Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1896-02-13


moral use. by the process of law.
Prior to 1873 there were no laws in this
state or In the United States that were
adequate to meet this monstrous evil.
The account books seized In the hands
OF the publishers OF obscene books re-
veal the fact that as far back as isis
this accursed traffic existed In this
country In 1873 there We're 1876 differ
emit books. besides thousands OF pic
lures being published. As proof OF this,
We present the fact that the agents OF
the New York Society for the Suppress
sion of Vice have seized stereotype
plates for printing 1876 different books
ana NEGATIVES for printing and manu-
iaetutlhg 100 Photographic besides
seizing over Ave hundred steel and cop
per plates for engraved pictures when
the effort to Suppress this tide OF cnrrlip-
ton, which was attacking the very
fountain or moral purity in the COM
munity, was first started there was
scarcely public sentiment enough to
sustain a prosecution against the vilest
publications. Az the facts, however,
hocntne known to the public there was
vehement demand on the part OF good
men that rigid laws he enacted and
strictly" enforced. THIS led to the en-
actment by congress OF what the libcr-
ais choose TO call the Comstock law
in 1888
I believe. sir. that these charges
against YOU are true and II YOU desire
10 test them before a court OF Justice
VIII be happy, indcd, TO represent the
purify OF this country against the
defenders ana propngators OF obscene
literature. Truly yours,
In reply TO this letter, which was
published In the New York World,
came complaint from Ingeraoll
claiming nDrHnnag Ia Vau1t.lata
The whole document with It's legal
repetitions 1t 10 not worth while to
quote. His claim r. that was guilty
OF libel IN saying that he represented
In 1873 the publishers Of obscene liter
nture in their efforts TO have repealed
the law against sending such matter
through the mails, ana that he was
thus paid TO polluto the minds OF the
young, He claims damages to his
Occupation. character md standing"
In the amount OF $4,000.
Last Sunday February 2s, made TO
10 the congregation Ia Hanson Place
Baptist church. Broklyn, the following
address which is inserted here In or
der that the Christian people over this
country may know the facts upon
which l based the charge which has
made the champion blasphcmer Vince
and strike back
81 have In my hand some flashes of
llEHl uIbli lllEfTAplllNlil II " II NOlla
plant for libel, duly made, duly signed
and duly served last Friday night al
10 o'clock. The colonel seems to be
anxious TO do all that public sentiment
now compcls him TO do In MS quiet and
secret manner az possible and | am
sure you VIII not be surprised after
you have learned all the facts that
can be proved In court bearing upon
his relation to the movement to have
repealed the laws which forbids the
carrying OF obscene literature through
the mails.
This | say, throws light on lngcr-
sollism. for 1t shows tho real animua
OF infidclity and what he would do II
he had the power. The charge Is that
| mnde II statement ~ what ! believed
to be fact aud then gave an honest
expression OF opinion. | believed and
still believe that the testimony which
can be produced In court proves con-
cluslvely that Robert q. Ingersoll rep
resented the publishers and vendors Of
obscene literature, In their efforts to
repeal the laws against sending OBJ
scene matter through the mails and I
believe that he was paid FOR IT, For the
sake Of his reputation one might wish
that he was paid ms an attorney OF the
National Liberal league for II he was
not paid FOR 1t. but championed their
cause of his own free viii and accord,
without even the excuse Of acting IN
the capacity of legal advisor and adj
Nocaie, he stands before the world nR
n constituent part of the fraternity
who tried TO break down the barriers
OF protection around our homes, and
thus let the food tide OF moral nth
into them. II he was not paid. he
did II because he was In accord with
their nefarioua business; he aided
them by his influence and eloquence,
because he admired their purpose and
approved their plans. II can be proved
that he was amply paid for his trouble
In more ways than one; but IT is to be
hoped that the colonel's sclf-respcot
VIII urge him to seek witnesses TO
prove that he was the paid attorney.
and that he was thus pursuing his
wcll-known occupation Of money max
ing without special regard TO the NOR
OF IMMORAL questions involved. There
II no doubt OF tho fact that the colonel
can prove by many witnesses that he
believes In being paid. II is grim
Joke, broad enough to make n world
smile, that n man who has been libel
ling God. Christianity and the church
all his life should sue for malicious
libel one who has told the simple truth
concerning his relation to the move
ment in this country TO break down the
barriers against sending obscene liter
sture through the malls.
'"rhe colonel seems to have revised
his Views on nldsphcmy. Speaking the
truth he declares IL never blasphemy.
even though It be spoken In attacks up
on the God of the universe. He has a
right 10 denounee even Him, however
sacred his person 10 others. But the
cnse alters when one tells the truth
about the colonelH god his own sacred
self. The humor broadena as We re-
member the wntchword OF the colonel
hns been free thought and free speech.
All truth and fnlschood need Is fair
figslt In open field. let all men speak
their thoughts. The true. the pure. the
good will survive But all of a sudden
the colonel changes his creed and pro-
ceeds TO act upon the principle OF tho
ogrcE, whom he hates because they
used 10 call men to account for their
free specch Evidently he Is trembling
for the truth on account OF II, In
either case, according to his lifelong
theory. the trembling II unnecessary.
Many times has he asserted that truth
can take care OF itself without the per-
suaDion OF fine, faggot or imprisonment.
II he IL trembling because the truth
has heen spoken he IN deliberately at
tempting to throttle truth through the
process OF law. For he Announces that
he does not desire to try the case in
the newspapers. II Is with feeling Of
relief that one thinks of the fair open
courts OF New York In which the coll
onel cannot try the case even more Sc
cretly. II really appears that he does
not desire 80 much the establishment
al truth MS tho wrcalfing OF vengeance,
OF which he has written so much, upon
a certain Baptist minister for an hon-
est statement OF fact and an honest ex-
,roselnc M orinIon Aa to the injury