lure of the
Democratic party is due to their abandonment of principle, and
their desire to unite with anybody and everything, at the sacrifice
of principle, to attain success?

_Answer_. Yes. The Democratic party is a general desire for office
without organization. Most people are Democrats because they hate
something, most people are Republicans because they love something.

_Question_. Do you think the election has brought about any
particular change in the issues that will be involved in the campaign
of 1880?

_Answer_. I think the only issue is who shall rule the country.

_Question_. Do you think, then, the question of State Rights, hard
or soft money and other questions that have been prominent in the
campaign are practically settled, and so regarded by the people?

_Answer_. I think the money question is, absolutely. I think the
question of State Rights is dead, except that it can still be used
to defeat the Democracy. It is what might be called a convenient
political corpse.

_Question_. Now, to leave the political field and go to the
religious at one jump--since your last visit here much has been
said and written and published to the effect that a great change,
or a considerable change at least, had taken place in your religious,
or irreligious views. I would like to know if that is so?

_Answer_. The only change that has occurred in my religious views
is the result of finding more and more arguments in favor of my
position, and, as a consequence, if there is any difference, I am
stronger in my convictions than ever before.

_Question_. I would like to know something of the history of your
religious views?

_Answer_. I may say right here that the Christian idea that any
God can make me his friend by killing mine is about a great mistake
as could be made. They seem to have the idea that just as soon as
God kills all the people that a person loves, he will then begin
to love the Lord. What drew my attention first to these questions
was the doctrine of eternal punishment. This was so abhorrent to
my mind that I began to hate the book in which it was taught.
Then, in reading law, going back to find the origin of laws, I
found one had to go but a little way before the legislator and
priest united. This led me to a study of a good many of the
religions of the world. At first I was greatly astonished to find
most of them better than ours. I then studied our own system to
the best of my