The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll, Volume VIII | Page 3

others all the rights I claim for myself.
Question. If I asked for proofs for your theory, what would you
furnish?
Answer. The experience of every man who is honest with himself,
every fact that has been discovered in nature. In addition to these, the
utter and total failure of all religionists in all countries to produce one
particle of evidence showing the existence of any supernatural power
whatever, and the further fact that the people are not satisfied with their
religion. They are continually asking for evidence. They are asking it in
every imaginable way. The sects are continually dividing. There is no

real religious serenity in the world. All religions are opponents of
intellectual liberty. I believe in absolute mental freedom. Real religion
with me is a thing not of the head, but of the heart; not a theory, not a
creed, but a life.
Question. What punishment, then, is inflicted upon man for his crimes
and wrongs committed in this life?
Answer. There is no such thing as intellectual crime. No man can
commit a mental crime. To become a crime it must go beyond thought.
Question. What punishment is there for physical crime?
Answer. Such punishment as is necessary to protect society and for the
reformation of the criminal.
Question. If there is only punishment in this world, will not some
escape punishment?
Answer. I admit that all do not seem to be punished as they deserve. I
also admit that all do not seem to be rewarded as they deserve; and
there is in this world, apparently, as great failures in matter of reward as
in matter of punishment. If there is another life, a man will be happier
there for acting according to his highest ideal in this. But I do not
discern in nature any effort to do justice.
--The Post, Washington, D. C., 1878.
MRS. VAN COTT, THE REVIVALIST
Question. I see, Colonel, that in an interview published this morning,
Mrs. Van Cott (the revivalist), calls you "a poor barking dog." Do you
know her personally?
Answer. I have never met or seen her.
Question. Do you know the reason she applied the epithet?
Answer. I suppose it to be the natural result of what is called vital piety;

that is to say, universal love breeds individual hatred.
Question. Do you intend making any reply to what she says?
Answer. I have written her a note of which this is a copy:
Buffalo, Feb. 24th, 1878. MRS. VAN COTT;
My dear Madam:--Were you constrained by the love of Christ to call a
man who has never injured you "a poor barking dog?" Did you make
this remark as a Christian, or as a lady? Did you say these words to
illustrate in some faint degree the refining influence upon women of the
religion you preach?
What would you think of me if I should retort, using your language,
changing only the sex of the last word?
I have the honor to remain,
Yours truly,
R. G. INGERSOLL
Question. Well, what do you think of the religious revival system
generally?
Answer. The fire that has to be blown all the time is a poor thing to get
warm by. I regard these revivals as essentially barbaric. I think they do
no good, but much harm, they make innocent people think they are
guilty, and very mean people think they are good.
Question. What is your opinion concerning women as conductors of
these revivals?
Answer. I suppose those engaged in them think they are doing good.
They are probably honest. I think, however, that neither men nor
women should be engaged in frightening people into heaven. That is all
I wish to say on the subject, as I do not think it worth talking about.

--The Express, Buffalo, New York, Feb., 1878.
EUROPEAN TRIP AND GREENBACK QUESTION
Question. What did you do on your European trip, Colonel?
Answer. I went with my family from New York to Southampton,
England, thence to London, and from London to Edinburgh. In
Scotland I visited every place where Burns had lived, from the cottage
where he was born to the room where he died. I followed him from the
cradle to the coffin. I went to Stratford-upon-Avon for the purpose of
seeing all that I could in any way connected with Shakespeare; next to
London, where we visited again all the places of interest, and thence to
Paris, where we spent a couple of weeks in the Exposition.
Question. And what did you think of it?
Answer. So far as machinery--so far as the practical is concerned, it is
not equal to ours in Philadelphia; in art it is incomparably beyond it. I
was very much gratified to find so much evidence in favor of my theory
that the golden age