The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1880-10-28
SPEECH
OF
r. G.. INGERSOLL,
Delivered at Cincinnati, October 8, 1880.

Delivered at Cincinnati, October 8, 1850.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: wish to admit, in the
first place, that the Democrats have equal interest
in this country with the Republicans; and wish to
admit that 1t is much the interest of the Demo-
Gratis to keep flag sacred in the hearts of men.
admit that most Democrats are honest. Laughter
and applause.1 admit that all people what they
have to be. admit that the only way to reach a
Democrat is by and propose to treat every
one of them as politely tonight as would want one
of them to treat lCries of Good."] do not in
tend to say one word that every Democrat here will
not know is true. Whatever he may say with his
lips, will compel him to give three cheers in his
heart. admit that the Republican party is not Alto
gether good. admit that you will wonder at my
candor in saying that the Democratic party is not al
together bad admit that the Republican party, in
its great splendid effort to do good has sometimes by
mistake done wrong; and admit that the Democratic
party in its effort to do wrong has sometimes by mis-
take done right. Laughter and applause.1 Every
one of us-every who is good wishes to preserve
this country Every one of us believes that this Is
the best nation under the Every one of us be-
lieyes that our flag represents more liberty, repre-
sents more justice and represents general INTEL
ligence, more human progress than other banner
that ever enriched the heavens believe this to be
| great country. We have more good houses, on the
average; have better clothes; have to eat
llaughter]; have school houses; have bet
IDEAS OF Justice; we nave on the ay-
erage, more human charity, thap any other people;
and when say that, mean the Eastern, Northern
and Western States.
Every good man desires only preserve all the
good we have, but intends the country better
for his having lived in it. Every honest should
feel that if his child don't have government,
won't be his fault. He should say, if my child does
not live under free national flag the fault shall
be laid at my door.
There is something in every country that ought to
ha
that ought to be destroyed We must preserve the
good and destroy the bad want to say in this
nection that everything of value has be worked
in this world Everything that is good costs toll.
costs sweat. costs honest manly effort. That which
is useless will take of itself Nobody hoes dog
fennel. We have to raise wheat and corn; have
plow the land we have to cultivate the crop, and
have to harvest 1t.
[Some disturbance in the audience here occurred by
some one trying to get out. which Interrupted the
speaker. in reference to which he said: Let every
man go as he has got his head full."l
The good has to be preserved the bad takes of
ITSELF We have to look out for health; diseases
self-sustanng. 1t takes great deal of work to
make real good Republican. We have to have news
papers. school houses. and magazines There must be
thousands of splendid men; it takes continual. per-
petual effort tn climb the great hill of human progress
and whenever man gets tired of climbing whenever
he gets sick of learning whenever he gets exhausted
by being good, he gives up climbing. rolls
hill, and the moment he strikes the mud he gets up
and cries, "Hurra for Hancock!'' [Applause and
laughter]
There certain things wish TO preserve in
this country and is important for every American
to decide for himself what section of the country will
preserve these things what party be trusted.
The first thing to preserve in free government is
free speech. Free speech is the gem of the human
soul. Words symbols of thought and liberty
gives them wing, and without free speech republ-
can government is simply impossible. A government
founded upon reason-a government founded upon
hmm ,f,ta1
every individual tongue has the right
the general But of what is it to give free
speech if afterward you to be defeated by fraud
and force? Of what TO say the attorney for the
defendant may address the jury If that jury has al
ready been bought? OF what to allow attorney
to address jury if upon bringing in their verdict of
not guilty, the defendant is hanged by mob? Free
speech is the brains of this country and without
them our government can not exist. The question
for the American people to decide to-day-the ques
ton for every of you to decide to-day-the ques
ton for every of you to decide for yourselvess
ths Is free speech safer in the Southern States than
in the Northern? Voices, NO no.''l Can trust
the Southern people to guard the inestimable gem
free speech, of the North guard that jewel
ourselves? ask every Democrat here, is there free
speech in Mississippi the in Massachusetts?
mo, no.'1 Now, Mr.. Democrat, honor bright tell
the truth. Is there free speech in any Southern
State?
IA voice-'Yes, if you speak the right way.,l
There is free speech if you side with the majority,
but if wish to give your honest opinion and you
happen to differ with the majority there is not; there
never was any free speech in any Southern State.
CCheers.1 And let me tell you why. They had in
those States an institution called slavery They knew
that that could not be defended at the bar
of the human conscience. They knew that upon the
shining field of reason that cause must down. For
that reason they would not allow to speak his
opinions that from the foundation of those States
til they have ruled by force and fraud. by mob
law by the shotgun by the dagger of the in,
and by universal intimidation. [Cheers ! They
knew they could not defend the robbery of tie Grad
they knew that they could defend the selling of
child from the agonized breast of mother. and so
they closed the lips of free speech with the bludgeon
offorce IA colored the audience cried out
in loud voice, "And they took the negro and
got children of their sell.1 They knew that
institution like that could not be defended, and so
they resorted to forces and to-day they know in the
South that their political doctrines bear the
glittering light of public discussion. Republican
is not allowed to make speeches in many Southern
States; and why? They afraid ofreason; they
afraid of argument; and for not willing to
hand this government any body of men who
opposed to absolute liberty of thought and ex-
preston. lCheers.l
1 will trust the North will trust Ohio rather thar
Arkansas; will trust Illinois rather than Alabama
Massachusetts rather than Louisiana. will trust a
man whenever he says am willing to meet you upoD
the field of argument and if your are better
than mine, make an unconditional surrender. The
that exercises the right of free speech himself
and that is willing give the right to
ers, is barbarian. And the Democrat in the South
who makes public speech, and will not allow Re-
publican to answer him. is an uncivilized wretch.
lCheers.l
The State in which speech is not free is barbarian
State, don't propose the South shall govern us
| until they become civil enough to allow honest
man to express his opinions.
Now. If there is any Democrat here who is favor
speech let him stand with that section the
country that believes in that doctrines and there
Democrat here who dare say he is opposed to free
speech, because by simply saying he would
else the right of free speech In every Northern
here and make their speeches. We give them a res
pectful hearings we answer their arguments: we don't
assault their persons. There such thing in the
| North Republican mob. We have got too much
confidence in our ideas to brute forces We
don't argue wild beasts argue. CCheers.l
country is absolutely honest poll. There is one
King in the United States. Emperor. Gar,
and that is the legally expressed will the majority
of the people And the man who casts Illegal vote,
and the man who casts out legal vote is traitor
the principle upon which this government
Every Illegal voter ought to suffer In the pententary
Every Illegal voter is traitor; every Illegal voter
tries to poison the fountain of power and have
stop Illegal voting In this country the republic
cannot stand. We are upon the edge of Mexicaniza-
tion To-day; we are at the precpce of unparalleled