Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-11-17

mine or anybody else would be allow
ed to accompany this new efusion oil
filth. 1t was TO be printed immedi-
ately, and would occupy so much
space that none could be spared for
the other side. | proposed that If It's
bulk could not be reduced so as TO ad.
init of an answer in the same number
it should be posponed until a reply
could be made ready for publication
in the next succeeding number. This
and divers other offers were rejected
for the express reason that "Mr. In.
gersoll would not consent" Finding
the Review controlled by him to suit
himself, | did not think | was bound
to go further.
True, was offered the chance OF
replying in future number, but that
was not the privilege had bargained
for nor the duty | agreed TO perform.
Besides, If | would write an answer,
what confidence could | have that they
would not suppress iti A promise Of
theirs, express or implied. is not, in
my estimation, worth a straw if they
have an interest in breaking it. Their
object was not what they profcssed-
to get the truth vindicated-but to
make a sensation and increase the sale
of their paper.
l am especially blamable for allow
ing myself to be taken in by them ON
this occasion, because the same treach.
erous concern had basely betrayed me
once before. After tracking me out
and hunting me down TO get an article
from me on the Great Fraud of 1876,
a subject then of much general inte-
rest, aud making by its publication,
Us the proprietor himself told me, not
less than ten thousand dollars, they
handed me and my friends, living and
dead, over to be covered with irrele-
want ISLANDERS on a bargain that |
should not be permitted to refuse
them in their pages. The pamphlet
to which | was driven could not reach
half the readers of the Reriew, and
the other hall probably believe to this
day that | and certain other men,
some of them the best and worthiest
in the land, were guilty of the most
atrocious crimes known to any law,
Divine or human. Ii was weak in
rue not 10 prosecute those libelers in u
court of justice still weaker TO con.
done the ofense and put myself in the
way of being similarly maltreated
again. Perhaps also, it was unwise
at the beginning to look for better be-
havior from edventurers conducting a
magazine without avowed convictions
or principles and without capacity TO
contribute an original thing Of their
own except rags and hanback,.
It would be pleasant 10 believe that
some professional thcologian or other
believer in the truth may be permitted
to address the readers of the magazine
in question. But | expect not. 1t
seems probable that the North Ameri-
can Revie,g will be prostituted entire
ly to the service of atheism.
This is no personal wrangle with
Mr.. lngersoll. He has said nothing
offensive about me. His indignation at
finding himself confronted. not by n
professional theologian, but by n lay.
man who applied the judicial test to
his assertions, was natural aud ex.
pressed with tolerable moderation. On
! the other hand. I tried, and | think
" tried successfully, 10 coniiue myself
rigidly to the square issue between us.
A just or even au intelligent criticism
could not be made without some refer
ence to his mental peculiarities, which
with habits ofshallow thinking and rash
talking, made him an utterly incom-
petent Judge of the subject he preten-
ded TO argue. But | found the proofs
of this within the four corners of his
own paper. There, also, learned
that he was without any acknowledged
standard of right or wrong. 1t was
legitimate to notice that, because il
accounted satisfactorily for his other
utterances.
Neither is there any question Of par
tisan politics between us. | have Ger.
tain political convictions, which YOU
may call prejudices Of you will. But
whether they are we'll or i'll founded,
they have no manner of just coDnec.
ton with the subject matter of Mr..
Ingersolls diatribe against Christiani-
ty. | believe, and have often express
ed the belief, that religion and politics
cannot be mingled together without
endangering both. The most perfect
system of human government that
ever was invented by the vii of man
and the holiest religion that God has
revealed to his creatures when united
together form q monstrous compound
highly injurious TO the best interests Of
the human race. Such q union is
pronounced by Christ and his Apos.
ties TO be impure, and the fathers Of
this Republic 80 shaped their fuuda.