The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-08-08
IGNAEIUS DONNELLY
A Sketch Shelving His Active
ParticipatiOns in Affairs of
State,

Lie NdClOnal waterman, Une organ
of the Populist party published in
Washington, D. e., has the following
sketch of Ignatius Donnelly in it's is
sue of July 10:
lgnatiqs Donnelly was born in Phil
adephia, Pa, November 3, 1881. His
mother, nee Catherine Gavin, was
native of that city, and his father,
DR.. Phillip Carroll Donnelly. was
physician of high standing and
benevolent character, who was born in
Ireland and came to this country
when a boy. Ignatius obtained his
education in the public schools of his
native city and graduated from the
High School, from which he received
the degree of master of arts. He
studied law for three years under
Benjamin Harris Brewster, after
wards Attorney General of the United
States, and was admitted to practice
in 1858. He practiced law for three
years in Philadelphia, married in 1855
and emigrated to Minnesota, then a
territory, in 1856.
In 1857 he was nominated for the
state senate in Dakota county, but
the county was two to one Democratic
and he was defeated. He was re-nom
mated for the same office in 1858, and
made the first speaking campaign in
the history Of the county, and came
within twelve votes Of being elected.
His campaign had attracted state at
tenton, and the next year he was
nominated by the Republicans for
Lieutenant Governor and elected.
This was the first time the Republican
party carried the state. He was re-
I'D oo1o
Governor in 1861. In 1862, the year of
the Indian massacre, he was nomin-
ated for congress and elected, taking
his seat in December, 1863. He was
reelected in 1864, and again in 1866,
serving in all six years in congress.
He devoted himself to practical sub
jectS, like education and tree culture:
he introduced the first measure for
the esta blishment of a bureau of edu
cation: he was assisted by General
Garfield, and the measure prevailed,
and the bureau was established and is
still in existence
He was nOtna violent partisan and
early advocated the reconciliation of
the North and South, making vigor-
Gus speeches for large appropriations
of money to feed the starving people
of the South at the close Of the war
The Washburn family determined to
drive Mr.. Donnelly out of congress to
make room for the youngest son of
the race, and Elihu Washburn assailed
Mr. Donnelly sayagely in a st. Paul
paper in 1865. Mr.. D. replied in
speech on the, floor of the house,
which practicallyi ended WaShburn's
political career. The speech is still
famous and was reprinted in London,
Paris, etc. The "Washburn family
were determined to crush Mr.. Don
nelly, and tits said they spent 100000
to defeat his reelection. They hired
bolter and succeeded in electing
Democrat.
In 1872 Mr.. Donnelly followed Hor-
ace Greeley, and became what was
called at that time "Greeley Repub-
lican"-the Democrats nominating
Mr.. Greeley for the Presidency. Mr.
DOnnelly was temporary chairman of
the National Anti-monOpoly Green
back Convention, which met in 1876,
in indianapolis and nominated Peter
Cooper for President. In 1873 he had
established in St. Paul Greenback,
free silver newspaper, called the Anti
Monopolist, which he published and
edited for five years. When the
Grange came up he joined it, and
when the Alliance party arose he sup
ported that. He has been an indie
pendent ever since 1872. He was
delegate to the Cincinnati convention
which met in 1891, and formed the
Peoples party; he drew part of the
platform and reported it to the con-
ventiOn. He was also a delegate to
the St. Louis National Convention Of
IL !,
Convention of July 4, 1892. He was
the Omaha platform.
In 1882 he published his first book,
"Atlantis, or the Antediluvian
World" an attempt to prove the
truth of Plato's story as to that ia
nous island and Identify it's destruc-
ton with the tlood-legend of the Bible.
In 1888 he put forth "Ragnarok, the
Age of Fire and Gravel" a book which
has created great interest in scientific
circles. In 1883 appeared "The Great
Cipher in the Shakespeare Plays"
which started the greatest possible
uproar in all literary circles over the
whole world. In 1890 appeared
Caesars Column" which has been
translated into nearly all the Europ-
can languages and 300, 900 copies sold
on both sides of the Atlantic. The
corporation opposition to the ''The
Great CryptOgram" was so great that
Mr.. Donnelly put forth CAESARS Col
umn" under the nom de plume of
Edmund Boisgilbert, NJ. d." and his
enemies praised it to the skies.
The next year appeared doctor
Hugnet," which has had large sale:
it is an appeal for charity between the
races. Mr.. DOnneAy's last book is en-
titled ''The Golden Bottle" 1t illus
trates the theories 6f the Peoples par
ty by an ingenious allegory. 1t has
had G eat saleu1 Mr. Donnelly is now
engaged upon another work in which
he claims he will, demons trate the
reality of the Bacon cipher. beyond
controversy. In April, 1898, he was
principally interested in establishing
the Peoples party paper, the REPRE-
SENTATIVE, now published at Mime
apolis, Mimi; and he writes page of
very interesting matter for it every
week. He has beenffor several years
president of the State Farmers ALI
ance of Minnesota and active in it's
work. ftsrf
1t will easily be seen that he has led
very busy 4and industrious life,
While he is radical in his views. he is
moderate in the expression of them.
His favorite aXiomS are: LET us be
reasonable" and Keep your head
cool" BY his wise. management the
Peoples party Of minnesota, which
three years ago was torn to pieces by
factions, is now united and harmoni-
Gus and hopes to carry the state this