Page:The World's Most Famous Court Trial - 1925.djvu/321

Rh He is born, he works, he dies, but causes go on forever, and we who participated in this case may congratulate ourselves that we have attached ourselves to a mighty issue. Now, if I were to attempt to define that issue, I might find objection from the other side. Their definition of the issue might not be as mine is, and therefore, I will not take advantage of the privilege the court gives me this morning to make a statement that might be controverted, and nothing that I would say would determine it. I have no power to define this issue finally and authoritatively. None of the counsel on our side has this power and none of the counsel on the other side has this power, even this honorable court has no such power. The people will determine this isissueissue [sic]. They will take sides upon this issue, they will state the question involved in this issue, they will examine the information—not so much that which has been brought out here, for very little has been brought out here, but this case will stimulate investigation and investigation will bring out information, and the facts will be known, and upon the facts, as ascertained, the decision will be rendered, and I think, my friends, and your honor, that if we are actuated by the spirit that should actuate everyone of us, no matter what our views may be, we ought not only desire, but pray, that that which is right will prevail, whether it be our way or somebody else's. (Applause.)

Mr. Darrow—May I say a word?

The Court—Colonel, be glad to hear from you.

Mr. Darrow—I want to say a word, I want to say in thorough sincerity that I appreciate the courtesy of the counsel on the other side from the beginning of this case, at least the Tennessee counsel, that I appreciate the hospitality of the citizens here. I shall go away with a feeling of respect and gratitude toward them for their courtesy and their liberality toward us persons; and that I appreciate the kind, and I think I may say, general treatment of this court, who might have sent me to jail, but did not.

(Laughter in the courtroom.)

Mr. Darrow (Continuing)—And on the side of the controversy between the court and myself I have already ruled that the court was right, so I do not need to go further.

The Court—Thank you.

Mr. Darrow—But, I mean it.

The Court—Yes.

Mr. Darrow (Continuing)—Of course, there is much that Mr. Bryan has said that is true. And nature—nature, I refer to does not choose any special setting for mere events. I fancy that the place where the Magna Charta was wrested from the barons in England was a very small place, probably not as big as Dayton. But events come along as they come along. I think this case will be remembered because it is the first case of this sort since we stopped trying people in America for witchcraft because here we have done our best to turn back the tide that has sought to force itself upon this—upon this modern world, of testing every fact in science by a religious dictum. That is all I care to say.

The Court—Any one else?

A Voice—Yes, your honor.

The Court—Mr. Rappleyea.

Mr. Rappleyea—As Dr. Spencer said a few months ago that big movements make big men, but this the case of the reverse, where big men have made big movements. I especially wish to pay my respects and thanks and take this opportunity, perhaps the last I shall have, to Mr. Bryan for relieving me of the embarrassing position I was in as original prosecutor, and carrying through what he thought was right in spite of the criticisms that he has had. Mr. Bryan, I thank you. (Applause.)

The Court—My fellow citizens, I recently read somewhere what think was a definition of a great man, and that was this: That he possesses a passion to know the truth