CONTENTS OF VOLUME VIII. INTERVIEWS.
THE BIBLE AND A FUTURE LIFE, Washington Post
MRS. VAN COTT, THE REVIVALIST, Buffalo Express
EUROPEAN TRIP AND GREENBACK QUESTION, Washington Post
THE PRE-MILLENNIAL CONFERENCE, Buffalo Express
THE SOLID SOUTH AND RESUMPTION, Cincinnati Commercial
SUNDAY LAWS OF PITTSBURG, Pittsburg Leader
POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS, Chicago Times
POLITICS AND GEN. GRANT, Indianapolis Journal
POLITICS, RELIGION AND THOMAS PAINE, Chicago Times
REPLY TO CHICAGO CRITICS, Chicago Tribune
THE REPUBLICAN VICTORY, New York Herald
INGERSOLL AND BEECHER, New York Herald
POLITICAL, Washington Post
RELIGION IN POLITICS, New York Evening Express
MIRACLES AND IMMORTALITY, Pittsburg Dispatch
THE POLITICAL OUTLOOK, Cincinnati Commercial
MR. BEECHER, MOSES AND THE NEGRO, Brooklyn Eagle
HADES, DELAWARE AND FREETHOUGHT, Brooklyn Eagle
A REPLY TO THE REV. MR. LANSING, New Haven Sunday Union
BEACONSFIELD, LENT AND REVIVALS, Brooklyn Eagle
ANSWERING THE NEW YORK MINISTERS, Chicago Times
GUITEAU AND HIS CRIME, Washington Sunday Gazette
DISTRICT SUFFRAGE, Washington Capital
FUNERAL OF JOHN G. MILLS AND IMMORTALITY, Washington Post
STAR ROUTE AND POLITICS, New York Herald
THE INTERVIEWER, New York Morning Journal
POLITICS AND PROHIBITION, Chicago Times
THE REPUBLICAN DEFEAT IN OHIO, Dayton Democrat
THE CIVIL RIGHTS BILL, Washington National Republican
JUSTICE HARLAN AND THE CIVIL RIGHTS BILL, Chicago Inter-Ocean
POLITICS AND THEOLOGY, Denver Tribune
MORALITY AND IMMORTALITY, Detroit News
POLITICS, MORMONISM AND MR. BEECHER, Denver News
FREE TRADE AND CHRISTIANITY, Denver Republican
THE OATH QUESTION, London Secular Review
WENDELL PHILLIPS, FITZ JOHN PORTER AND BISMARCK, Chicago Times
GENERAL SUBJECTS, Kansas City Times
REPLY TO KANSAS CITY CLERGY, Kansas City Journal
SWEARING AND AFFIRMING, Buffalo Courier
REPLY TO A BUFFALO CRITIC, Buffalo Times
BLASPHEMY, Philadelphia Press
POLITICS AND BRITISH COLUMBIA, San Francisco Evening Post
INGERSOLL CATECHISED, San Francisco San Franciscan
BLAINE'S DEFEAT, Topeka Commonwealth
BLAINE'S DEFEAT, Louisville Commercial
PLAGIARISM AND POLITICS, Cleveland Plain Dealer
RELIGIOUS PREJUDICE, New York Mail and Express
CLEVELAND AND HIS CABINET, New York Mail and Express
RELIGION, PROHIBITION AND GEN. GRANT, Iowa State Register
HELL OR SHEOL AND OTHER SUBJECTS, Boston Evening Record
INTERVIEWING, POLITICS AND SPIRITUALISM, Cleveland Plain Dealer
MY BELIEF, Philadelphia Times
SOME LIVE TOPICS, New York Truth Seeker
THE PRESIDENT AND THE SENATE, Chicago Inter-Ocean
ATHEISM AND CITIZENSHIP, New York Herald
THE LABOR QUESTION, Cincinnati Enquirer
RAILROADS AND POLITICS, Cincinnati Times Star
PROHIBITION, Boston Evening Traveler
HENRY GEORGE AND LABOR, New York Herald
LABOR QUESTION AND SOCIALISM, New York World
HENRY GEORGE AND SOCIALISM, Chicago Times
REPLY TO THE REV. B. F. MORSE, New York Herald
INGERSOLL ON McGLYNN, Brooklyn Citizen
TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO ANARCHISTS, New York Mail and Express
THE STAGE AND THE PULPIT, New York Truth Seeker
ROSCOE CONKLING, New York Herald
