The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1895-01-19
SATURDAY, JANUARY 10. 1895.
COL. INGERSOLL.

COL. INGERSOLL.
The people have had another chance
to hear Mr.. Ingersoll tell what he did not
know about the Bible. MI. Ingersoll is
always interesting and enjoyable. In
many ways he is the greatest orator in
the country. No doubt he is the most
skillful joiner Of words now living in the
United States. He brings to his subject
an eloquence which in a popular cause
would be well nigh irresistible One is
conscious while listening to him that his
power is real,
He never says that which will shock
the sensibilities of his listeners. He pro-
ceeds continuously until he has gained
the good Will Of his audience and then
suddenly bnt quietly brings to bear all
the satire and sarcasm Of which he Is
capable Ever in direct communion
with his audience he will not allow them
to rebel an j when they have stood all in
that line which they will patiently do he
leads them into pleasanter fields. AS an
orator he is to be admired but as a
student and scholar he does not impress
one. He handles a subject which for
two Thousand years has beer the con-
star theme Of preachers and the study Of
philosophers, as lightly as he would case
in a Justice court. Great as is the intel.
lect and SURPRISING as is the elequence
of Mr.. Ingerso]l, the Bible is worthy OF
more study and sincere, honest endesvor
at criticism than that shown by MIR.
Incersoll on his last visit.
Mr.. Ingersolre assumption that he is
the only che who dares to speak about
the Bible 10 of course baseless. We
might better far assume that Mr.. niger
coll dare not say the truth about the
Bible for fear Of his income. We are
impressed at all times that the speaker is
not making systematized attack, only
hitting2here and there where q laugh
can be most easily provoked. There is
lack Of due dignity shown to subject
which is of ultimate Importance. The
speaker is before his audience to enter
tain rather than to convince; to satirize
and soar away in eloquence rather than
to reason snd find the truth. At first
sightit might appear that Col. lngersoll
by taking the unpopular side OF the
question has taken up hard light 1t
the fight is to be measured by the result
he certainly has taken up hard fight,
but if it is measured and decided by the
number Of thrusts and parties made he
is certainly winner. It is easy to be
an unbeliever. II is easier to pull down
than to construct. A child playing with
a hammer could destroy piece OF art in
a minute over which genius ]abored for
years. Anybody can PROFOUND questions
which the greatest philosophers can not
answer. Why does the heart beat or the
sun set or fire burn or blade OF grass
grow? All these are simple phenomena,
with which We are all acquainted, yet not
ons of us can give reason. The law OF
the aCGlOu OIL Ullo A0oAO " OA0 A0W SAAesV 6SF0
erns the revolution OF the earth, the law
of combustion and vegetable CESSATION
are we'll known;abut the ultimate why,
no one can give.
People then should not be troubled
because difficulties are suggested, be-
cause Mr.. Ingersoll can ask questions
your answers to which cannot be proved;
innocent children ask the whyfore Of
things every day which the most intelli-
gent parents cannot give. The greatness
Of any truth varies directly as the mya
tery. The greater the truth thesgreater
the mystery. It cannot be that Col. In
persoll really desires to see the Christian
world deprived Of the religion under
81, which the best civilization and the best
code 81 ethics known have grown up.
Il rant III that he claims on the ultimate
s.,oaddnts and he only blaine, knows
MY Nv. rash Indeed y attack