Prisoner for Blasphemy | Page 6

internal conflicts against evil in society. For little wars
have no background of resources, they do not know the strength of the
enemy, and the peace that follows them for the most part leaves the evil
in dispute nearly its whole territory; perhaps is purchased by
guaranteeing the evil by treaty; and leaves the case of offence more
difficult of attack by reason of concession to wrong premises."
("Human Science and Divine Revelation," Preface, p. vi.)
Yes, the war with Superstition must be fought a outrance. We must
decline either treaty or truce. I hold that the one great work of our time

is the destruction of theology, the immemorial enemy of mankind,
which has wasted in the chase of chimeras very much of the world's
best intellect, fatally perverted our moral sentiments, fomented discord
and division, supported all the tyranny of privilege and sanctioned all
debasement of the people. Far be it from me to argue this point with
any dissident. I prefer to leave him to the logic of events, which has
convinced me, and may some day convince him.
But to recur. Before the Freethinker had reached its third number I
began to reflect on the advisability of illustrating it, and bringing in the
artist's pencil to aid the writer's pen. I soon resolved to do this, and the
third and fourth numbers contained a woodcut on the front page. In the
fifth number there appeared an exquisite little burlesque sketch of the
Calling of Samuel, by a skilful artist whose name I cannot disclose.
Although not ostensibly, it was actually, the first of those Comic Bible
Sketches for which the Freethinker afterwards became famous; and
from that date, with the exception of occasional intervals due to
difficulties there is no need to explain, my little paper was regularly
illustrated. During the whole twelve months of my imprisonment the
illustrations were discontinued by my express order. I was not averse to
their appearing, but I knew the terrible obstacles and dangers my
temporary successor would have to meet, and I left him a written
prohibition of them, which he was free to publish, in order to shield
him against the possible charge of cowardice. Since my release from
prison they have been resumed, and they will be continued until I go to
prison again, unless I see some better reason than Christian menace for
their cessation.
The same fifth number of the Freethinker contained an account of the
first part of "La Bible Amusante," issued by the Anti-Clerical
publishing house in the Rue des Ecoles. That notice was from my own
pen, and I venture to reprint the opening paragraphs.
"Voltaire's method of attacking Christianity has always approved itself
to French Freethinkers. They regard the statement that he treated
religious questions in a spirit of levity as the weak defence of those
who know that irony and sarcasm are the deadliest enemies of their

faith. Superstition dislikes argument, but it hates laughter. Nimble and
far-flashing wit is more potent against error than the slow dull logic of
the schools; and the great humorists and wits of the world have done
far more to clear its head and sweeten its heart than all its sober
philosophers from Aristotle to Kant.
"We in England have Comic Histories, Comic Geographies, and Comic
Grammars, but a Comic Bible would horrify us. At sight of such
blasphemy Bumble would stand aghast, and Mrs. Grundy would
scream with terror. But Bumble and Mrs. Grundy are less important
personages in France, and so the country of Rabelais and Voltaire
produces what we are unable to tolerate in thought."
I concluded by saying--"We shall introduce the subsequent numbers to
the attention of our readers, and, if possible, we shall reproduce in the
Freethinker some of the raciest plates. We shall be greeted with shrieks
of pious wrath if we do so, but we are not easily frightened."
There was really more than editorial fashion in this "we," for at that
time Mr. Ramsey was half proprietor of the Freethinker, and his
consent had of course to be obtained before I could undertake such a
dangerous enterprise. I gladly avow that he showed no hesitation; on
the contrary, he heartily fell in with the project. He frankly left the
editorial conduct of our paper in my hands, despised the accusation of
Blasphemy, and defied its law. His half-proprietorship of the
Freethinker has terminated, but we still work together in our several
ways for the cause of Freethought. Mr. Ramsey went with me into the
furnace of persecution, and he bore his sufferings with manly fortitude.
The Freethinker steadily progressed in circulation, and in January,
1882, I was able to secure the services of my old friend, Joseph
Mazzini Wheeler, as sub-editor. He had for long years contributed
gratuitously