A Religious Orgy in Tennessee (16 page)

BRYAN:
The recollection of what I have read on the subject is not distinct enough to say whether the records attempted to fix a time, but I have seen in the discoveries of archaeologists where they have found records that described the flood.

DARROW:
Mr. Bryan, don't you know that there are many old religions that describe the flood?

BRYAN:
No, I don't know.

DARROW:
You know there are others besides the Jewish?

BRYAN:
I don't know whether those are the record of any other religion, or refer to this flood.

DARROW:
Don't you ever examine religion so far to know that?

BRYAN:
Outside of the Bible?

DARROW:
Yes.

BRYAN:
No, I have not examined to know that, generally.

DARROW:
You have never examined any other religions?

BRYAN:
Yes, sir.

DARROW:
Have you ever read anything about the origins of religions?

BRYAN:
Not a great deal.

DARROW:
You have never examined any other religion?

BRYAN:
Yes, sir.

DARROW:
And you don't know whether any other religion gave a similar account of the destruction of the earth by the flood?

BRYAN:
The Christian religion has satisfied me and I have never felt it necessary to look up some competing religions.

DARROW:
Do you consider that every religion on earth competes with the Christian religion?

BRYAN:
I think everybody who believes in the Christian religion believes so …

DARROW:
I am asking what you think.

BRYAN:
I do not regard them as competitive because I do not think they have the same source as we have.

DARROW:
You are wrong in saying “competitive”?

BRYAN:
I would not say competitive, but the religious unbelievers.

DARROW:
Unbelievers of what?

BRYAN:
In the Christian religion.

DARROW:
What about the religion of Buddha?

BRYAN:
Well, I can tell you something about that, if you would like to know.

DARROW:
What about the religion of Confucius or Buddha?

BRYAN:
Well, I can tell you something about them, if you would like to know.

DARROW:
Did you ever investigate them?

BRYAN:
Somewhat.

DARROW:
Do you regard them as competitive?

BRYAN:
No, I think they are very inferior. Would you like for me to tell you what I know about it?

DARROW:
No.

BRYAN:
Well, I shall insist on giving it to you.

DARROW:
You won't talk about free silver, will you?

BRYAN:
Not at all.

STEWART:
I object to counsel going any further and cross-examining his own witness. He is your own witness.

DARROW:
Well, now, general, I assume that every lawyer knows perfectly well that we have a right to cross-examine a hostile witness. Is there any doubt about that?

STEWART:
Under the law in Tennessee, if you put a witness on and he proves to be hostile to you, the law provides the method by which you may cross-examine him. You will have to make an affidavit that you are surprised at his statement, and you may do that.

BRYAN:
Is there any way by which a witness can make an affidavit that the attorney also is hostile?

DARROW:
I am not hostile to you. I am hostile to your views, and I suppose that runs with me, too.

BRYAN:
But I think when the gentleman asked me about Confucius I ought to be allowed to answer his question.

DARROW:
Oh, tell it, Mr. Bryan, I won't object to it.

BRYAN:
I had occasion to study Confucianism when I went to China. I got all I could find about what Confucius said, and I found that there were several direct and strong contrasts between the teachings of
Jesus and the teachings of Confucius. In the first place, one of his followers asked if there was any word that would express all that was necessary to know in the relations of life, and he said, “Isn't reciprocity such a word?” I know of no better illustration of the difference between Christianity and Confucianism than the contrast that is brought out there. Reciprocity is a calculating selfishness. If a person does something for you, you do something for him and keep it even. That is the basis for the philosophy of Confucius. Christ's doctrine was not of reciprocity. We were told to help people not in proportion as they had helped us—not in proportion as they might have helped us, but in proportion to their needs, and there is all the difference in the world between a religion that teaches you just to keep even with other people and the religion that teaches you to spend yourself for other people and to help them as they need help.

DARROW:
There is no doubt about that. I haven't asked you that.

BRYAN:
That is one of the differences between the two.

DARROW:
Do you know how old the Confucian religion is?

BRYAN:
I can't give you the exact date of it.

DARROW:
Did you ever investigate to find out?

BRYAN:
Not to be able to speak definitely as to date, but I can tell you something I read, and will tell you.

DARROW:
Wouldn't you just as soon answer my questions, and get along?

BRYAN:
Yes, sir.

DARROW:
Of course, if I take any advantage of misquoting you, I don't object to being stopped. Do you know how old the religion of Zoroaster is?

BRYAN:
No, sir.

DARROW:
Do you know they are both more ancient than the Christian religion?

BRYAN:
I am not willing to take the opinion of people who are trying to find excuses for rejecting the Christian religion, when they attempt to give dates and hours and minutes. And they will have to get together and be more exact than they have yet been able, to compel me to accept just what they say as if it were absolutely true.

DARROW:
Are you familiar with James Clark's book on the ten great religions?

BRYAN:
No.

DARROW:
He was a Unitarian minister, wasn't he? You don't think he was trying to find fault, do you?

BRYAN:
I am not speaking of the motives of men.

DARROW:
You don't know how old they are, all these other religions?

BRYAN:
I wouldn't attempt to speak correctly, but I think it is much more important to know the difference between them than to know the age.

