The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll, Vol. 08 (of 12): Dresden Edition—InterviewsIngersoll, Robert Green
Religion
The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll, Vol. 08 (of 12): Dresden Edition—Interviews
Ingersoll, Robert Green
Free thought
_Answer_. I think that the church would persecute to-day if it
had the power, just as it persecuted in the past. We are indebted
for nearly all our religious liberty to the hypocrisy of the church.
The church does not believe. Some in the church do, and if they
had the power, they would torture and burn as of yore. Give the
Presbyterian Church the power, and it would not allow an Infidel
to live. Give the Methodist Church the power and the result would
be the same. Give the Catholic Church the power--just the same.
No church in the United States would be willing that any other
church should have the power. The only men who are to be angels
in the next world are the ones who cannot be trusted with human
liberty in this; and the man who are destined to live forever in
hell are the only gentlemen with whom human liberty is safe. Why
should Christians refuse to persecute in this world, when their
God is going to in the next?
--_Mail and Express_, New York, January 12, 1885.
CLEVELAND AND HIS CABINET.
_Question_. What do you think of Mr. Cleveland's Cabinet?
_Answer_. It is a very good Cabinet. Some objections have been
made to Mr. Lamar, but I think he is one of the very best. He is
a man of ability, of unquestioned integrity, and is well informed
on national affairs. Ever since he delivered his eulogy on the
life and services of Sumner, I have had great respect for Mr. Lamar.
He is far beyond most of his constituents, and has done much to
destroy the provincial prejudices of Mississippi. He will without
doubt make an excellent Secretary of the Interior. The South has
no better representative man, and I believe his appointment will,
in a little while, be satisfactory to the whole country. Bayard
stands high in his party, and will certainly do as well as his
immediate predecessor. Nothing could be better than the change in
the Department of Justice. Garland is an able lawyer, has been an
influential Senator and will, in my judgment, make an excellent
Attorney-General. The rest of the Cabinet I know little about,
but from what I hear I believe they are men of ability and that
they will discharge their duties well. Mr. Vilas has a great
reputation in Wisconsin, and is one of the best and most forcible
speakers in the country.
_Question_. Will Mr. Cleveland, in your opinion, carry out the
civil service reform he professes to favor?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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