The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1882-07-02
REPRESENTATIVE PUBLIC MEN.
Jobn Jsmea InraiI..

The well.known Kansas Senator, is native
OF Massachusetts having been born at Middleton,
Essex County, In that stae December 20, 1888. lie
Is descendant in the eighth generation from Ed
mund ingalls, who, with his brother Francis founded
the city Of Lynn In 1913. They were Puritan oml-
staHls from tho cast OF England. While by no
means insensble to the peculiar honor which Mas
sachuses origin is supposed TO confer the subject Of
this sketch has become thoroughly accllmated In his
Western home, and his Independent and mpetlous
nature harmonlaCs clcsrit With the breezy freshness
ard vlgre ~ Tho praries.
Laying the foundation OF his educational acqulro-
ments In the schools Of Haycrhi the superstructurc
was fashioned and completed In the classic shades
Of Williams College, under the paernal guidance OF
the venerable president, Mark Hopkins. Tho writer
trusts that he does not trcnch uron rtddon stound
when hc insinua,cs that tins collegiate carcer ot tho
future Senator AN not rim exactly parallel with that
ot the good boy Who figures extensively in Sunday
school literature. Few, " any, oNccllcd him In his
stddlcs, few gave promise OF more brilliant career;
but It Is not beyord tho bounds Of probability that IN
tho intervals OF arluous study he sought relaxation
In those ways that known to the students OF every
generation.
more important itcdfctl6n Of his colicre life "a
that ne there FIRST met and LEARNED to esteem the late
president Garneid They wctc Of different classes but
belonged to the literary society, and established
there friendship that was only interrupted by the
tragic Incident which so recently hathed tho civil.
izod world In tears. The scratch HCl remembers and
harpiiy 'c-c,,bcs hS future President aud martyr,
Who Was then somewhat shy and awkward, but whose
genial courtesy patient industry, phllosophc cast OF
mlnd and transparent purity and openncss Of charac
ter thus early prengurcd his remarkable career but
happily not Its pathetic close.
Mr. Ingalls, was graduated IN the class ot sS5 and
entering upon the study Of tho aw, was admitted to
to the har IN isb ard wac engaged III active practce
I'll 10 entered the Senate, In iS73. In Oc-
| tcbcr, 1883 he fcmoyed to Kansas and
| located tn Atchison whete he has since tee
| sided In tho following year he was member OF
the convention which framed the present constitution
of the state, In 1890 was Secretary Of the 1erii-
oial Council In 1891 Secretary OF the state Senate,
and In 1892 y member oil that body, For soven
years Mr.. ingalls, had editorial chatGc OF the Atch'
| son pion, while Its proprietor absent
| In the military service, and he proved him
/ self the brightest and most ticnChant wrltt
/ the state has known. The late General jams
| H. Lane was then the most conspicuous hgute
IN State politics. aud the people divided into two
factions, the one earnestly supporting and tie
other bitterly opposing the Generals political Inter
| ess. Mr.. ingalls, was ldentneh with the latter fat
tlou, ami IN 1862 aud 1861 defeated Its cand
| date for Lieutenant Got crnur. In January, isTi
upon the overthrow OF Mr. Pomcicy, Mr. ingalls, was
almost unanimously chosen United states Senatoi
without naNlng mOue n regular canvass iot tue posi-
tiOn In 1879 he reelected after contest that for
fren2ed and vndctlvG Violence has had few batallds
| in American politics, Recognizing his strength wn,
the people and that his influence must lie destroyed
beOte they could hope for success all the active poll
tclans OF the State entered into formidable coalition
for his overthrow. Falling In this they attempted tC
nvalldate his election by allegations OF fraud aud cor
ruption. Legislative Investigations had at TO
peka and III Washington, before hostile committees
~. g-,,
dicated
Notwithstanding the prominence In oficial arI po-
ltCa life of Mr.. Ingalls,, his tastes and Instincts have
| always been rather literary than political, A elias.
sca scholar and of Wide general information, h,
finds time, In the midst of burdrnsome official duties
to acquaiut himself with current literature while M
man is more happy than he In enlivening the tediun
Of routine debate with timely drafts from his eyten.
| siye store of historical knowledge. For soue time
previous to his election TO the Senate Mr.. ingalls, hat
been contributing to the pages Of the brilliant bu
| too shOrt-lived knnS1s Nugd=ine series o
which had they reached, the public through
more publicly wide medium would have given hlh
an excellent reputation as writer. They combine tlu
grace and rhythm OF Irving with tile force Of illuslr,
tion and phngency Of satire which distnctvely
| tho authors own. At about the same period mum
Der OF poetlcal productions, quaint In construction
and aboundlng In sharp political illusions, appeared
In local paper aud were widely copied. These
by common consent, attributed to the same hand
and, although he entered n disclaimer upon th
assumption Of his Senatorial duties, 1t Is general
held that his dsavowal was not sufficiently concln
sve to overthrow the strong presumption Of guilt
The standing OF Mr. InGalis In the Senate Is too gen
orally known and appreciated to need special cnmmen
here That lie Is among the foremost orators and debat
ers of that body all ronrede No man strikes hardp
blows, Is dreaded rs an antagonist. GIFT
ed with pleasing voice. skfuy modulated, with elr
CutiOnnry powers carefully cultivated and iudclousl
employed, prompt at reparee Keen In sarcasm. and
when occasion demands, fierce In assault, tho Kansn
Senator Is not man to he encountered for High
cause, without due appreciation Of probable
quenccs Nor IL II alone controyersialIst tia
Mr.. ingalls, has won laurcls. As practical legisa
tor, his place Is among the foremost. Besides til
measures Of peculiar Importance to his people whic
he has promoted, ho has been closely Identified wit
numerous measures OF national Interest. As ciaiIma
Of the Committee Pensions he secured the passag
by the Senate Of the Arrears OF Pension
t Act and has recently defended 1t against as
sault with triumphant success. 1t would II
, luire too much space to mention In deta
even the most important subjects Of legislation wit
which the Senator has been prominently associated
He Is the author Of bills for the relief of settlers upO
homestead and pre"mption lands; for the allomer
lands In seyeray to Indians and to enable Indian
to become citizens; for the equalization OF bOuntIes
S to provide mode Of counting the electoral vote
restore the silver dollar to legal-tender value,
I he has taken prominent part In the dscusso
OF financial questions and In the consideration OF az
: preparation bills The pending bankruptcy bill Is Ii
fruit OF the labOrs and Investigations Of sub-com
mittee which Mr.. ingalls, presided, aud he III
s shown himself thoroughly COnyersant with til
! needs aud anxious to meet the demands of III
. | mercantile community As member for sever
years of the Senate Committee the District Of Cc