THE CHURCH AND THE STATE, New York Dramatic Mirror
PROTECTION—FREE TRADE, New York Press
LABOR AND TARIFF REFORM, New York Press
CLEVELAND AND THURMAN, New York Press
THE REPUBLICAN PLATFORM OF 1888, New York Press
JAMES G. BLAINE AND POLITICS, New York Press
THE MILLS BILL, New York Press
SOCIETY AND ITS CRIMINALS, New York World
WOMAN'S RIGHT TO DIVORCE, New York World
SECULARISM, Toronto Secular Thought
SUMMER RECREATION—MR. GLADSTONE, Unpublished
PROHIBITION, New York World
ROBERT ELSMERE, New York World
WORKING GIRLS, New York World
PROTECTION FOR AMERICAN ACTORS, New York Star
LIBERALS AND LIBERALISM, Toronto Secular Thought
POPE LEO XIII., New York Herald
THE SACREDNESS OF THE SABBATH, New York Journal
THE WEST AND SOUTH, Indianapolis Journal
THE WESTMINSTER CREED AND OTHER SUBJECTS, Rochester Post-Express
SHAKESPEARE AND BACON, Minneapolis Tribune
GROWING OLD GRACEFULLY, AND PRESBYTERIANISM, Toledo Blade
CREEDS, New York Morning Advertiser
THE TENDENCY OF MODERN THOUGHT, Chicago Tribune
WOMAN SUFFRAGE, HORSE RACING, AND MONEY, Chicago Inter-Ocean
MISSIONARIES, Cleveland Press
MY BELIEF AND UNBELIEF, Toledo Blade
MUST RELIGION GO? New York Evening Advertiser
WORD PAINTING AND COLLEGE EDUCATION, Indianapolis News
PERSONAL MAGNETISM AND THE SUNDAY QUESTION, Cincinnati Commercial
Gazette
AUTHORS, Kansas City Star
INEBRIETY, Unpublished
MIRACLES, THEOSOPHY AND SPIRITUALISM, Unpublished
TOLSTOY AND LITERATURE, Buffalo Evening Express
WOMAN IN POLITICS, New York Advertiser
SPIRITUALISM, St. Louis Globe-Democrat
PLAYS AND PLAYERS, New York Dramatic Mirror
WOMAN, A Fragment
STRIKES, EXPANSION AND OTHER SUBJECTS, New York, May 5, 1893
SUNDAY A DAY OF PLEASURE, New York Times
THE PARLIAMENT OF RELIGIONS, New York Herald
CLEVELAND'S HAWAIIAN POLICY, Chicago Inter-Ocean
ORATORS AND ORATORY, London Sketch
CATHOLICISM AND PROTESTANTISM.—THE POPE.—THE A. P. A., AGNOSTICISM
AND THE CHURCH, New York Herald
WOMAN AND HER DOMAIN, Grand Rapids Democrat
PROFESSOR SWING, Chicago Inter-Ocean
SENATOR SHERMAN AND HIS BOOK, St. Louis Globe-Democrat
REPLY TO THE CHRISTIAN ENDEAVORERS, New York Journal
SPIRITUALISM, New York Journal
A LITTLE OF EVERYTHING, Rochester Herald
IS LIFE WORTH LIVING?—CHRISTIAN SCIENCE AND POLITICS, Chicago
Inter-Ocean
VIVISECTION, New York Evening Telegram
DIVORCE, New York Herald
MUSIC, NEWSPAPERS, LYNCHING AND ARBITRATION, Chicago Inter-Ocean
A VISIT TO SHAW'S GARDEN, St. Louis Republic
THE VENEZUELA BOUNDARY DISCUSSION AND THE WHIPPING POST, New York
Journal
COLONEL SHEPARD'S STAGE HORSES, New York Morning Advertiser
A REPLY TO THE REV. L. A. BANKS, Cleveland Plain Dealer
CUBA—ZOLA AND THEOSOPHY, Louisville Courier-Journal
HOW TO BECOME AN ORATOR, New York Sun
JOHN RUSSELL YOUNG AND EXPANSION, Philadelphia Press
PSYCHICAL RESEARCH AND THE BIBLE, New York Mind
THIS CENTURY'S GLORIES, New York Sun
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT AND THE WHIPPING POST, Chicago Tribune
EXPANSION AND TRUSTS, Philadelphia North American
INTERVIEWS
THE BIBLE AND A FUTURE LIFE
Question. Colonel, are your views of religion based upon the Bible?
