken-it is hore. And that monster
is communism and universal license. These
doctrines can but lead to this. They are doc
trines which disregard all oaths, all distinc-
tons of rank or authority, all reverence for
the past; which break down all barriers by
which the floods of evil are kept out. 1t is
his own language: lbelievo in liberty-that
is my religion--and | want every human be-
ing to have every right have Liberty for
every man to express what he thanks and dc
as no pleases. Liberty for weeds as well as
flowers; liberty for hawks rs we'll MS doves
Liberty is my religion" So says every one
OF them, from Robert Ingersoll through
Dennis Kearney to Victoria Woodruff.
say, no /! | is time The American people
were waking up. There are some thoughts
which ought not to sec the light. There are
some doctrines that ought toPolute only thu
vile brain that gives them birth. There are
some evils in our American life that ought tC
be put down, if it require the dungeon an(
the halter. This is free country , No
this is not a free country except to such a
deser their freedom. believe in mora
quarantine. believe in preserving tho pu
rity of American homes and the permanenct
of American institutions | have no patience
with the maulliu sentimentality which can
on2es brutal murderer makes tho path o
n common criminal m ovation, and weep
tears over the so-calcd persecution of god
less infdels and communists" Now
in response to this, Mr.. Briggs, OF
the fly leaf of his lecture pamphlet seen b,
us last night for the first time, writes us
"In the foregoing passage, my dear Colone
Elliott | insist | am referring to license no
liberty. | have never ostracised any man OF
account of his opinions. Universalists, Uni
tarians, Swedenborgians have all alik
found place in my heatt, provided the,
impress me as sincere and conscientious
men.a l am tempted to be bit 9r, l confess
against those who would destroy the purit.
of our homes by licentious doctrines.
have seen something of its holtid effect
among young men, and do believe that
moral quarantine is necessary against sucl
teachings" The author is certainly entitled t,
explain his language in Il case ofdoubtas to il
import, and that explanation is to be assessed
at its real value by tho collateral Language
and ideas expressed. This is at once tho rul
of Interpretation applied by the law of evi
derce and the requirement Of equity. An,
thus read, we are frank to say that MI
Briggs appears to have the best of tn
argument as against those of his critic:
who persilt in conforming with the print
lecture before them. When he AYERS tina
"there are some evils in our American ll
that ought to be put down, if it requires tn
dungeon or halter" he expresses only
truism that finds verihcation in the actua
} existence of our penitentaries and our scat
folds to-day; but the generic sentence is evi
IDENTIFY intended to embrace some precedin
, particular enunciation, and, in our judgment
J it refers to that expression of Ingersollisn
which had Just been used, to-wit: II be
.lieve in liberty, liberty for every man t
!, express what he thinks and do as b
pleascs," and when the lecturer had just re
} marked that "this is not liberty, but license
monster whose hideous features are CAREFUL
| hid in garlands to hide the fact, and this
monster is communism" we apprehend ths
, he is fairly entitled to the nexus or logics