His speculations paid off and his wealth steadily mounted, leaving him more time to pursue his political ambitions. Clues to Altgeld's emergence from the scramble for riches with his sense of humanity intact can be found in his rugged background and foreign birth. He was an outsider and never forgot that there were those who would bar his way simply because of place of birth. Though defying objective documentation, there is another clue to Altgeld's later actions in his official portrait. It reveals a bearded, medium-sized man with short hair combed forward.
Nothing particularly stands out save the eyes, just as they do in surviving photographs.
Altgeld's eyes shine with a softness, conveying a sympathy and compassion that animates the soul. Yet, Altgeld was also a calculating, ambitious politician. Failing to gain election to the U.S. Senate by the Democratic-controlled state legislature in 1890, he set his sights on the governor's mansion. It was a sweep of state offices, the Presidency, and many congressional seats that promised bright things for the state's beleaguered Democracy. Almost from the time the four Haymarket martyrs died, some in the Chicago business community began having second thoughts about the trial.