The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll Novel Chapters
List of most recent chapters published for the The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll novel. A total of 512 chapters have been translated and the release date of the last chapter is Apr 02, 2024
Latest Release: Chapter 1 : The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll.Vol. 1.by Robert G. Ingersoll.PREFACE.IN presenting to
The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll.Vol. 1.by Robert G. Ingersoll.PREFACE.IN presenting to the public this edition of the late Robert G.Ingersoll's works, it has been the aim of the publisher to make it worthy of the author and a pleasure to his friends
- 412 The Court. I do not dispute that.Mr. Ingersoll. Now, the next question, gentlemen, is what is meant by corroboration? If you tell a man that he is not a great painter, he does not get angry. He says he does not pretend to paint, or is not a great sculptor
- 411 And now, in order that we may be perfectly correct, and in order to show, too, how easy it is to be mistaken, Mr. Merrick just said upon that very subject of the books and papers, that while Mr. Dorsey was upon the stand, he asked leave to consult his cou
- 410 It is also claimed that the persons who sold out--that is to say, John M. Peck and John W. Dorsey--agreed to make the necessary papers that the other parties required. That being so, why should not affidavits have been made in blank? Now, I ask you if the
- 409 What evidence did the Government offer upon that point? Nothing. Did Mr. Bliss at that time suppose that Mr. Dorsey was chairman of that committee? The records were all here. The Government had plenty of agents to ascertain what the fact was; and yet, wit
- 408 To John R. Miner, one-sixth; to John M. Peck, one-sixth; and to John W.Dorsey, one-third.From routes in Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Idaho, Was.h.i.+ngton, Oregon, Nevada, and California, to H. M. Vaile, one-third; to John R. Min
- 407 Now, gentlemen, there is no pretence, there is no evidence that every subcontractor did not get the per cent, mentioned in his subcontract, except one, and that was Mr. French, on the route from Kearney to Kent; and the evidence there is that Miner settle
- 406 Dorsey did everything during all that period. If you are told that, when you are told it remember what I tell you now: that Mr. Boone swears that he did it himself; that he attended to the entire business, and that he was instructed by Dorsey in no partic
- 405 Postmaster-General; every one of you. If you do not know all about this subject, you never will.The Foreman (Mr. Crane). We ought to be good lawyers, too.Mr. Ingersoll. You also ought to be good lawyers, at least on this subject! I do not know that you ha
- 404 So, speaking of these other proposals (the Clendenning proposals) what does Mr. Boone say--the witness for the Government, the very man who got up those proposals, the man who wrote them, the man who wrapped them up, and sealed them? What does he say? "T
- 403 It is not in the evidence, not a line. Somebody must have told him.Who could have told him? n.o.body, I think, except Mr. Rerdell. Is it possible, then, that Mr. Bliss was afraid that Mr. Dorsey would swear that he took it West? And was he afraid also tha
- 402 Mr. Ingersoll. He had the impudence then to come here and malign Garfield by saying that upon that statement he would have turned out two members of his Cabinet. That is Mr. Bliss's idea of impudence; and yet, upon the testimony of the same man, he wants
- 401 They got so much in the way of offering pet.i.tions that Mr. Rerdell being told by Stephen W. Dorsey, upon this route from Pueblo to Greenhorn, to go to work and alter the pet.i.tions, inserted the words "and faster time."As to this pet.i.tion, 7 B, in
- 400 Mr. Ingersoll. Or a stout, tough boy.The Court. A boy would be best.Mr. Ingersoll. You do not need any boy. Just one man and one horse will answer. The man can ride the horse one hundred and fifty miles in three days, and then ride one hundred and fifty m
- 399 On page 4738 Mr. Ker again falls into mathematics. He says that Mr.Brady allowed on the Bismarck route for three hundred men and three hundred horses.I tell you this prosecution ought to go into the stock business. One hundred and fifty men and one hundre
- 398 I proved where they were living; that they are living in the country now, good, respectable, honest people. And yet the Government did not bring one man whose name had been written here to prove that he had not authorized it. Why? Because they could not.
