The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-06-06
How it Happened.

"The past rises before me ike dream
such was the opening sentence of Colo
mel Robert G. Ingersoll's speech at In
dianapolis in 1876. Prior to that time he
had placed in nomination the Hon. James
G. Blaine at Cincinnati. He was then
only lawyer at Peoria and did not pos
sess national reputation. This speech
made him famous before he dreamed of
the mistakes of Moses" or thought he
would be noted as the "boss infidei"
Perhaps, without exception, the rib
ute paid by Colonel Ingers to the SOL
diers of that occasi IN isthe most brilliant
piece of word-painting in the English
language. Some have claimal that the
words of Webster in reply to Hayn,, of
South Carolina, have never been surpass-
ed in terseness and eloquence. but act
uallv there is hardly comparison. The
speech ofWebster was carefully prepared.
That of Ingersoll was on the occasion ola
soldiers reunion. 1t was delivered to
soldiers from little platform hastily con-
structej on the eastern side of the "circle"
in that city. just as he fairly opened his
mouth and before his audience could hear
word band from somewhere struck up
directly in the rear of the orator.
Laughingly he waited for the clangor
to subside and then remarked the music
of a country band always reminds me Of
the Democratic party's, every bit sound
and no sense
He then began his famous speech and
perhaps no man ever had more complete
influence over his hearers then did Inger-
soil on that occasion. Men and women
cried and We were not achamed of what
might sometimes be called weakness.
There were signs of a storm and pattering
rain drops fell, but the multitude stood
entranced and spell bound.
That speech has made Robert g. Inger-
soil imperishable. 1t is published in ev-
cry school-book and is declaimed from
every rostrum. Yet it only was by an
accident that it has been handed down to
posterity. At that time John ID. Nicolas
was managing editor Of the Indianapolis
Je, mat His shorthand reporter was
Charles ". Stagg, who then happened to
be engaged in an important ease in the
Supreme Court As the next best thing
Nicholas took long-hand the speech as
nearly verbatim rs possible, but was so
dissatisfied with the work that he went
TO Colonel Ingersoll and asked his aid in
making a perfect report. The Colonel
said he did not have the scratch of a
pencil or the sign of note that every
word he had spoken was extempore and
while he could recall the greater portion,
he could not furnish it connectedly.
As dernier resort the newspaper
man then returned to his desk and at
tempted the task of writing out that
wonderful tribute to the men who had
done and dared that this might be a
nation.
In short time young man shambled
| up beside him, asked II he would like a
report of Ingersoll's speech. In his hand
he held roll of paper. partially brown,
partially white, and all dirty. He said
his name was Platt Lewis that he was a
first class stenographer that he was in
hard luck and was ON his way from
Cincinnati to Chicago; that he had
I
crawled under the platform and taken
down the speech with the hope of selling
his work. Lewis was paid literally
came to Chicago afterward, where he be
came editor Of the Eyeniag Ne'es. And il
is to this somewhat strange combination
of circumstances that the greatest effort
of the silyer-tongued orators life has
been preserved.