Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-08-22
THE INGALLS, LETTER.

The Senator Explains a Recent Letter and
Denies Certain Constructions Put Up
on 1t.
TOPEKA. Kan, Aug. I6-Upon the ap-
pearence in the Forum of Senator Ingalls,
| article on prohibition, it was thought that
certain portions of it were so indefinite as
to leave the Senator's position uncertain.
He was written to on this point by P. H.
Coney, of Topeka, and in his reply he
jocularly referred to similar INQUIRIES
from other sources and TO the
fact that the article seemed salts
factory to the Forum publishers, since
they had sent him check for the same.
This letter was shown at a newspaper Of
fee here and the editor printed it from
memory, attaching the Senator's sigma
ture thereto. The letter. as copied from
memory, apparently made light of the
subject, and indicated that the true pur-
pose OF the Forum article was accom-
plished when the publishers check was
secured. Senator Ingalls, at once de-
nounced the published letter a forgery.
In letter TO the Topeka Journal he en-
phasizeS the denial as follows:
The publication imputed 10 me was a shame,
less and impudent forgery II was a garbled
and mutilated recollection. distorted and sea
soned malicious omissions ard interpretations
OF private letter. Coney wrote TO me that he
considered my Forum paper below par from
the literary point of view. and not equal TO nv
reputation as a writer. I reg rded 1t myseI, as
commonplace, and hardly up to concert pitch,
and in a goOd-humOred way 1 said I didn't
think much of it myself. but that il was the best
could do under the circumstan .es, the cir
cumstances being that one OF my children had
been AT bp fha+ 7
in such mental distress and anxiety that
was hardly in condition TO work or study at
all lOcuIarly alluded 10 different comments
that had reached me, but said nothing about
being ION the fence" nor was there any init
nation of insincerity, nor any expression from
which it could be inferred that entertained
opinions at variance with those declared over
my signature. The incident is trivial and IN
important. The closing PARAGRAPH of the idea
is that evil is destroyed till 1t is replaced by
good The saloon and the distillery crafty
certain inherent and ineradicable thou h
morbid and misdirected appetites and
instincts OF human nature, which. in
some form or other. will have
indulgence unless enlarged opportunities are
Afforded by the Clutch. the school the home
the reading room, the coffee house and places
of public amusement and resort for recreation,
for social enjoyment. for the happiness which
flows from cOmpanionship for moral elevation,
for the activity Of the higher energies Of the
soul. The reformation is complete. 1t will be
followed by disastrous relapse, and the last
state of the man will be worse than the first.
The seven devils mentioned in holy writ en-
tered the house because it was empty The
first devil was elected by his landlord, l sup
pose, because he broke the windows, burned
the fences for kindling wood, let the weeds
grow in the garden, paid no rent and was bad
tenant generally
After the house was swept and garnished. If
the premises had been properly leased TO in
dustrious, careful and responsible tenants when
the seven devils rang at the door bell, and
were informed by the maid that the place was
occupied, they would have d: opped their tails
between their legs and departed So the last
state of the man would have been better than
the first
Kansas has expelled the devil OF the saloon,
the house has been swept and garnshed and is
empty. The habitual Joint the professional
beot-legger, the duplex drug store. secret in
diligence, perjury. hypocrisy and contempt of
lay are the seven devils that are looking around
for an unfurnished residence. The conscience
Of New England was not thoroughly aroused
TO the immortality OF African slavery till it
ceased TO be profitable. and the North did not
finally determine TO destroy the system till It
threatened their industry and political su-
premacy. J. j. INGALLS,.