- 397 What evidence is there of that? Is there any evidence that any route of Dorsey's was expedited not mentioned in this indictment?Did not Mr. Ker know whether the routes had been expedited or not? Did not I offer in this court to prove what was done with e
- 396 The Court. You have demonstrated, as far as you have been able to, that he has not sworn truthfully.Mr. Ingersoll. He has not; he has not; and if the Government will act fairly with him he will get no immunity.When he went to the Government he understood
- 395 What more does he swear? He swears that he tried to carry it out. In other words, that although it had been rejected, that made no difference to him. Mr. Blackmar says they would not do it. Rerdell swears that he tried to: went right along and did his lev
- 394 On page 2481 Rerdell swears that he did not know that he had that paper at that time, at the time he says his wife got the papers. I say he did not; I say he made it afterwards.On page 2490 Rerdell swears that he had those red books in the office at 1121
- 393 On page 2272 Rerdell says, speaking of the three pet.i.tions, 7 B, 11 B, and 12 B, "We," meaning S. W. Dorsey and himself, "had examined these pet.i.tions together, and he," meaning S. W. Dorsey, "told me to put in the clause for expedition." Now, 7
- 392 On page 2220 Rerdell swears that he gave Pennell a pet.i.tion for a post-office. On page 2156 Joseph Pennell swears that he never saw the pet.i.tion; and on page 2171 that he never signed it, and that none was sent.On page 2221 Rerdell swears that he was
- 391 Mr. Ingersoll. Of course not; there was no money at that time to handle; they had not got as far as the handle.Now, there is another little point: Why should Dorsey voluntarily put himself in the power of Rerdell by saying, "I have paid money to Brady"?
- 390 Now, gentlemen, he comes on the stand and swears that he made this affidavit, not being overpersuaded by Bosler, but because Dorsey with tears and groans besought him to make it. Yet on the 5th of July, 1882, he says he made it because he was overpersuade
- 389 there would be a name twice in the book instead of once. If it was simply in the book once it would be, "William Smith, debtor, eighteen thousand dollars." But if you carry that to profit and loss you must credit profit and loss by this William Smith am
- 388 Mr. Ingersoll. [Resuming.] May it please the Court and gentlemen of the jury.It is also claimed by the prosecution that on the evening of the day on which Rerdell was in New York and sent the telegram from Jersey City.Dorsey wrote a letter to Rerdell in w
- 387 Mr. Ker. As Mr. Merrick will have to answer, he simply wants to know the page.Mr. Ingersoll. If Mr. Merrick wants to know the page he shall have the page, or anybody that wishes to answer. If counsel had simply asked me for the page, without getting up in
- 386 Look at page 1417. You see that Moore had been smart; that is what people call smart. You know it is never smart to tell a lie. Very few men have the brains to tell a good lie. It is an awfully awkward thing to deal with after you? have told it. You see i
- 385 I want you to think of these things, gentlemen, all of you, and see how they will strike your mind. What did they want of Boone? S. W. Dorsey they say was the prime mover. He hatched this conspiracy. Miner, his own brother, Peck, and everybody else were s
- 384 Mr. Ingersoll. Now, let me give the Court a case in point: In this very case that we are now trying, Mr. Rerdell in his statement to MacVeagh said there was a check for seven thousand dollars; that the money was drawn upon that check; that he and Dorsey w
- 383 Now, gentlemen, at that time--I want you to remember it; I do not want you to forget it--when these routes came to Mr. Dorsey, he, not understanding the business, turned it over to Mr. James W. Bosler.Mr. Bosler, as I told you before, is a man of wealth.
- 382 Now, let me say something right here. It is for Congress to determine first of all on what routes the mail shall be carried. I want you to understand that, to get it into your heads, way in, that Congress determined that question, and that there has to be
- 381 Certainly they could not be harmed, and if there was no bid certainly the Government could not be harmed; unless the bid should have happened to be lower than any received; and yet out of that nothing, out of that one bramble, a forest of rascality has be
- 380 Whoever allows the feeling of brotherhood to die in his heart becomes a wild beast. You know it and so do I: "Not the king's crown, nor the deputed sword, The marshal's truncheon, nor the judge's robe, Become them with one-half so good a grace as merc
- 379 "The remaining question is, whether the declarations of Gale to Edmund Curtiss and William Ives were properly received. These declarations were not offered as in any way tending to prove the combination claimed. The motion shows that they were offered an
- 378 Mr. Ingersoll. [Interposing.] Very well.The Court. [Continuing.] Whether the Court is going to allow an argument to be based upon a mere vacuum--wind, nothing.Mr. Ingersoll. That would seem to be stealing the foundation of this case. [Laughter, and cries
- 377 I have told you every one in this indictment; every one. You will hardly believe it. Now let me give you the recapitulation. S. W. Dorsey is charged on eight routes with having transmitted four false oaths.The evidence is he never made one nor transmitted
