The times., 1899-09-16
The IngersoIl Monument.

The IngersoIl Monument.
The suggestion that monument should
be erected 10 Colonel Ingersoll by those
who knew and appreciated his work
seems to be gaining ground. There is,
however, as yet no definite outline of the
kind of monument it shall be. The idea
of erecting it at Peoria is not likely TO find
much favor with the rest of the country,
since there seems to be no reason whatever
for placing it there except that during
part OF his life the great agnostic made his
home in that city. II there is to be such
a testimonial it would seem that it should
be put where it will speak most emphat-
ically.
It may be well to explain just what this
monument would mean to those who shall
contribute to the fund for its erection. OPP
ponents of IngersolI will probably eharac-
terize such action as one of hatred and
malignity toward religion, or at any rate
toward religious institutions. They have
always insisted that Ingersoll stood merely
for the anti-religious and anti-spiritual
sentiment, for material prosperity, for de-
fiant abuse of all ideals. They have per-
sistentIy regarded him as the apostle of
a great negation. 1t viii be well for them
to understand that there were people 10
whom his death was sort of personal
bereavement, not because he denied, but
because he affirmed; that his philosophy
meant something positive as well as mega
tive; that he did not lead men into mock
cry or cynicism, but gave them something
in return for what he took away. The
tribute, whatever it may be, viii be a trib
ute to what he was. not to a mere de-
structive force.
Ingersoll did his best to sweep away
what he considered superstition, that some
thing else might arise in its pace He was
not such a fool as 10 contradict the immut-
able law that nature abhors a vacuum
What he desired to do was to take mems
attention away from non-essential things
and fix it on the real, to make them see
that il is much more important to be just,
and kind, and honest, and loving. and gen.
eroUs. than to be a Baptist. OF Catholic,
! or a MohamEaedan. or a Buddhist. There
/ is no denying that for good many hun
dred years men have acted as if it were
much more important TO adhere to some
Z particular creed than TO behave decently TO
their fellow-men. and this fallacy Inger-
soll attacked so vigorously that he made 1t
ridiculous. and it is disappearing from
American society with considerable rapid
/ ity. Was that an unworthy task for big
Drained, courageous man?
There comes time in the life Of near
Iy every thinking man when he questions
the dogmas to which he has been brought
up. Many such men have decided sadly,
il may be. but inevitably, that they cannot
believe these dogmas. They have been
taught that there is no morality outside
some particular creed; that it is of no use
to set up ones own ideal and strive to full
I'LL it; and that all scientific knowledge
fails when it comes to deal with mans soul.
In this time of chaos and indecision, In
sersoI gives the doubter a hearty grasp
OF the hand and assures him that he will
be all right if he goes manfuIly to work
TO make the best Of himself; that there
can be no divine law which will contradict
itself and. interfere with facts, and that If
there be God, reason is the guide which
he has given man to lead him in the right
path Is that a small thing? Are the null
titudes OF men for whom IngersolI did just
this likely TO regard him as mere scoffer
and cynic?
There should undoubtedly be monument
to his memory-and if he had not been SC
busy spending his money for others duriae
his lifetime he would undoubtedly have lef
q fund TO build one; but the last thing thai
he would have wished would be that il
should be a stone shaft, with his name OF
it. in Peoria The kind of tribute he would
approve would unquestionabIy be a pub
lie library or reading-room. where thos
unable 10 bay expensive books could com
and learn to understand the world in whicI
they live and he would have put that build
: ing where it would do good to the creates
number of people. 1t might be in Nev
: York. OF II might be In Washington. Bu
Il should be a democratic institution, no
too good for the poorest, and open at al
times when q busy man would be likely t
want it. II every man who has bee
3 strengthened, cheered, and helped by tn
buoyant and healthy philosophy of Ingerso
- should contribute TO that building fund
( would make one Of the biggest buildings
: the world The only difficulty is that sue
{ men are frequently so busy in followin
9 the example Of the great agnostic hirnsel
s giving away their money as they go aiont
that they are not likely to have much
spare for any extraneous purpose. None
q Ingersolfs teachings ever included IL
e maxim, THE love Of money is the root
: all morality"
The Coming War.
: Whatever hope the peace party in Eni
l. 1 l. rona ToIanv NAV ba, ~.