Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1899-01-28

NOT an ally OF lnRersOlllsin. lb J
distinctly dlsputant OF IngersollIsr
Sclence has demonstrated that tber
are more things 10 heaven and earth
Colonel Ingersoll, than are dreamt fl
your philosophy.
For thirty years Colonel lngersOl
has posed as the enemy Of intolerance
Ia his lecture on Wednesday night hl
scorn Tor the intolerance Of the churcl
vas depicted 10 the most ylgOrOu
and picturesque way. Aud yet wher
Colonel Iogefsoll concluded his dis
course IL was not difficult for an TN
preIulced person 10 believe that her,
was a man who, while seeking 10 teal
down and destroy one class Of toler
ants, was assuming for himself pos
itl0n where he became guilty Of ;hC
same offense he criticised In Others.
Throughout his discourse was replete
with evidences that he is the cham.
plon OF free thought he pertends to be
but that he brands as diseased, II not
dishonest, those who differ with bin
! upon the most important question ln
the like Of man.
"Our desire Is, said Colonel Inger-
soil, that every human being shall
be true TO him self, TO his ideal. BY
this he confesses the importance OF
| having an Ideal. Ia his "l.dOn't-
know" doctrine an ideal Is not ayail-
able IL we could admit the correct
ness Of Ingersols plea and could
throw away the bible, both as an In.
Splred book and record Of history,
accepting 10 sOley as an interesting
novel, the simple life aud charat ter
OF Jesus ChfIst,eyen though admitted
70 be iictiOn, would furnish an ideal
such az Colonel lngcrsol says one
should have, and such as he could nOt
have,acc0rdlnR TO lngersUll's doctrine
IL would be the greatest Of all ideals,
as II Is IN fact the best and puresG
Even though fictitious, 10 would SUP
ply To the human being a character
the emulation Of which would make
tile world brighter and better, would
supply food TO the hungry, care for
the sick and help for the helpless.
Even under such circumstances the
bible gives 10 Che human race some
thing whose place Ingersol cannot
supply, whose place InRersol does
not attempt TO supply, although he
admits the necessity Of such a feature.
The great trouble Colonel Inger-
soils logic Is, he admits he has been q
unable tO arrIye 40 conclusion, and I
those who have arrived no a q
,ocluslon. He preteuds 10 appeal to
.he reason Of hls hearers. But this ls a
mere pfetence, so long rs he will net =
)ermlt reason TO have full sway. Rea- !,
on may be described ~ the pro- -
ess 10y which result Is reached. =,
iut the process Is not complete iflt q,
o used only half way, or IL IL fails TO a,
each any conclusion. The man who, ~
avlng used reason simply for the II
urpose OF discardlng the idea, aud IA,
ais TO exercise that reason 10 the
xtent OF obtaining definite idea
pom subject worthy VI reason, may u
nagine That ne has a monopoly on W
no title OF reas0ner. But IN that NJ
ne position he has made greater ~
rrOr than the combined mistake at IA
'louted by lngersol TO Moses. llI
a favorlte expression filth Colonel ~
lgersoll, when about Co strike one Of 'o T
IS strongest blows II, "Let the torch " W
reason burn" The man who res ~
'nds To lngersoll's appeal lights the w w
rch OF reason aud grasping the lng. "a
solilan hand says, 81 am with ,ou.n =
gersoll leads his student past the lat
eacher, the priest, the bishop aud Do
c pope, knocking 10 smlthereens mi
teachings OF those men; he leads COZ
student past the Christian father by
u mother whose simple faith has Gb
'n their best consolation In die
'erslty and their inspiration up
all the affairs OF life; he carries can
pupil beyond the most en-. pea
fing landmarks OF civilization,
! when he Is past an these he
les suddenly 10 a halt The student -,
u the torch Of reason" yet aname Inc
MS To the master Of rhetoric aud
entered apprentice, and asks ID
here nov, Colonel Ingersoll2" But sena
u a helpless shrug OF the shoulders II h
ersoll replies, "l do not know. % to u
student whose brain Is not dis regu
a knows that he lighted that Is Ia
~ ol reason Tor some purpose, and edlcl
eminds his teacher that torch A. Shou
aname. But that teacher, M be
sc solicitation the torch OF reason enid
been lighted, directs that the tn
G oe eNtinguished. His notion * peop
reason fulhlls It's mission when trust
Soards an idea ana fails 10 ON the The I
um Th
'eason, says Colonel Ingerson maNe ,',
he llghI the sun, of the brain "u'''
tue compass ot the mlnd. the TOT p'
eobstaat northern star, the .l u'eo'
lialn peak that lilts itself above WIN
louds." Ana then "'''' c0ust
''''"P follow
"Al