The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-02-20
WILL 1NGEKSOLL HAVE A FOREIGN
MlSSION3

WILL lNGEKsOLL HAVE A FOREIGN
MIssION3
The new secretary of state. Gen. Gresh-
he is like the blissful Bob an agnostic in
religion, and unlike the blissful Bob ap-
pears to be an agnostlc in politics. With
Gresham at the head of the department of
state, will Ingersoll get an important
foreign mission2 In 1876, Ingersoil in a
speech of marvellous eloquence nominated
Blaine for president at Cincinnati. In
1880 Ingersoll labored for Blaine and was
the Republican wheel horse ON the stump
for Garfield. When Garfield was elected
and Blaine became secretary of state
Ingersoll would have liked the mission to
Berlin. There was no reason why he
should not have obtained it; he had been
a patriotic Union soldier; his eloquent
tongue had always been at the service Of the
party; he stood in the first rank in his
profession: his moral character was
sound; his religious opinions or his lack
of religious opinions ought to have been
no bar to his appointment under our gov
eminent. whose fathers included such free
thinkers as Franklin, jefferson. Gouver.
neur Morris. and whose most illustrious
president, Lincoln, was disciple of Theo-
dore Parker, the famous Boston liberal
preacher, the hereto of his day. The cab
met of Hayes had included Carl Schurz, a
German free-thinker; devout Roman Cath
olics, like Sheridan and Rosecrans, had
risen to the highest commands in our
armies. and Roman Catholics had been re-
peatedly elected to the United States SEN
ate.
Under our form of government which
absolutely separates church from st ate, re-
ligious opinions or the lack of them is of
course not test Of eligibility to political
office, for the treaty between the United
States and Tripoli, signed by George
Washington. distinctly states that in a
political! sense We are not a Christian ma
ton and that Mohammedans are as secure
of all rights of federation in America as
Christians. Blaine urged the appointment
on Garfield. but Garfield, with constitu-
tionai lack Of moral courage. dared not
make it. saying that the ministers would
make howl Even in England. where
church and state are united, no objection
would be made to any political appoint
ment of honor offered to Huxley. Darwin,
Tyndall or Herbert Spencer. and Gar
fields timidity was a singular illustration
OF the stubborn survival of ecclesias tical
influence in politics.
Ingersol would have made an admira-
bic minister; he is a scholar. his literary
style proves that; ne is a man of social
tact and genial temper. and his experience
in the law courts and before juries we'll
fitted him for diplomatic service. Garfield
threw cold water on the suggestion and
from that day Ingersoll ceased his extra
ordinary campaign efforts for Blaine; he
was not hostile to Blaine in 1854. but he
was quiet and non-enthusiastic; he was
not a Blaine shouter in lsss, nor did he
put his shoulder to the wheel for Harrison
either in ISIS or 1902.
Is Gresham likely to offer his old friend
foreign appointment 1t would be no
cept a foreign mission at the hands of
Cleveland than 1t was to see ex- Confederate
Gen. Key, who spoke and voted for Tilden,
accept place in the cabinet of President
Hayes. or Horace Greeley accept Demo-
cratic nomination for president. Never
theless We do not believe that Gresham
will he permitted to offer Bob" Ingersoll
the foreign mission that Garfield would
not grant him. and Ingersoll has too keen
q sense of humor 10 acceptit. Ingersoll has
not forgotten when the moral bowels of
the Bourbon Democracy Were severely
moved whenever he was disposed TO be
witty at their expense. The Bourbon De-
mocracy could not enter the lists with
bob" in the Ield Of wit or elo-
quence, so they always fastened to
advertise him AS ''atheistic in opinion and
blasphemous in expression" Ingersoll
in reply used TO moekingIy tender his re-
spectfuI sympathy to the Bourbon Democ-
racy upon the fact that its founder and
favorite political saint, Jefferson who
led it in politics. Is not historically
recorded as being able to lead it
in prayer. The Democracy have not
yet forgotten that the eloquent Bob"
In more than one national CAM
paign talked on the stump so unkindly of
the Democratic patty rs To inspire them
with the belief shat he thought that for
them at least there ought TO be neither
God nor hereafter; that there was not any
body in the Democratic party who led it
In politics that could also Lead II in prayer.
Rob's view OF the Democratic party has
hither;oo been that IL is past praying
for" which Is the reason. perhaps, why
none OF its most illustrious leaders of re-
cent date have ever ATTEMPTED to pray.
Seriously, there never WAS q more e1-
qais.iely absurd, impudeni or hypercriii-
Cal assumption OF superior p!esy than the