Democratic Sentinel, Volume 7, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 June 1883 — INGERSOLL'S ELOQUENCE. [ARTICLE]

INGERSOLL'S ELOQUENCE.

Peroration of His Six Days’ Address to the Jury in the Star Route Case. CoL Robert G. Ingersoll consumed six days in addressing the jury for the defense for the star-route conspiracy case. The speech is described as a very ingenious one, abounding in strong points in behalf of his clients. The conclusion, which had a visible effect upon court, jury and spectators, moving many to tears, is as follows: Now, gentlemen, the responsibility Is with you. The fate of these men is in your handa In your keeping is everything they love. Everything they bold dear is in your power. With this fearful responsibility, you nave no right to listen to the whispers of suspicion. You have no right to hearken to the promptings of fear. Beware of preju. dice. Look to the testimony alone. Be not convinced by the last argument: listen not to epithets Instead of facts. Recall every argument made in this case. Put the evidence in the scale, and then have the honor and manhood to say which scale goes down. We ask from you the mercy of an honest verdict; that is all we ask—a verdict of your honesty. It is for Sou to say whether these defendants shall ve with honor among your fellow-citizens —whether they shall live in free air or be taken from their wives, from their children, from their fireside, from all they hold most dear. It is for you to say whether they shall be clothed with honor, or with shame; whether their day shall set without a single star in all the sky of an eternal night; whether they shall be branded as criminals After all they have suffered, after they have been pursued by a Government as no de endants before have been pursued, it is for you to say whether theirhomes shall be blasted by the lightning of a false verdict. You must say whether their future shall bq Cne agony of grief and tears. Nothing be* neath the stars of heaven is so profoundly sad as the wreck of a human being—nothing so profoundly mournful as a home covered with shame. Nothing is so Infinitely sad as a thing that shall cast a stain upon children yet unborn. It is for you to say whether this shall be such a verdict or one in accordance with the law and the facts. The prosecution is heated with the chase; they are excited by the hunt: but will say that, in the end, they will be a thousand times better pleased with a verdict of not guilty than with what they ask. They would enJby their victory; they would like success, and they would have‘you give to those aspirations greater weight than to homes, and wives, and children. I want a verdict that win relieve my clients from this agony of two long years; that will lift from them the cloud—a verdict that will fill their coming days and nights with joy—a verdict that Will fill their minds with a sense of joy and gratitude to you, one and all.