Slavery flourished on this continent because the Bible taught that it was lawful and just. To oppose slavery was to oppose the plainest teachings of this book. The Abolition movement was an Infidel movement. The Emancipation Proclamation was a nullification of "God's law." The great Rebellion was a contest between Bible morality and natural morality. The latter triumphed, but the conflict filled half a million graves, brought grief to many million hearts, and covered the land with desolation. And this advocate of slavery is the idol Protestants worship; this is the book they wish to become the law of our land; this is the moral guide they wish to place in our public schools! In the name of those who died for the freedom of their fellow-men; in the name of those made childless, fatherless, and companionless by this cruel strife; in the name of those whose backs still bear the scars of the master's lash; in the name of human liberty, I protest against this retrogressive movement! Polygamy. I refuse to accept the Bible as a moral guide because it sanctions that other twin relic of barbarism, polygamy. The Mosaic law provides that "if a man have two wives, one beloved and another hated," he shall not ignore the legal rights of the hated wife's children (Deut. xxi, 15-17). This statute recognizes both the existence and the validity of the institution. Another statute (Deut. xxv, 5) provides that if a man die, his surviving brother shall become the husband of his widow, and this regardless as to whether the brother be married or single. The first eighteen verses of the eighteenth chapter of Leviticus are devoted to what is termed "unlawful marriages." Here polygamy is recognized and regulated to the extent of prohibiting a man from marrying the sister of a living wife. But there is one statute which places the validity of this institution, so far as the Bible is concerned, beyond all controversy. Deuteronomy (xxiii, 2) declares that no illegitimate child shall enter into the congregation of the Lord, even up to the tenth generation. Now, polygamy was either lawful or unlawful. If unlawful, then the children of polygamists were illegitimate children, and disqualified for the sanctuary. But the children of polygamists were not thus disqualified. The founders of the twelve tribes of Israel were all children of a polygamist. The most renowned Bible characters were polygamists. Abraham had two wives, and when he died the Lord said, "Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws" (Gen. xxvi, 6). Jacob was a polygamist, and after he had secured four wives and concubines, God blessed him and said, "Be fruitful and multiply" (Gen. xxxv, 11). Gideon had "many wives" (Jud. viii, 30), and it was to him an angel came and said, "The Lord is with thee" (Jud. vi, 12).