For many years after the close of our Civil War, certain politicians, when they wished to arouse passion in favor of their party, instead of defending by [396] argument, were accused of waving the bloody shirt. In a similar way, certain skeptics and half skeptics are constantly parading the ghost of Galileo to scare men who call in question their "advanced ideas." Every half-fledged "higher critic" who writes a piece for the papers these days, is sure to warn you against opposing the march of modern scientific Bible study, lest you re-enact the part of those who persecuted Galileo for saying that the sun stands still, and the earth revolves around it. In this way Galileo's ghost keeps constantly stalking around through the magazines and newspapers, seeking greenhorns whom he may frighten. In "Macbeth," Banquo's ghost would not "down;" in the comedy of criticism, Galileo's ghost is not permitted to "down." The small critics can not do without him. Sometimes, when you don't scare at Galileo's, they bring up Savonarola's and Bruno's. The witch of Endor was not "in it," compared with these dealers in familiar spirits. And what is the point in it all? Why, said Bob Ingersoll, you men who still believe in the Christian religion, and cry out against me, are like the priests who persecuted Galileo--you are clogging the wheels of progress, and if you don't get out of the road they will run over you. Yes, says the critic who has gone about half way over to Bob, I am Galileo; I have discovered new truth, and you take me to be a heretic; you are only persecuting Galileo. For ever and ever the cranks who have discovered a mare's nest are the Galileos of the age, and the "mossbacks" who contend that it is nothing but a mare's nest, are the obstructionists who lag behind and persecute the prophets. I believe that this game of ghost has been played for all that it is worth; but watch the papers and you will see it again before long. Men without arguments are compelled to use it, or keep silent. [397]

[SEBC 396-397]