ly would come to be thought no crime at
all."

Lord Herbert taught that the "indulgence of lust and anger is no more to
be blamed than thirst or drowsiness."

Voltaire contended "for the unlimited gratification of the sexual
appetites, and was a sensualist of the lowest type; nevertheless he had
the amazing good sense to wish that he had never been born."

Rousseau was, by his confession, a habitual liar and thief, and debauchee;
a man so utterly vile that he took advantage of the hospitality of friends
to plot their domestic ruin; a man so destitute of natural affection that
he committed his BASE-BORN children to the charity of the public. To use
his own language, "guilty without remorse, he soon become so without
measure."

Thomas Paine was, according to the verdict of history, "addicted to
intemperance in his last years, given to violence and abusiveness, had
disreputable associates, lived with a woman who was not his wife, and left
to her whatever remnant of fortune he had."

What would such godless infidels give us if the Almighty God should "pour
the petroleum of authority upon their heads?" But, in all candor, what use
has Col. Ingersoll for the _idea of authority coming from God_? Can't he
keep in his own ruts. "The DIVINE petroleum of authority was never poured
upon the head of _Thomas Paine's father_." Well, so much the better for
the reputation of God. But why does Mr. Ingersoll use the term God, and
have so much to say of Him? Let us hear him. He says, whoever is a friend
of man is also a friend of God--if there is one. Yes! "IS THERE IS ONE."
This reminds me of an old infidel who was struggling with the cramp colic,
and just as a minister was approaching his bedside he turned himself over
in the bed and said, O Lord, if there is any Lord, save my soul, if I've
got any soul. The minister walked out. What is the condition of those
minds which modify their declarations with the saying "if there is any
Lord," "if there is one," "if I've got any soul." How much more manly is
it to own the great universal and instinctive or inate truth, that there
is a Master, God, or great first Living Intelligence, and cease acting
foolishly.

Once more, the colonel, speaking of Thomas Paine's work, says, "He was
with the army. He shared its defeats, its dangers, and its glory. When the
situation became desperate, when gloom settled upon all, he gave them the
'Crisis.' It was a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night,