ABSTRACT
A contradiction between the law and natural human sentiments arises when oaths are demanded of the accused in order to make him speak the truth, when his greatest interest is to lie. It is as though a man should swear to the truth in order to bring about his own destruction. As though religion when it should speak in the interest of men, remains silent. The experience of each century has shown that men have more and more abused this precious gift from heaven. For most men the motives that religion imposes on the tumult of fear and on the love of life are too weak because they are too far removed from senses. The oath becomes little by little a simple formality, as it destroys the power of religious sentiment that forms the unique basis of the honesty of the greater number of men.
