The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-09-18
HE GOES FOR us.

MAN L MEN OF MAN MINDS.
Editor Representative
In your recent article on Missionaries
wish to make few remarks. In other
words have bone to pick" with you.
The churches sending missionaries to for
eign countries is purely a private bust
ness and they must stand the consequent
ces,-its pitfalls and rewards.
You stated that it would have been
better If they had stayed at home and
tried to keep the Christians here in the
fold of Christianity. Is Christianity such
slippery belief that it takes all the mis-
sionaries and ministers to keep the pres
ent Christians in the fold? There are
quite an able corps of reverends here; are
they not capable Of taking care of this
end? 1t must be queer religion that it
takes some persons to keep" others in
the fold"
And again you say while they are
grasping at the yellow-faced heather,
Bob Ingersoll is making heathens of the
white people," etc., land then advis-
ing them to reform the world by cut
ting their own throats" Mr. Donnelly,
l subscribed for your paper supposing
you to be fearless and Outspoken, ever
keeping the banner of truth and justice
we'll in sight, but when you cast slur
at Robert Ingersoll and the people that
agree with him on the Probabilities of
another world, and in the next breath
state that he advises" people to reform
the world by committing suicide" you
know that IS false statement and you
cannot prove it. You accuse the old party
editors of lying; now you must go and
initiate them Ingersoll does not ask any
man to believe what he says, and neither
does there have to be shepherds to keep"
his followers in the fold"
Free thought stands on the solid foun-
dation of Reason and 1t will stand alone
without any props or particular keep
ing"
Finally you say, "Why go to China to
find sinners? Let the missionaries tackle
some of our Minnesota legislatures" etc.
Now it seems to me they have tackled" it
in good shape already. Our legislatures
are opened every day of it's session by a
minister and he calls on Divine aid to
guide the members through the days
business. You say "that If they (the mis-
sionaries) were at our capital they would
not be able to tell where the legislature
ends and hell begins" The hell begins
where we have to pay taxes for two min
listers to open the affairs Of the state,
where they have no bounden right to i'm
pose or in any way affiliate with our gov
eminent. And then you are trying to
throw dust in the peoples eyes and say
a {Hci ny,o vii no dn6
l am Freethinker and as one I chal-
utterances and writings tend to degrade
mankind and discourage civilization or
encourage suicide for the masses.
AS Peoples party man and a jealous
worker for the cause warn you to give
''justice where justice is due" or there
will be one dollar less going down your
jeans.
Now Mr.. Donnelly do not write this
in an angry or 'stOp-my-paper-at-
mood but believe in free thought. free
speech and free press, giving every
person an equal right to climb the ladder
of life.
Hoping you may some day sit on the
banks of the famous Potomac and as you
draw the presidents chair little closer
while nimbly dipping your toes in the
clear water, and you smile as you hear
the joyous shout of once more happy
people, when all at once sailboat comes
in view, you look again and you see the
name atlantis" on it's side. Then an
other comes-it is 'Ragnorok," followed
by the double deckers Caesars Col
umn" and CDR Huguet;" next comes the
graceful sloop the Golden Bottle" ca
reening and tossing on the billowy wave
when all at once all eyes are turned to-
ward the next ship and a terrific shout
goes up from all the people of the land
that had gathered around. This new
craft shone clear in the sunlight as it
was completely covered with silver, and
as it came up and anchored you notice
the name of American Peoples Money"
the cheering was deafening, you are car
ried bodily, chair and all, ON board the
beautiful ship, the gift of the people to
show their appreciation of your yeoman
service. And as you lift anchor and start
the way for open water, you look back
and man is seen swimming frantical-
toward the ship; without stopping you
grasp a rope and throw it to him-you
quickly pull him in, but he expires just
as he reaches the deck and his form is
stretched out on the ship. You behold
the visage Of Why, who can it be Z?
You look again, My God, it's Joe Vince
lock-" You turn to the people and as
one voice they cry a-Excelsior Respect
fully yours,
OTTO J. KNIPS,
Adrian, MINI.
eve have hesitated to print this let
ter. It is ohr rule to avoid religious con-