Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-07-28

Second. i call tncSC SiatClIltuiN hfII-
ositioas, because they are entitled to
that kind of credcnce which We give
TO declarations made under oath--but
in n much higher degree, for they are
more than sworn to. They were made
in the immediate prospect of death.
Perhaps this would not affect the CON
science of IN atheist-neither would
an oath-but these people maniiestly
believed in judgment after death,
before God of truth, whose displeas-
ure they feared above all things.
Third. The witnesses could not have
been mistaken. The nature of the
facts precluded the possibility of any
delusion about them. For every aver
mcnt they had "the sensible aud true
avouch of their own eyes" and ears.
Besides, they were plain-thinking, So
Der, unimaginativo men, who, unlike
Mr.. lngersoll, always, under all cir
cumstanccs, and especially in the pres
ence of eternity, recognized the differ
cnce between mountains and clouds.
1t is incoucevable how any fact could
be proven by evidence more concIu-
sive than the statement of such per-
sons, publicly given and stcadiastly
persisted in through every kind of per.
secution, Imprisonment, and torture to
the last agonies of lingering death.
Fourth. Apart from these terrible
tests, the more ordinary claims to
Credibility are not wanting. They
were men of uuimpeachable character.
| The most virulcut enemies of the
cause they spoke and died for have
never suggested reason for doubling
their personal honesty. But there is
affirmative proof that they and their
fellowdisciplcs were held by those
who knew them in the highest e.lima-
ton for truthiulncss. Wherever they
made their report it was not only be-
! licvcd, but believed with a faith 50
implicit that thousands were ready at
once to seal it with their blood.
Fifth. The tone and temper Of their
narrative impress us with sentiment
of profound respect. 1t Is an arllc,s.
unimpassioncd, simple story. No ar.
-. of fr;anJ. ~ j.,,,,,a;a,;.n .;",,, "y IS
an~m;c. No o,t.mnt. ~ NJ cnnccaimcn,
How strongly these qualities commend
I the testimony of q witness 10 the con-
tidcncc Of judge and jury is we'll
- yn'L n,a,,.r' ~, =, ''' $50 "'' - '''''
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ami, Th.., ,.ari,,;,ns -. :, n.-
f.c,f,. ccr,o;, ,ha, ,L.ra cnnIi L,..
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- " onl ,la. .a'L -. ;,I' Nv
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H. nwn c,,-c;a,c. al e., 49, 49, ~
Ln,wIsIre I, c,n.;jcr;,.. -;
monv or several v.i,rc.-r. :, ,L. 80,
transaction th.ir sph.,an,;,I ,.,r.,-
mont ur,p tho MOI, e.. MI, ,;,
cumstan,ial difference. ), ~ dc,oiI
i olways rngard,1 a. Nc -, cLor'
acterisiic of truth and B1cI rLcro
!. no rule Of eyidakrSz sy,r.
sally adnnt.d than .sx -
sustained bv p.p.rs
more immoyabIv 4 J' -
sense of mankind ali
himself admit. the ru' ,nS,i hn,i r7nccJr.
it.soundne.s The LOGICAL ronseouonre
oC that admission !. fbo, vycorc h,,rJ
to take this evidence n. incon,c.,ahIy
true, But marx the infatuated nor.
ver.i,v with which be sccL- 80 oyojc
!, Iio savs tho, whom vo cIa;r, ,La,
/ tho witnesses were in.nired The rulc
docs NOT annIv becau.r ,hn wine
then sneak What !. known n HIM wbo
! in.pired them. and ali mu.f sneak ox.
actIv the same even to Tho minn,cs,
detail Mr. Ingor.nll'. notion If an
!