Page:The World's Most Famous Court Trial - 1925.djvu/320

316 that we are delighted to have had you with us. We have learned to take a broader view of life since you came. You have brought to us your ideas—your views—and we have communicated to you, as best we could, some of our views. As to whether or not we like those views, that is a matter that should not address itself to us at this time, but we do appreciate your views, and while much has been said and much has been written about the narrow-minded people of Tennessee we do not feel hard toward you for having said that, because that is your idea. We people here want to be more broad-minded than some have given us credit for, and we appreciate your coming, and we have been greatly elevated, edified and educated by your presence. And should the time ever come when you are back near the garden spot of the world, we hope that you will stop off and stay awhile with us here in order that we may chat about the days of the past, when the Scopes trial was tried in Dayton. (Applause.)

A Voice—I feel, as a member of the Tennessee bar, that we should not be remiss in our recognition of the counsel from outside of our state who have appeared in this case, and I want to exonerate them from any accusation of any unfair attitude, and to say that the bar of Tennessee appreciates the distinguished services of these great lawyers who have come to discuss among us a fundamental problem which affects our government, and the government of all the states, and we appreciate from the bottom of our hearts their labors amongst us, and we feel that they have as much right to be heard as our local counsel, and we welcome them to our state on this occasion and on any other occasion when matters of great magnitude involving our national welfare come before us. (Applause.)

Mr. Neal—As one of the Tennessee lawyers that has been connected from the beginning with this case, I want to thank your honor and the gentlemen on the other side for the great courtesy they have shown to my distinguished associates from other states. (Applause.)

The Court—Col. Bryan, I will hear you.

"This issue will be settled right whether on our side or the other."

Mr. Bryan—I don't know that there is any special reason why I should add to what has been said, and yet the subject has been presented from so many viewpoints that I hope the court will pardon me if I mention a viewpoint that has not been referred to. Dayton is the center and the seat of this trial largely by circumstance. We are told that more words have been sent across the ocean by cable to Europe and Australia about this trial than has ever been sent by cable in regard to anything else happening in the United States. That isn't because the trial is held in Dayton. It isn't because a schoolteacher has been subjected to the danger of a fine from $100.00 to $500.00, but I think illustrates how people can be drawn into prominence by attaching themselves to a great cause. Causes stir the world. It is because it goes deep. It is because it extends wide, and because it reaches into the future beyond the power of man to see. Here has been fought out a little case of little consequence as a case, but the world is interested because it raises an issue, and that issue will some day be settled right, whether it is settled on our side or the other side. It is going to be settled right. There can be no settlement of a great cause without discussion, and people will not discuss a cause until their attention is drawn to it, and the value of this trial is not in any incident of the trial, it is not because of anybody who is attached to it, either in an official way or as counsel on either side. Human beings are mighty small, your honor. We are apt to magnify the personal element and we sometimes become inflated with our importance, but the world little cares for man as an individual.