The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-09-20
IRATE INGERsOLL.
He Doesn't Like Some OF the Proceeding,
ofthe Liberal League and Resigns his
AInInharnhln.

of the Liberal League and Resigns hi
Membership. .f
; CHICAGO, September 1s.-The fourth an
nual Congress OF the National Libera
League began here yesterday afternoon
and will continue over Sunday. Elizu
Wright, Of Boston, Is President, and A.
Rawson, OF New York City, Secretary. R
G. Ingersoll is one Of the Vice Presidents
The League is made up Of delegates from
auxiliary leagues, Of which it is said thert
are $50 throughout the United States
Twenty or thirty prominent freethinkers
however, compose the "Congress." The
leading object sought by the League Is the
total separation OF Church and State, bul
the main business OF this meeting Is to de
eide what course the Liberals will take in
the pending campaign-whethe they will
nominate a National ticket Of their own
or support some oi the numerous candi'
dates already in the field.
The League continued its Congress this
morning. 1t was proposed to make the
President, Elizur Wright, OF Boston, and
Colonel R. G. Ingersoll, advisory members
OF all committees, but objeotion was made
to Ingersoll until Mr.. Wright stated that
Mr.. Ingersoll had himself paid all the ex.
penses OF the Congress.
The annual election Of officers resulted
in the reelection OF Mr.. Wright as Presi-
dent. Mr.. Ingersoll and forty.nine others
were made Vice Presidents.
] An address from the Radicals OF the
United States was read. 1t proposed a
Joint convention OF the Liberal League,
German Free Thinkers, Turner'S, Woman
Sufiragists, Socialists, working people and
others, for the purpose OF forming new
political party. This document was re-.
lerred.
A. L. Grover, OF Chicago, delivered an
address, in which he denounced General
Garfield because he indorsed the doctrines
OF Alexander Hamilton.
Another gentleman denounced the
speaker and Endorsed Garfield.
The greater part OF the afternoon and
evening was occupied in discussion OF the
platform of principles and report pre-
sented by the Committee on Future
Work. 1t provides for: l. Total separa-
ton OF Church and State by law and by
constitutional amendment, taxation OF
Church property, secularization OF schools,
abrogation Of chaplaincies, Sabbatarian
laws and other similar measures. 2.
National legislation to protect citizensin
equal political, civil, industrial and re-
ligious rights, regardless Of race or sex. 8.
Universal education the basis ofuniversal
suffrage; constitutional amendment re-
quiring every State to maintain a
thoroughly secularized public school sys-
TEN, and to educate every child within its
borders. The platform was then read.
1t declares, among other things, that
there should be no legal, political or social
disabilities on account OF religious belief
or OF absei thereof; that all laws re-
quiring religious tests in order to quail
ily any person TO sit on a Jury, testify,
vote, hold office or do any public act,
should be repealed as relics OF barbarism,
and that all laws regarding marriage,
which is civil contract, aud divorce,
births and burials should be placed on
purely secular and scientific basis, aud
have their justification only in their use
10 society. Also that the ComstoCk laws
should be repealed forthwith, and alto
gether. Colonel lngersoll undertook to
correct the impression that tho League
favored the circulation OF obscene litera-
ture, and said It was only aimed to discrim-
mate 10 the suppression or punishment
between those who williully and mali.
ciously circulated such literature, and
those who did so without evil motive.
The platform involved the League in
discussion, which was still in progress at
midnight, and which brought out much
hostility to certain OF it's plaDks because
Of their assertions OF States rights doc
trine.
The Liberal League discussed the pro-
posed platform until after midnight. Col.
Ingersoll wished to substitute for the
plank, abrogating the Comsiock Laws,
resolution that the Committee OF Defense,
whenever 1t Is claimed that person has
been indicted for what that person claims
to have been an honest exercise Of free.
dom OF thought and expression, shall in
yestgate such case, and II IL appears that
he has not been guilty, defend him II he Is
unable to defend himself. He said that he
wanted 1t understood that the church for
ever must not smother the literature
OF liberalism. They could not un-
dertake to defend all the slush
that had been written in this
country. They had not time to go into
the question OF what authority the United
States NAV have over the mails. In one
sensethe Government assuredly had the
right to say what shall 20 into the mails
and until the Christian world should ex.
punge obscenity from their book they de.
mand that the laws against obscene liter.
ature shall be executed against the people.
he had CONFIDENCE In the Federal courts
to try these cases.
Mr.. Wakeman, In answering, declared
that all such trials shall be In State courts,
and II a Jury in State court found man
guilty, let him go to hell.
A lady delegate inquired what the
lesgue had to do with he'll. The speaker
substituted the s'eternal bow-wows." The
debate became quite warm. Col. Inger.
soil protesting that he was trying to keep
the league from destroying Itself and to
knock some sense into It's head. Mr.. Nc.
Cracken offered resolution demanding
such modification Of the Comstock laws
that their execution will protect citiEensin
their right Of freely exercising their opin.
ions and spreading them through the
mails. Col. Ingersoll and Mr., Green de-
clared that II the original resolutions were
adopted they would withdraw from the
league, which statements were greeted
with applause and cries of "good rid
dance" Both amendments were then
voted down and the resolutions reported
by the committee were adopted.
Col. Ingersoll then announced his resig.
milton as Vice President OF the association.
The resignation was accepted, and Mrs.
Julia II. Severance. ol Milwaukee, was
elected in his place. The resolutions
adopted, in addition TO those already men.
toned, declare 1t expedient for the League
| to cooperate with political parties TO &C.
complish the objects OF the platform, and
| TO nominate candidates for Office as soon
as they have sufficient strength 70 make
such nominations effective. They urge
that in 1884 the League nominate a Presi.