The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-02-17
IDEAS OF INGERSOLL.
Interview With the Philosopher
on Current Events.
THE DEFEAT OF INGALLS,.
Sympathy with the Farmers-All tho
Political Renegades Running for
the Alliance Bandwagon.
Chicago Herald.

Mr.. Ingersoll is one of the most ap-
rroachable men in public life. NOW, if
you want to interview me" he said, "you
must ask me some questions or ! may load
you down with stuff that you don't want.
Where shall begin?"
'Tell me what you think of the defeat
of Senator Ingalls?"
~ think that the farmers have made up
their minds that it is time for them to pre-
sent q long list of grievances. As class
they work the hardest and in the end have
little recompense for their labor. A young
man who goes into the business Of farming
is liable to find at the end of ten years that
he has lost his health, his labor and the
land that he started with. Farmers have
just as much right to the protection of the
government as the merchants, manufact-
urers and spectators. The government
goes to the rescue of Wall street whenever
the stringency of the money market makes
speculation dangerous, but the farmers are
Obliged to keep on paying two or three
times as much for the use of money to de-
velop and improve their farms as is
charged for the use of money employed in
the interests of great corporations. Mr..
Ingalls, underestimate the strength and
sincerity of the Farmers Alliance Just as
hundreds of other politicians did, but by
this time he probably realizes that the
armers are in earnest"
What do you think of the weight that
Senator Ingalls, successor, Judge PETER,
will have in the Senator
Just as long as he owns himself he will
have the weight of one vote, and that is
enough 10 enable him to play see-saw sue
cessfully with good many senators with
out asking them to give him the long end
of the plank. Just as long as he remains
sole proprietor of himself he will
be all right and his presence in the
Senate Will be an influence for the
good Of the Farmers Alliance. His pres
ence In the Senate is likely to be the nu-
cleus around which will form quite a con-
tingent of farmers. / am thoroughly in
sympathy with the farmers in their en-
There are q good many things in their new
political creed that do not believe in, but,
on the whole, they are in a position
which Shakespeare contemplated when he
wrote: Thrice armed is he who hath his
quarrel just l am delighted to see them
aroused 70 see them taking an interest at
least in their own welfare. The people in
towns unite easier than the farmers. They
have the benefit of organization
Now the farmers are beginning to
see that organization means power.
They know that bankers, merchants
and railroads are willing TO make all they
can-willing to take the last cent from the
farmer. Discussion will do good. Of course
they Will not do all they set out TO do. But
it is a good thing to find out what you can't
do. The tillers of the soil are slaves in the
Old World, but they can be sovereigns
here, and hope that they will live up to
their privileges. do not want their votes
] ask no fayors. but know that no coun-
Try can be great Ii the soil is cultivated by
ignorance. We need intelligence in the
Naturalization behind the plow."
Speaking of the death of Mr.. Windom.
Colonel lngersol said: Il was greatly