- 376 There is no evidence to show that he was ever seen in his company; no evidence to show that he ever saw Turner; that he ever heard of Turner; that he ever spoke to Turner; that he ever received a letter from Turner; that he ever wrote anything to him; no
- 375 That is the question: Have they made out a case according to the scheme of the indictment? Has the conspiracy as laid been proved by the evidence?"I think that as to Watson it is not. He is charged with conspiring to procure this appointment through the
- 374 You all understand that, do you not? Every time you increase a trip you increase the pay to the exact extent of that trip, no matter whether it takes more horses or not. If I agree to carry the mail once a month for five thousand dollars a year, and you w
- 373 Second. The fraudulent order by Brady for increase of trips, July 16, 1880. The only objection to this route is that the expedition was made before service was put on. This was in the power of the Postmaster-General. It has been done many times, and is st
- 372 Let us boil it down. False pet.i.tions. That is the charge. The evidence is that the pet.i.tions are all true. A false oath is the charge. The evidence is that the oath is true. A fraudulent order decreasing the service, another fraudulent order increasin
- 371 And in this case I cite Dorsett's case, 5th Roger's Record, 77: "On an indictment for coining there was an alleged possession of a die made of iron and steel, when, in fact, it was made of zinc and antimony.The variance was deemed fatal."And yet it wa
- 370 [Question repeated.] "A. The question was not put to me in that way."Now, he gets out of it and says it was the one hundred and fifty barrels he talked about; but I asked him then if he was not asked if he did not know about any crookedness here and how
- 369 The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll.Vol. 10.by Robert G. Ingersoll.ADDRESS TO THE JURY IN THE MUNN TRIAL.* The United States vs. Daniel W. Munn, Deputy Supervisor of Internal Revenue, who was indicted under Section 5440 of the Revised Statutes of the United
- 368 I had an old friend down in Woodford County, Charley Mulidore. He won a coffin on Lincoln's election. He took it home and every birthday he called in his friends. They had a little game of "sixty-six" on the coffin lid. When the game was over they open
- 367 Mr. Bryan hates the rich. Would he like to be rich? He hates the bondholders. Would he like to have a million? He hates the successful man. Does he want to be a failure? If he does, let him wait until the third day of November. We want honest money becaus
- 366 Money is something that man cannot create. All the legislatures and congresses of the world cannot by any possibility create one dollar, any more than they could suspend the attraction of gravitation or hurl a new constellation into the concave sky. Money
- 365 See the endless processions of covered wagons drawn by horses, by oxen,--men and boys and girls on foot, mothers and babes inside. See the glimmering camp fires at night; see the thousands up with the sun and away, leaving the perfume of coffee on the mor
- 364 We spend more for schools per head than any nation in the world. And the common school is the breath of life.Great Britain spends one dollar and thirty cents per head on the common schools; France spends eighty cents; Austria, thirty cents; Germany, fifty
- 363 But now the question was, to whom did the newly acquired property belong? New States had been carved out of that territory; the soil of these States had been purchased with the money of the Republic, and had the South the right to take these States out of
- 362 The reviewing stand was on the west side of the park. Here the parade was seen by Col. Ingersoll and the other distinguished guests, among whom were Congressmen Graff and Prince, Mayor Day, Judges N. E. Worthington and I. C.Pinkney, and the Hon. Clark E.
- 361 One man of genius makes a continent sublime. Take all the men of wealth from Scotland--who would know it? Wipe their names from the pages of history, and who would miss them? n.o.body. Blot out one name, Robert Burns, and how dim and dark would be the sta
- 360 I see a world without the beggar's outstretched palm, the miser's heartless, stony stare, the piteous wail of want, the livid lips of lies, the cruel eyes of scorn.I see a race without disease of flesh or brain,--shapely and fair,--the married harmony o
- 359 But above everything in the minds of our fathers was the desire for union--to create a Nation, to become a Power.Our fathers compromised.A compromise is a bargain in which each party defrauds the other, and himself.The compromise our fathers made was the
- 358 It means free hands, free lips, self-government and the sovereignty of the individual.It means that this continent has been dedicated to freedom.It means universal education,--light for every mind, knowledge for every child.It means that the schoolhouse i
- 357 Gen. Hanc.o.c.k was the first arrival of importance. The Governor's Island band accepted this as a signal for the overture. The Academy was tastefully decorated. The three balconies were covered, the first with blue cloth, the second with white and natio
- 356 What is General Hanc.o.c.k for, besides the presidency? How does he stand upon the great questions affecting American prosperity? He told us the other day that the tariff is a local question. The tariff affects every man and woman, live they in hut, hovel
- 355 The State of Alabama in its last Democratic convention pa.s.sed a resolution that no man should be tried in a Federal Court for a violation of the revenue laws--that he should be tried in a State Court.Think of it--he should be tried in a State Court! Let
