The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1860-07-24
Hanks upon Lincoln.


The Democratic papers have been
publishing paragraph stating that JonN
HANKS, the man who split rails with Mr..
LINCOLN, in early life, had so poor an
opinion of OLD ABE, that he would not
vote for him for President. The follow
ing letter from him shows the estimate
this intelligent farmer places upon his
old friend. After promising that he has
always voted the Democratic ticket, even
voting for Mr.. DOUGLAS in 1858, against
Mr.. LINCOLN, he says
In boyhood days We toiled together !;
many are the days we have lugged the
heavy oar on the Ohio, the Illinois and
the NJ Mississippi rivers together many
are the long, cold days we have Journey
ed over the wild prairies and through the
forest with gun and AK, and though it is
not pleasant to refer back to it, well do
RENE Der when we set out together in
the cold winter TO cut and maui rails on
the Sangamon river, in Macon county.
thirty years ago, to enclose his fathers
llItle home, and from day to day kept at
work until the whole was finished and
the homestead fenced in we often swan.
ped work in this way, and Yet during the
many years We were connected together
as laborers, sometimes hat.boatinr
sometimes hog-driving, sometimes rail
making, and too, when ii was almost i'm.
possible to get books, he was a constant
reader; he was listener he settled all
disputes of all the young men in the
neighborhood, and his decisions were nj.
ways abided by. never knew man
so honest under all crcums tances for his
whole life. Thus associated with Mr..
Lincoln, | learned to love him. and when
III 1888, he was candidate for the first
time within my reach. against my feel
lnss, and may say against my conyic-
tlons. my old party ties induced me to
vote for Mr.. Douglas my Democratic
friends all declared Lincoln was an Alb |
oltionist heard him make speech
IN Decatur just before the election, and | |
could see nothing bad in il 4; but | was
told by the party he was wrong; | could
not see how he could be, but they said |
so, and | was Il Democrat and went it. /
My wife used TO say to me that some dav +
Abe would come out and be somelhinr II
thought 50 10. but could not exactly T
see how man in the lower walks ofHfe. +
a day laborer. and hopelessly poor, could I
ever stand mach chance TO get up very
high in The world. At last, one dav At
home, we heard that the Republican
State Convention was to be held at De.
catur, and that they were going for Abe
for President. As soon as | found this
out went into town and told friend Of
Abe's that as great and honest merit
was about 70 be rewarded in the person
ofmy friend, Mr. Lincoln, bvt Rapub.
lican party, | thought of the hard and
trying struggles of his early days, and
recollectmg the rails we had made to-
Gether, thirty years ago. made up my
mind 10 present some OF them to the con
ventlon as 4 testimonial of the beginning
OF one OF the greatest living men Of the
age, believing they would speak more in
his praise than any orator could. and
honor true labor more thar the praise OF ,
men or the resolutions Of conventions.
On our way TO get the rails told this
friend Of old Abe, that if Abe should be
for President | would vote
Tor him; everybody knows what he has
BEEN and | rejoice that live to give this
testimony to his goodness and honesty.
and hope / shall live 10 vote for him for
President of the United States next No.
yember.
Many of my Democratic neighbors
will say have done wrong. but know
here are many who would do as | have
lone, were il not they DO not feel willing
% break away from party ties and 10 en-.
counter he taik " Of Old friends. As
ong as have . Old Abe to lead me |
know shall not go very far from right.
Should he be elected President and find
my trouble IN steering his new boat, he
las only 10 remember how we used to
get out Of hard places by rowing straight
ahead and never by making short turns !
The tallest oaks IN the forest have fallen
~ his giant arm he still wielis tire. >
nendous maui out Of the largest um,
'cr he can make the smallest rall, !;
have seen hlm Try tough cut and fail "
nee; the second trial he never failed 70 |,
'se II UP, Though not "a very beautiful
ymbol of honesty, think the rail III !
ing one, AMI mean 10 present Abe :
SiIh a rail OF his own make. should he
'e elected. in the city of Washington,
n the day Of his Inauguration. 10 be
ept in the White House during his al
JoHN HAMS.
The L : Agricultural Society holds !
Is next far At Cincins'ti from the ieth a
d lha 2uh .f Sant.p,b.r NJ a,t,I, 4