Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-11-02
GOING 10 TUE REAR.


It fawned upon u short time ago mrs
either In obscurity or at the rear, and
pfco versa, while some, through ia ras.
cally treatment or indefenslble be-
havior, are ina different and conflicting
place from where they have hitherto
been. Hall dozen men who have
held cabinet positions under Republi- !
can Presidents are now active cam.
palgners under the Cleveland banner,
while George Ticknor Curtis and
many other lifelong Democrats are
out for Harrison; and thus II goes. The
most conspicuous case Of complete oc.
cullation, however, is that Of Colonel
Robert q. Ingersoll, once the idol Of
the Republican party and man W hose
tiashy rhetoric and explosive vehe-
mence were relied upon more than
any other similar agency to rally the
&avering and bring the doubtful into
line. His speech nominating James
q. Blaine. Mt the National Repub.
lican Convention ut Cincinnati
In 1870, was one OF those diamond.
pointed, sarcastic and sententlous out.
bursts which csptivate not for the
moment only, but endure and are
handed on aud down. After this he
was on the stump continually till the
campaign closed, stirring up tho en-.
thusiasm and elloiting the enoomiums
and applause OF admiring throngs. He
was u most conspicuous figure then,
more 30, probably, than the candidate
he represented; his name was on every.
body's lips aud his glowing words
were quoted 10y great and small, by
the thinking and the unthinking.
What n difference! He ia still men,
toned occasionally, always by the
local pross OF the place where he
lectures, or more widely when In some
noted lawsuit, but no longer In words
that glow or In connection itself sug-
geslivo Of greatness. IL Is now "Bob
1ngersoll," "Pope Bob" or, when the
patronizing style is not used, It be.
comes plain "Colonel lngersoll."
This Ia a falling of for which there Is a
cause plainly apparent, and II Ia not
entirely n ut all political.
Colonel lngersoll has not contonted
himself with being merely an un-
believer, but ON all occasions whore 1t
could reasonably DO done, has taken
pains to exhibit this weakness in his
structure. IL has become blatant with
the drunkard resorts TO the wine cup,
through the force Of habit, habit
which affords him sort OF logged
comfort but Ia nauseous TO those with
whom he comes In contact. As our
political parties are mostly made up OF
| Christians representing various de-
nominations, Ingersoll ha, read him
self out OF favor with all Of them and ut
last receives recognition from none.
This lie not, as stated, because he is an
infidel, for 1t 10 conceded that he has
the privilege OF his peculiar views and
no one has right 10 modest
him therefor; II IL because
human nature gets tired after
time Of being slurred and condemned
aud made light OF because Of It's in.
cllnation to any belief It may entertain
or any reasonable practice in which Il
may engage, especially when there is
no call Tor such proceeding. Not long
since Colonel Ingersoll delivered q
lecture on "Shakspeare" at Helena,
Montana, for charitable object, there.
by showing that no himself is CHART.
able In one way II rot In another; his
audience was Of course composed 81 all
kind of people aud presumably all or
nearly all were admirers OF Shakespeare,
The theme was surely grand and fruit.
lul enough ior lecture by itself; but
the lecturer could not or did not forego
the opportunity to ridicule theology,
mixing little OF those who stood in
awe Of an "invlsible monster IN the
clouds" aud so on. Did not such
behavior tend toward casting "A
dark shadow upon what might
have been bright place In
his career? Was not what might have
beons feeling OF admiration because OF
0 u charitable deed well performed near
! ly II not quite overcome by the sensation
/ OF disgust which those who entertained
. religious views must have experienced.
T Let him be Pagan, by all means
Il since that is his preference; but why
10 II the Pagan cannot enjoy himself s,