children and poisoned
their minds with their false stories until, when they have reached the
age of manhood, they have been afraid to think for themselves. Let us
see what the laws are now, by which they guard their bible and their
God.

[Here the speaker read extracts from the statutes of several states in
reference to blasphemy and profanation of the Sabbath, commenting on
each as he ran them through:] Pursuing the thread of his discourse, he
said: Every American should see to it that all these laws are done
away with once and forever.

There has been a reaction of late years. This country has begun to be
prosperous. We don't think much of religion; 'tis only when hard times
come we turn our attention toward it. There are people in this country
who say we are getting too irreligious, too scientific. Now, is it not
a fact that we are happier today than at any period in our history?
You live in a great country, though perhaps you do not know it. But
live in any other country for a while, and you'll find it out. See,
then, what we've got by looking a little to the affairs of the world!
The bible can't stand today without the support of the civil power. No
religion ever flourished except by the support of the sword, and no
religion like this could have been established except by brute force.

At one time we thought a great deal of clergymen, but now we have got
to thinking they ain't of as much importance as a man that has invented
something. The church seeing this has made up its mind that it is
necessary to do something, and so got up a plan to be acknowledged by
law. Here's what they wish to do: [Here the speaker read some
extracts from the constitution of the National Reform Association.]
Continuing he said: Our fathers, in 1776, building better than they
knew, retired the gods from politics. I do not believe Jesus Christ is
the ruler of nations. If he is the ruler of one he is the ruler of all.
Why does he not then rule one as well as another? If you give him
credit for the good things of one you must denounce him for the tyranny
and despotism of others. The revealed word of God is not the standing
of civil justice in this country! The bible is not the standard of
right and wrong or of decency in this country.

You can't put God in the constitution, because if you do there would be
no room for the folks. Whatever you put in the constitution you must
enforce by the sword, and you can't go to wa