The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-04-01
ingalls, letter is as follows:


City paper which bought at Trinidad this
morning on my way home from San Fran
cisco. l find the following:
AT the Winfield conference Bishop Nc
Cabe rose to question of personal privi-
lege and roasted John ]. ingalls, for his re-
port of the prize fight. He said: 1t is fit
| ting sequel to the career of the mar VINO
declared the publication of politics an iri-
descent dream to find him Struggling off his
senatorial toga long enough TO prostitute
his glowing rhetoric for the sporting read
ers of the New York Journal. What con-
trast between the calm dignity with which
John j. ingalls, held the FESTIVE members
of the upper house of congress within the
bounds of senatorial courtesy and his gen.
tie efforts to soothe the ruffian spirit of Mrs
FitZs.mmons when she shrieked TO her hus-
band, kill the dirty puppy l am willing to
leave the acrobatic statesman amid such
genial environments. but as an American
citizen l protest against the statement that
the spectators at the brutal fStic tourna-
ment were average citizens OF this republic.
This statement is a lean insult TO Ameri-
can citizenship and American manhood
Not being a member of the Methodist
church. l am at a loss TO know how tie
censure of any act of mine, no matter how
nefarious, could have been properly ques-
ton of personal privilege at the Winfield
conference; but my respect for your high
Office, and for the great organization which
you represent. many Of whose members are
my personal and political friends. renders
it appropriate that l should not allow your
comments to pass unnoticed.
Your allus:on to the 'senatorship toga
makes it proper that / should say that I
left the senate involuntarily six years ago.
| did not slough my toga as you intimate.
The Populists sloughed it for me- very much
against my inclination. / Intellectually en-
deavored 10 resume it at the recent election
but the people decided otherwise, and am
now a private citizen without even the
wage and shadowy publicity that attends
a man who is a prospective candidate for
office. for realize that my political career
In Kansas Is at an end.
II am glad to be able TO infer from your
remarks that while I wore that garment. I
dishonored neither my constituents, nor the
country, whatever l may have done since.
During the interval, / have been like
yourself. working for my living. Not hav-
ing the gifts. faculties and conservation re-
quis.te for bishop. being out of practice
al the bar and business being dull. have
been doing odd jobs. on the lyceum plat
fern and for the press. l tank and write,
as you preach, for money, but my opinions,
convictions and judgment are no more for
sale than yours.
From your allusion TO my glowing rhet-
oric,' and the alleged Incidents at the ring
SIDE, Il is evident that you carefully read
the accounts of the brutal fistic tourna-
ment' at Carson. whether from your pulpit
to your congregation. at the fireside TO your
family. or in the seclusion of your study,
does not appear. To the unregenerate mind
il looks quite as immoral to read about a
d:sreputable transaction as to witness It
and write about it. Your time and mine.
l admit. could have been more proftably
employed in meditating upon the maledic-
tons of Christ against the Pharisees of his
day; the cant.ng hypocrites OF Palestine,
and their lineal descendants in Kansas, who
thanking God they are not as other men,
pay tithes of anise. mint and cummin and
omit the weightier matters OF law.
Il went to Carson with authority TO write
as much or as little as / pleased, in any
vein, as l saw fir. and my purpose was TO
tell the truth about the encounter. the au-
dience and the moral environment as II ap-
peared 10 me. Had 1 been requested TO at
tend the Winfield conference and write my
impressions of its proceedings, / should
have done so with equal composure had the
compensation offered been satisfactory, and
no other occupation prevented.
Had heard you distort and misconstrue
the language OF a man who had always
treated you with courtesy and spoken OF
you with respect: had l heard you apply in
furious ep!thets gratutously and without
provocation 20 one who had endeavored TO
endure adversely with fortitude: had
heard you denounce as a lie statement Of
whose truth You could personally know
nothing, / should have said so. IN the same
spirit with which I described what took
place al Carson; and / might also have
added that you exhibited all the character
istics OF the gladiator. except his courage.
II heard TO such language az Carson as
is imputed 10 you al the Winfield confer
ence. It's only parallel Is the fictitious *
clama-ion which you incorrectly ascri5e 20
the freazisd Mrs. F.tzs.nmons.
The etiquette Of the prize ring does not
permit man 20 call another a liar. or ac-
cuse him OF bein a prostitUted acrobat
with IMMUNITY. Perhaps you are incorrect
y reported. hope So / should regret 70
be compelled 70 believe that Carson has q
higher code Of ethics than Winfield. or that
q pug.list may have better manners than
bishop. Very traly yours.
JOHN J. INGALLS,"