DARROW:
Not for the purpose of this inquiry, Mr. Bryan. Do you know about how many people there were on this earth at the beginning of the Christian era?

BRYAN:
No, I don't think I ever saw a census on that subject.

DARROW:
Do you know how many people there were on this earth 3,000 years ago?

BRYAN:
No.

DARROW:
Did you ever try to find out?

BRYAN:
When you display my ignorance, could you not give me the facts so I would not be ignorant any longer? Can you tell me how many people there were when Christ was born?

DARROW:
You know, some of us might get the facts and still be ignorant.

BRYAN:
Will you please give me that? You ought not to ask me a question that you don't know the answer to.

DARROW:
I can make an estimate.

BRYAN:
What is your estimate?

DARROW:
Wait until you get to me. Do you know anything about how many people there were in Egypt 3500 years ago, or how many people there were in China 5000 years ago?

BRYAN:
No.

DARROW:
Have you ever tried to find out?

BRYAN:
No, sir, you are the first man I ever heard of who was interested in it. [Laughter.]

DARROW:
Mr. Bryan, am I the first man you ever heard of who has been interested in the age of human societies and primitive man?

BRYAN:
You are the first man I ever heard speak of the number of people at these different periods.

DARROW:
Where have you lived all your life?

BRYAN:
Not near you. [Laughter.]

DARROW:
Nor near anybody of learning?

BRYAN:
Oh, don't assume you know it all.

DARROW:
Do you know that there are thousands of books in your libraries on all these subjects I have been asking you about?

BRYAN:
I couldn't say, but I will take your word for it.

DARROW:
Did you ever read a book on primitive man? Like Tylor's “Primitive Culture” or Boas or any of the great authorities?

BRYAN:
I don't think I have ever read the ones you have mentioned.

DARROW:
Have you read any?

BRYAN:
Well, I have read a little from time to time, but I didn't pursue it, because I didn't know I was to be called as a witness.

DARROW:
You have never in all your life made any attempt to find out about the other peoples of the earth—how old their civilizations are, how long they have existed on the earth, have you?

BRYAN:
No, sir, I have been so well satisfied with the Christian religion that I have spent no time trying to find arguments against it.

DARROW:
Were you afraid you might find some?

BRYAN:
No, sir, I am not afraid now that you will show me any.

DARROW:
You remember that man who said—I am not quoting literally—that one could not be content though he rose from the dead? You suppose you could be content?

BRYAN:
Well, will you give the rest of it, Mr. Darrow?

DARROW:
No.

BRYAN:
Why not?

DARROW:
I am not interested.

BRYAN:
Why scrap the Bible? They have Moses and the Prophets.

DARROW:
Who has?

BRYAN:
That is the rest of the quotation you didn't finish.

DARROW:
And so you think if they have Moses and the Prophets, they don't need to find out anything else?

BRYAN:
That was the answer that was made there.

DARROW:
And you followed the same vein?

BRYAN:
I have all the information I want to live by and to die by.

DARROW:
And that's all you are interested in?

BRYAN:
I am not looking for any more on religion.

DARROW:
You don't care how old the earth is, how old man is, or how long the animals have been here?

BRYAN:
I am not so much interested in that.

DARROW:
You have never made any investigation to find out?

BRYAN:
No, sir, I have never.

DARROW:
All right.

BRYAN:
Now, will you let me finish the question?

DARROW:
What question was that? If there is anything more you want to say about Confucius, I don't object.

BRYAN:
Oh yes, I have got two more things.

DARROW:
If Your Honor please, I don't object, but his speeches are not germane to my question.

HICKS (FOR THE PROSECUTION):
Your Honor, he put him on.

JUDGE RAULSTON:
You went into it and I will let him explain.

DARROW:
I asked him certain specific questions about Confucius.

HICKS:
The questions he is asking are not germane either.

DARROW:
I think they are.

BRYAN:
I mentioned the word “reciprocity” to show the
difference between Christ's teaching in that respect and the teachings of Confucius. I call your attention to another difference. One of the followers of Confucius asked him, “what do you think of the doctrine that you should reward evil with good?” And the answer of Confucius was, “Reward evil with justice and reward good with good. Love your enemies. Overcome evil with good. And there is a difference between the two teachings—a difference incalculable in its effect and in—the third difference—people who scoff at religion and try to make it appear that Jesus brought nothing into the world, talk about the Golden Rule of Confucius. Confucius said, “Do not unto others what you would not have others do unto you.” There is all the difference in the world between a negative harmlessness and a positive helpfulness, and the Christian religion is a religion of helpfulness, of service, embodied in the language of Jesus when he said, “Let him who would be chiefest among you be the servant of all.” Those are the three differences between the teachings of Jesus and the teaching of Confucius, and they are very strong differences on very important questions. Now, Mr. Darrow, you asked me if I knew anything about Buddha.

DARROW:
You want to make a speech on Buddha, too?

BRYAN:
No sir, I want to answer your question on Buddha.

DARROW:
I asked you if you knew anything about him.

BRYAN:
I do.

DARROW:
Well, that's answered, then.

BRYAN:
Buddha …

DARROW:
Well, wait a minute. You answered the question.