Answer. I regard the Bible, especially the Old Testament, the same as I do most other ancient books, in which there is some truth, a great deal of error, considerable barbarism and a most plentiful lack of good sense.
Question. Have you found any other work, sacred or profane, which you regard as more reliable?
Answer. I know of no book less so, in my judgment.
Question. You have studied the Bible attentively, have you not?
Answer. I have read the Bible. I have heard it talked about a good deal, and am sufficiently well acquainted with it to justify my own mind in utterly rejecting all claims made for its divine origin.
Question. What do you base your views upon?
Answer. On reason, observation, experience, upon the discoveries in science, upon observed facts and the analogies properly growing out of such facts. I have no confidence in anything pretending to be outside, or independent of, or in any manner above nature.
Question. According to your views, what disposition is made of man after death?
Answer. Upon that subject I know nothing. It is no more wonderful that man should live again than he now lives; upon that question I know of no evidence. The doctrine of immortality rests upon human affection. We love, therefore we wish to live.
Question. Then you would not undertake to say what becomes of man after death?
Answer. If I told or pretended to know what becomes of man after death, I would be as dogmatic as are theologians upon this question. The difference between them and me is, I am honest. I admit that I do not know.
Question. Judging by your criticism of mankind, Colonel, in your recent lecture, you have not found his condition very satisfactory?
Answer. Nature, outside of man, so far as I know, is neither cruel nor merciful. I am not satisfied with the present condition of the human race, nor with the condition of man during any period of which we have any knowledge. I believe, however, the condition of man is improved, and this improvement is due to his own exertions. I do not make nature a being. I do not ascribe to nature intentions.
Question. Is your theory, Colonel, the result of investigation of the subject?
Answer. No one can control his own opinion or his own belief. My belief was forced upon me by my surroundings. I am the product of all circumstances that have in any way touched me. I believe in this world. I have no confidence in any religion promising joys in another world at the expense of liberty and happiness in this. At the same time, I wish to give others all the rights I claim for myself.
Question. If I asked for proofs for your theory, what would you furnish?
Answer. The experience of every man who is honest with himself, every fact that has been discovered in nature. In addition to these, the utter and total failure of all religionists in all countries to produce one particle of evidence showing the existence of any supernatural power whatever, and the further fact that the people are not satisfied with their religion. They are continually asking for evidence. They are asking it in every imaginable way. The sects are continually dividing. There is no real religious serenity in the world. All religions are opponents of intellectual liberty. I believe in absolute mental freedom. Real religion with me is a thing not of the head, but of the heart; not a theory, not a creed, but a life.
Question. What punishment, then, is inflicted upon man for his crimes and wrongs committed in this life?
Answer. There is no such thing as intellectual crime. No man can commit a mental crime. To become a crime it must go beyond thought.
Question. What punishment is there for physical crime?
Answer. Such punishment as is necessary to protect society and for the reformation of the criminal.
Question. If there is only punishment in this world, will not some escape punishment?
Answer. I admit that all do not seem to be punished as they deserve. I also admit that all do not seem to be rewarded as they deserve; and there is in this world, apparently, as great failures in matter of reward as in matter of punishment. If there is another life, a man will be happier there for acting according to his highest ideal in this. But I do not discern in nature any effort to do justice.
—The Post, Washington, D. C., 1878.