- 354 You cannot make it, as the Democratic party does, by pa.s.sing a resolution.If your father voted the Democratic ticket, that is disgrace enough for one family. Tell the old man you can stand it no longer. Tell the old gentleman that you have made up your
- 353 Do this before it is known whether the District is Republican or Democratic. I do not care. No matter how much of a Republican I am, absolutely, I would rather be governed by Democrats who live here than by Republicans who do not. And now, while it is not
- 352 The extravagance of wealth makes it possible for the poor to save.The rich man who lives according to his means, who is extravagant in the best and highest sense, is not the enemy of labor. The miser, who lives in a hovel, wears rags, and h.o.a.rds his go
- 351 As a consequence, there could be no real, solid foundation for business.Property commenced to decline; that is to say, it commenced to resume; that is to say, it began to be rated at its real instead of at its speculative value.Land is worth what it will
- 350 Let it be settled that political services are a barrier to political preferment, and my word for it, machine politics will never be heard of again.Yours truly,---- I do not believe in carrying civil service reform to the extent that you will not allow an
- 349 I pity the man, I execrate and hate the man who has only to boast that he is white. Whenever I am reduced to that necessity, I believe shame will make me red instead of white. I believe another thing. If I cannot hoe my row, I will not steal corn from the
- 348 I do not know that it is true that a man cannot give this record and be a gentleman, but I admit that a gentleman hates to read this record; a gentleman hates to give this record to the world; but I do it, not because I like to do it, but because I believ
- 347 There are three questions now submitted to the American people. The first is, Shall the people that saved this country rule it? Shall the men who saved the old flag hold it? Shall the men who saved the s.h.i.+p of State sail it, or shall the rebels walk h
- 346 We now come to the protection of our citizens. A government that cannot protect its citizens, at home and abroad, ought to be swept from the map of the world. The Democrats tell you that they will protect any citizen if he is only away from home, but if h
- 345 * This being a newspaper report, and never revised by the author, is of necessity incomplete, but the publisher feels that it should not be lost COOPER UNION SPEECH, NEW YORK.*Col. Robert G. Ingersoll of Illinois last night, at Cooper Union, spoke on the
- 344 During all these years the Democratic party prophesied the destruction of the Government, the destruction of the Const.i.tution, and the banishment of liberty from American soil.In 1864 that party declared that after four years of failure to restore the U
- 343 I would protect him more, because the rich white man could protect himself.All who stand beneath our banner are free. Ours is the only flag that has in reality written upon it: Liberty, Fraternity, Equality--the three grandest words in all the languages o
- 342 Religion should have the effect upon mankind that it necessarily has, and no more. The religion that has to be supported by law is without value, not only, but a fraud and curse. The religious argument that has to be supported by a musket, is hardly worth
- 341 Words can do but meagre justice to the wizard power of this extraordinary man. He swayed and moved and impelled and restrained and worked in all ways with the ma.s.s before him as if he possessed some key to the innermost mechanism that moves the human he
- 340 They did not interfere with the freedom of the press, did they? Yes, sir. They found a gentleman who was speaking and writing against the liberties of the colonies, and they just took his paper away from him, and gave it to a man who ran it in the interes
- 339 The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll.Vol. 9.by Robert G. Ingersoll.AN ADDRESS TO THE COLORED PEOPLE.* An address delivered to the colored people at Galesburg, Illinois, 1867.FELLOW-CITIZENS--Slavery has in a thousand forms existed in all ages, and among all p
- 338 _Question_. What do you think of Governor Roosevelt's decision in the case of Mrs. Place?_Answer_. I think the refusal of Governor Roosevelt to commute the sentence of Mrs. Place is a disgrace to the State. What a spectacle of man killing a woman--taking
- 337 _Question_. What have you to say concerning the operations of the Society for Psychical Research? Do not its facts and conclusions prove, if not immortality, at least the continuity of life beyond the grave? Are the millions of Spiritualists deluded?_Answ
- 336 Theodore Parker was an orator. He preached great sermons. His sermons on "Old Age" and "Webster," and his address on "Liberty"were filled with great thoughts, marvelously expressed. When he dealt with human events, with realities, with things he kne
- 335 To feel that I have given as much joy as the circus fills me with pleasure. What chance would the Rev. Dr. Banks stand against a circus?The reverend gentleman has done me a great honor, and I tender him my sincere thanks._Question_. Dr. Banks says that yo
- 334 _Question_. There has been a good deal said lately about your suicide theology, Colonel. Do you still believe that suicide is justifiable?_Answer_. Certainly. When a man is useless to himself and to others he has a right to determine what he will do about
