The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-12-01
A LOxc-sUrFERED HALLUCINATION.

Robert Ingersoll, a very brilliant ora
tor. recently remarked of Senator Han
ma. that 1.-THE people suspect money
without genius" Col. Ingersoll sacri-
feed truth to an epigram. He evidently
meant to convey the impression that II
a man has money without genius he is
entirely untitled to be member OF the
United States senate. and probably Of
any other legislative body. Since few
men have genius, does the colonel wish
Ii understood that 4 man without gen
ius who has no money is more entitled
to esteem than one who. without
genius, has money. and is better fitted
to be legislator?
There are two crucial tests to be ap-
piled To Ingersolrs flashy remark. and
under both it becomes dross. Genius
is SO exceedingly rare that the pos
SCISSORS OF it in generation would
scarce make up one city council Of the
size OF that OF Seattle. Next, no genius
has ever been known to accumulate
enough to take comfortable care Of his
own family. to say nothing of looking
after the affairs OF the whole world. A
genius is usually the most impracticable
Of men, notwithstanding the exceptions
afforded by Shakespeare and Edison.
Yet who would suggest that even they
be elected to legislative body?
What Ingersoll evidently meant to
say was that the people suspect money
without considerable intellectual power,
such as. for instance. he possesses; yet
even he could not be elected to an office
by the people. He has some money. it
is true. but not enough to make him
formidable. But 80 is ingalls, man Of
intellectual power. and he is poor. Is
he--the antitype of Hanna-more
worthy Of popular confidence than a
man who has prospered through his
own efforts?
1t is not at all probable that Col.
Ingersoll would want to be credited
respected unless he has money with
genius. or genius without money, or is
without either. Genius seldom has
money. because IL is not business-like
II produces great artists and sculptors
and poets and authors and inventors;
but not councilmen or legislators or
hr:f 70 i,z
les or successful merchants--who must
form the great bulk of the governed
and the governing.
\ man may be very respectable and
conscientious. although he has re-
manned in the ranks of the moderately
recompensed; but Ii will hardly be &C..
cepted by the American type that
man Is necessarily more honest, more
capable and more deserving OF esteem
because he has failed TO make money
than he who has worked his way up
from poverty to affluence Where so
many have failed and so few have
made fortunes, is there not a genius of
trade. as we'll as OF literature, of art. or
of scienceF Is there not 4 capacity so
exeeling that its achievements In the
field Of moneymaking rank with the
masters on canvas. or on marble, work
ing by the pen or through inventions?
Genius only manifests itself through
the drudgery OF patient effort: it's toll
Is IA arfuous and exactiug under the
glare Of the intellectual light as tina,
manual labor which is unillumlned hy
any Promethean fire. The fact that a
fortune is built up by penniless boy
through plodding methods does not con-
Clude that IL has been without inspIra-
ton. or that the absorbing occupat,on
has net left opportunity for the faculty
Of oratory upon which Ingersolis dis
tirction rests-and which he includes
In genius"
This is no plea for Hanna or defense
q the political methods with which ne
is charged: but IL iS a protest. In the
name of the progressive. ingenious, in
d0strious accommodating American Of
average capacity. that his success in life
shall not result in his being suspected
per So; and acains, the assumption that
only the unsuccessful may lie trusted
and only the poor can - honest