The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-10-27
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1NGERsoLL,s POLITICAL AMBITION.

INGERsOLL's POLITICAL AMBITION.
How 1t Was Buried at Peoria In ~is6s-Story
Told by a PaIl-Bearer.
st. Louis Globe Democrat.
Robert g. Ingersolls political career
turned on the Illinois State convention of
1868. That convention was held at lnger-
soils hOme-PeOria. Before the delegates
came together it was known that tie brill
liant orator was the first choice of five-sixths
of them for Governor. Other candidates
were scarcely canvassed. Yet Ingersoll
was not nominated, and from that day to
this he has never held Office, elective or APP
%pointive.. The Republican party has fire.
quently drawn up0n IngersOlls powers as q
campaig n speaker. but it has never rendered
him OtIiclal recognition In return.
lngersoll had worked up no boom. He
had done nothing to enhance his position
as a candidate. The almost unanimous
ton for Governor was purely spontaneous.
lngersoil had been a cavalry colonel during
the latter part of the war. He had loyalty
championed the cause of his brother. Eben
gress. He had made speeches in various
parts of the State. But he had asked moth
ing for himself. U~npledged and unin-
structed, but anxious to put 1ngersoll at
rived at Peoria. What happened consti-
tutes one of the strangest incidents in
American politics.
Edward P. Fox, of st. Louis, tells the
story. He was not only a delegate to the
convention, but he was a member of the
committee which acted as pall-bearers at
the burial of IngersolPs political ambition.
Mr.. FOx's home at that lime was in Jack
sonyille.
THAT convention at PEORIA said Mr..
Fox. "stO0d toward Mr.. IngersOll as the
convention at Chicago, last year, stood to-
ward Mr.. Blaine. Five-sixths of our dele
gates were for IngersOll. as five-sixths of
those delegates were for Mr.. Blaine. There
was but one obstacle in the way. At Chi
cago it was Mr.. Blaine's consent. At Peoria
it was Mr.. Ingersolrs views on religion.
After he came back from the war. Mr.. In
gersoll began his attacks on the orthodox
creeds. In 1868 he was receiving a good deal
more attention from the ministers than he
does now. When the delegates came to-
getber, the question was raised as to the
possible effect of religion being dragged
into the campaign, We wanted to nomi-
nate Ingersoll, but We were afraid of that
kind Of a campaign.
1.-The convention met and organized. Mr..
lngersOlPS name was presented. Some one.
a known friend of the eloquent Peorian,
arose and moved the appointment of a com
mittee to wait on Mr.. IngersOll. / don't re-
member that the precise reason for this
committee was mentioned, but everybody
understood what was meant. We felt that
unless we could have beforehand such an
understanding with cur nominee as would
keep religions discussion out of the cam
paign it would not do to put him at the
head of the ticket. Morgan county was
one of the strong Republican counties. and,
THE City of Churches" Perhaps for that
reason the chairman selected me as one of
the eight or ten members of the committee.
The convention took q recess until after
dinner. The members of the committee got
together Immediately and consulted. Then
we went across the street to the law office
of the Ingersolls. / remember as well as if
it was only yesterday the reply which Mr..
how he said it. Our chairman said to him:
""Mr. lngersOll, this convention wants to
nominate you for Governor. There is a
point raised as to your religious cOnvic-
tions, and the possible effect they may have
upon the campaign if they are discussed.
1t is a question with the convention
whether it will be wise to nominate a man
who has the pronounced views which You
lave. This committee has been appointed
to wait upon you and see whether you are
willing to ignore these issues and keep them
out of the campaign. We do not ask that
you enOunce your convictions, but we
wish to ave q clear understanding with
you, so that we may report to the conyen-
tion.'
you see" continued Mr.. Fox, I'VE were
unwilling to give mp the idea of nominat-
ing him. Yet we felt that we must muzzle
him in advance on the religious question,
OF III WOUlO uOb uO ~ W lutO buo CdMpdlRu
with him.. Mr.. Ingersoll drow himself up
and replied
ernor of Illinois. and it is a grave question
with me whether would accept this nom
ipation if offered. l have in my compost
ton that which / AVE declared to the
world IA my views upon RELIGION. MY DO
sition / would not, under any circum-
stances. not even for my life, seem to re-
nounce. / would rather refuse to be Presi-
liant nf fha IInlfan SfafQa fIon m do or
My religious belief is my own. 1t belongs
to me, not to the State of Illinois. While l
believe in the right of every man to think
as he pleases. yet l have the moral honesty
to declare from the hOuse-tops my con-
victions. l feel deeply the interests of the
Republican party, yet, gentlemen, / must
say to you again my belief is my own. l
renounce nothing. / promise nothing. i
assured that no matter whom the Republi-
catn party dominates you can depend upon
R)b Ingersol to take off his coat and work
f0, him.
s'The committee retired and consulted. 1t
was evident to all of US that IT we nomi-
inaa ed Mr.. IngersOll we should have his
view Q upon religion injected into the cam
paig1l within a week. he had no idea of
allow ing himself to be muzzled on that
topic (which was dearest to him. The very
luctanGly we decided that the party conld
not afford to take such chances. Our chair
man was authorized to report to the con-
yention- He stated that the committee had
waited upon Mr.. Ingersoll. After a frank
interchange of opinion 1t had seemed best
TO the cOmmittee' to recommend that Mr..
IngersolEe name he dropped from consider
alton for the nomination. Without any
discussion the convention adopted the re-
port. althon Oh it went against the grain of
many a WARM admirer of the man. Within
half an hour we had nominated Gen. John
NJ. Palmer. The convention adjourned
about 8 o'cloA;k. That evening. fl ON the
ton of a dry-g,ods box in the public square
of Peoria, Bob IngeGsoll made what / shall
always say was the finest speech OF his life.
There was not Abe slightest reference in it
to religion or to his personal relations to
the convention. But it was full of patri-
otto sentiment, and of devotion to the Re-
publican party"
This Land Il Good Enough.