- 333 Some of the preachers insist that G.o.d inst.i.tuted marriage in the Garden of Eden. We now know that there was no Garden of Eden, and that woman was not made from the first man's rib. n.o.body with any real sense believes this now. The inst.i.tution of
- 332 _Question_. Colonel, did you ever kill any game?_Answer_. When I was a boy I killed two ducks, and it hurt me as much as anything I ever did. No, I would not kill any living creature. I am sometimes tempted to kill a mosquito on my hand, but I stop and th
- 331 Let us hope.--_The Journal_, New York, July 26, 1896.A LITTLE OF EVERYTHING._Question_. What is your opinion of the position taken by the United States in the Venezuelan dispute? How should the dispute be settled?_Answer_. I do not think that we have any
- 330 After conversion, it is not pretended that I will be any better so far as my actions are concerned; no more charitable, no more honest, no more generous. The great difference will be that I will believe more and think less.After all, the converted people
- 329 _Question_. What is your opinion of the effect of the multiplicity of women's clubs as regards the intellectual, moral and domestic status of their members?_Answer_. I think that women should have clubs and societies, that they should get together and ex
- 328 _Question_. I should be glad if you would tell me what you think the differences are between English and American oratory?_Answer_. There is no difference between the real English and the real American orator. Oratory is the same the world over. The man w
- 327 There were two reasons given to the Hebrews for keeping the Sabbath --one because Jehovah rested on that day, the other because the Hebrews were brought out of Egypt. The first reason, we know, is false, and the second reason is good only for the Hebrews.
- 326 Most people love the theatre. Everything about it from stage to gallery attracts and fascinates. The mysterious realm, behind the scenes, from which emerge kings and clowns, villains and fools, heroes and lovers, and in which they disappear, is still a fa
- 325 They do not understand that even vice creates obstructions for itself, and that there is something in the nature of crime the tendency of which is to defeat crime, and I might add in this place that the same seems to be true of excessive virtue. As a rule
- 324 _Question_. Do you believe in the resurrection of the body?_Answer_. My answer to that is about the same as to the other question. I do not believe in the resurrection of the body. It seems to me an exceedingly absurd belief--and yet I do not know.I am to
- 323 _Answer_. I see no difference. Believing as I do that all persons act as they must, it makes not the slightest difference whether the person so acting is what we call inebriated, or sane, or insane --he acts as he must.There should be no such thing as pun
- 322 Men like a magnetic man even without knowing him, perhaps simply having seen him. There are other men, whom the moment you shake hands with them, you feel you want no more; you have had enough.A sudden chill runs up the arm the moment your hand touches th
- 321 Honest commerce will do a thousand times more good than all the missionaries on earth. I do not believe that an intelligent Chinaman or an intelligent Hindoo has ever been or ever will be converted into a Methodist. If Methodism is good we need it here, a
- 320 Ideas of justice, of the use of power, of the use of mercy, have greatly changed in the last century. We are beginning dimly to see that each man is the result of an infinite number of conditions, of an infinite number of facts, most of which existed befo
- 319 _Answer_. Of course the world is growing somewhat wiser--getting more sense day by day. It is amazing to me that any human being or beings ever wrote the Presbyterian creed. Nothing can be more absurd--more barbaric than that creed. It makes man the sport
- 318 _Answer_. Personally I like the brave and open way. The secret ballot lacks courage. I want people to know just how I vote. The old _viva voce_ way was manly and looked well. Every American should be taught that he votes as a sovereign--an emperor--and he
- 317 _Question_. Do you agree with the views of Pope Leo XIII. as expressed in _The Herald_ of last week?_Answer_. I am not personally acquainted with Leo XIII., but I have not the slightest idea that he loves Americans or their country.I regard him as an enem
- 316 By this act it was provided that its provisions should not apply to professional actors, artists, lecturers or singers, in regard to persons employed strictly as personal or domestic servants.The object now in view is so to amend the law that its provisio
- 315 _Question_. What is your opinion of the work undertaken by the _World_ in behalf of the city slave girl?_Answer_. I know of nothing better for a great journal to do.The average girl is so helpless, and the greed of the employer is such, that unless some n
- 314 On every hand there is what is called temptation. Every man has the opportunity of doing wrong. Every man, in this country, has the opportunity of drinking too much, has the opportunity of acquiring the opium habit, has the opportunity of taking morphine
- 313 Nothing seems more natural to me than that a man who believes that labor should be free, and that he who works should be free, should come to the conclusion that the pa.s.sages above quoted are not entirely on his side. I don't see why people should be i