The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-07-30
AS TO INGALLS,.

To the Editor of the Eagle.
There appeared in Topeka paper. not
long since. article from the pen or
| Theo Botkin. in which the writer took
occasion to severely criticise Mr.. In
gals for writing the article he never
wrote-the letter purporting to have come
from him during the St. Louis conven-
ton and appearing first in some Wash
ington paper and subsequently, in the
Popul1st papers. 1t is enough that the
opposition papers. driven to desperate
straits, should give birth and credence
to such a spurious production; we do not
need to perpetuate the fraud within our
own ranks. 1 am surprised that such
man as Mr.. Botkin should. without ques-
ton or investigation pour out his vial
of wrath and indignation on Mr.. In
gals, having as his only excuse such
clumsy, audacious forgery as that let
ter was. Regardless of the mis-state-
ment with which the letter was predi
Gated, which. OF course. Mr.. Botkin was
not TO blame for. not having apprehend-
ed anyone who is at all acquainted with
Mr. ingalls, style Of composition might
have known that the makeup of this
letter was entirely foreign The words
are small and commonplace: they lack
force and conference: they are weak and
in some cases almost expressionless, and
they have the appearance of having been
written by a person who was strained
and unnatural in his expression and who
was vsinIy striving to disguise his hand.
There have been many other cases in
which Mr.. ingalls, has been unjustly
abused. No man with pronounced views
OF his own can escape criticism. There
is always someone to take exception 10
every expression above the dead level OF
common thought and at times these fault
finders resort to nefarious practices. Mr..
ingalls, has mind of his own. Appre-
hend,ng the tendency OF the times. the
wants OF the people. the drift of public
thought, he sees in advance the probable
result and frankly expresses himself lie
does not wait for an expression of public
opinion and then follow in the wake Ike
a thoughtless demagogue. He seeks to
lead, 20 form. TO create. Coming from
stsunch Puritan stock. ne Is naturally
rather pronounced In his views and severe
IN his expressions The country needs
more such me1-nsn OF thought, cour-
age and conviction: men whose express
sions are clear and plain. free from doubt
and uncertainty.
Mr.. ingalls, Is self-nad- man He
has no nlustrious ancestry He now has
In his library al Atchison the old anvil
on which his grandfather pounded out the
implements or toll used by the rustic
New EnEizrders o. the community IN
which he lived Nr. ingalls, has built up
reputation % HIS own His education
was good although u was neither elzss-
iczi TOT complete. AID IL the busy strife
Of public lie Re has found tine 70 suppl
rns7t the book knoxIsdze o< his youage-
days. spending the time ordinarily spent
by politicians In dissipation poring over
the wealth OF Hbraries-.he crystzIIiz@i
thought OF the past He has always bern
q temperate man and although when \
mere child Il was universally predtctef
that h would not I've 70 reach his
teens he 50 nusoan5e3 his resources tAz:
he surpassed TIE exp%csa.sozs OF his
fsienes. and Re Is TOW hale asd hearty
at = while mary % his Contemporaries
passed away before tne Sun q lie BAD
--zch>t TIE mark OF noo-- he IS sckoi-
sriy ard refined ard his honesty hAs
ners- beea questioned HA9 Re beea Dis
poss-i 20 barter with rs political enemies.
70 -eI.nQEtsa ho1or fer 1a-1e or fame ac
never would have left he senate sfser
eszh;ee, years OF unnzok@n service Gfrh
but nez-re On ~ hands. lie E4s
a. k.ezi senator. He zas p-sstee-t ~
thet august bosy for more successive
years ;hzn aay osh@- man 5as se-@n T.
fA~ hsstorx % or country Hs rsii1zs
Es-e fair ast impartial He I'D . reYz-