IN presenting to the public this edition of the late Robert G.
Ingersoll's works, it has been the aim of the publisher to make it
worthy of the author and a pleasure to his friends and admirers. No one
can be more conscious than he of the magnitude of the task
undertaken, or more keenly feel how far short it must fall of adequate
accomplishment.
When it is remembered that countless utterances of the author were never
caught from his eloquent lips, it is matter for congratulation that
so much has been preserved. The authorized addresses, arguments and
articles that have already appeared in print and passed the review of
the authors more or less careful inspection, will be readily recognized
as accurate and complete; but in this latest and fullest compilation
are many emanations from his heart and brain that have never had his
scrutiny, were not revised by him, and that yet, by general judgment,
should not be lost to the world.
These unedited sundries consist of fragments of speeches and incompleted
articles discovered amongst the authors literary remains and for
unknown reasons left in more or less unfinished form. It has been the
publisher's ambition to gather these fugitive pieces and place them in
this edition by the side of the saved treasures. Whether the work has
been well or ill done a generous public must decide, while the sole
responsibility must rest with, as it has been assumed by, the publisher.
In carrying out the design of the present edition, the publisher
gratefully acknowledges the assistance of Mr. Ingersoll's family,
who have freely placed at his disposal many papers, inscriptions,
monographs, memoranda and pages of valuable material.
Recognition is also here made of the kind courtesy of the press and of
publishers of magazines who have generously permitted the publication of
articles originally written for them.
Finally, the publisher gives his thanks to all the devoted friends of
the author who in many ways, by suggestion and unselfish labor,
have aided in getting out this work. Of these, none have been more
unremitting in service, and to none is the publisher more indebted, than
to Mr. I. Newton Baker, Mr. Ingersoll's former private secretary, to Dr.
Edgar C. Beall, and to Mr. George E. Macdonald for the fine Tables of
Contents and the very valuable Index to this edition.