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
_Question_. They say Paris is France, because her electors or
citizens control that municipality. Do you foresee any danger of
centralization in the full enfranchisement of the citizens of
Washington?
_Answer_. There was a time when the intelligence of France was in
Paris. The country was besotted, ignorant, Catholic; Paris was
alive, educated, Infidel, full of new theories, of passion and
heroism. For two hundred years Paris was an athlete chained to a
corpse. The corpse was the rest of France. It is different now,
and the whole country is at last filling with light. Besides,
Paris has two millions of people. It is filled with factories.
It is not only the intellectual center, but the center of money
and business as well. Let the _Corps Legislatif_ meet anywhere,
and Paris will continue to be in a certain splendid sense--France.
Nothing like that can ever happen here unless you expect Washington
to outstrip New York, Philadelphia and Chicago. If allowing the
people of the District of Columbia to vote was the only danger to
the Republic, I should be politically the happiest of men. I think
it somewhat dangerous to deprive even one American citizen of the
right to govern himself.
_Question_. Would you have Government clerks and officials appointed
to office here given the franchise in the District? and should
this, if given, include the women clerks?
_Answer_. Citizenship should be determined here as in the States.
Clerks should not be allowed to vote unless their intention is to
make the District their home. When I make a government I shall
give one vote to each family. The unmarried should not be represented
except by parents. Let the family be the unit of representation.
Give each hearthstone a vote.
_Question_. How do you regard the opposition of the local clergy
and of the Bourbon Democracy to enfranchising the citizens of the
District?
_Answer_. I did not know that the clergy did oppose it. If, as
you say, they do oppose it because they fear it will extend the
liquor traffic, I think their reason exceedingly stupid. You cannot
make men temperate by shutting up a few of the saloons and leaving
others wide open. Intemperance must be met with other weapons.
The church ought not to appeal to force. What would the clergy of
Washington think should the miracle of Cana be repeated in their
day? Had they been in that country, with their present ideas, what
would they have said? After all there is a great deal of philosophy
in the following: "Better have the whole world voluntarily drunk
then sober on compulsion." Of course the Bourbons object. Objecting
is the business of a Bourbon. He always objects. If he does not
understand the question he objects because he does not, and if he
does understand he objects because he does. With him the reason
for objecting is the fact that he does.
_Question_. What effect, if any, would the complete franchise to
our citizens have upon real estate and business in Washington?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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