The Topeka state journal., 1897-11-24
INGERsOLL ON MCGOWAN.
He Says the Detroit Pastor is in the
Right Resignation to be Demar d d.


Detroit, Mich. Nov. 24-Colonel Rob
ert G. IngersolI believes that the Rev.
H. S. MCGOWAN did right in allowing
Emma Goldman to occupy the pulpit of
the Peoples Church. When he was
asked to give his opinion OF McCOWanS
action, Mr.. 1ngersOl replied:
Il have no doubt that Mr.. MCGOWAN
did what he believed to be right. do
not think Emma Goldman could do any
harm. All the anarchists, I think, are
crazy and they ought to be treated as
we treat the insane.
1T is a mistake to hang them. In
that way we make them in the eyes of
all other anarchists noble martyrs. A
dead hero makes a good leader, but u
man in an insane asylum attracts no
followers. There is no glory in being
insane. The poor, deIuded, crazy wretch
es who kill kings, prime ministers, and
presidents are not responsible. They
should not be killed. They should be
confined as lunatics. That course would
destroy the anarchistic cult and the
breed would die out
Emma Goldman denOunces all gov
ernment, all law, and yet she believes
in self-defense. Society believes in
self defense, and for that reason makes
laws and enfOrces them. Back of all
government, back of all law, back of
the army and navy, back of every court
and policeman is the instinct of self
preservation. Yet we all admit that
there are no perfect governments, no
perfect courts, but we do not say that
ter
$50 Emma Goldman is opposed to
marriage Well, we all know that many
marriages are failures but that is not
the fault of the institution of marriage
but of the folks. Do not abolish mar
riages, but civilize the people. Love
does a great deal of harm, but we do
not wish to abolish love, because it is
the source of nearly al there is of hap
piness in this poor world.
Now, I do not think that Mr.. Nc
COWan should be blamed. No harm
has been done. The people who heard
Miss Goldman now know just how mis-
taken she is, and just how idiOtic what
is called anarchy is. 1 should think
that Mr. MCGOWAN was a courageous,
honest, and intellectually hOspitable
man"
The Rev. H. S. McCowan's permission
to Emma Goldman to lecture from the
pulpit of the Peoples Church and the
startling utteranceS made by the WO-
man have stirred up a lively muss in
church circles here. What was only
murmuring of discomfort among mem
berS and officers of the Peoples Church
has crystallized into open revolt. Yes
terday three of the board OF six deacons
declared that unless the Rev. H. $.
MCGOWAN should resign they would
withdraw from the church In addition
to the three deacOns it is stated that
six out of nine trustees condemn the
action of the pastor A division in the
church over the anarchy question is
imminent. 1t is probable that con-
gregatiOnal meeting Will be held with
in a few days and the question of ask
ing for MCCOWan'S resignation will be
put to the membership of the church.
The three deacOnS who threaten to
resign unless the pastor does are J. NJ.
Rhodes, chairman of the board of dea-
cons; O. J. Dixon, and William Hopper
Mr.. Dixon is the most bitter OF the
three against the pastor He has already
sent his resignation to George Duncan.