The new era., 1860-05-31

be seen that LINCOLN Is self made
man, and has risen to his present high
position by the force of his own ginius.
unaided by adventurous circumstances.
We copy from the N. Y. Tribune
Honest Old Abe"
With this homeIy but expressive
phrase the people of the Northwest
are wont to designate the man whom the
Republican Convention at Chicago yes
terday on the third ballot, and by
majority which instantly became unan-
unity, selected as onr standard bearer
in the great contest now opening for the
redemption Of the Federal Government,
from the corruption, weakness, and de-
gradation into which long Democratic
predominence has brought it. This
rude designation, invented by unerring
popular instinct, expresses the entire
and confident affection which the heart
of the masses feel for Mr. LINCOLN
wherever he is known; it declares the
popular certainty that his is nature of
sterling stuff, which may always be re-
lied upon for perfect integrity, and con-
stant fidelity in duty. In one respect,
however, it is not 10 be taken as liter
era description: Mr.. LINCOLN is not an
old man either in years or in character.
On the contrary, he is still in the full
vigor and boom Of manly maturity.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN was born in Har-
din County, Kentucky, February ID,
1909, and is now 81 years old. He is
very probably Of the race of Massachu-
setts Lncolns, though his parents were
Of Quaker stock, that migrated from
Pennsylvania TO Virginia, whence his
grandfather removed in l7SI-2 to Ken
lucky. and was thsre surprised and
killed by Indians while at work Oh his
clearing. Like most pioneers, he Ieft
his family poor; and his son also died
prematurely, leaving widow and
several children, including Abraham,
then six years old. The family removed
soon after to Southern Indiana, where
Abraham grew to the stature Of six feet
and some inches, but enjoyed scarcely
better opportunities for instruction than
in Kentucky. Probably six months in
all Of the rudest sort of schooling com
prehends the whole Of his technical edu-
cation. He was in turn a farm labor
cr, a common workman in a saw mill,
and a boatman on the Wabash and
Mississippi rivers. THIS hard work and
plenty bfit, the rugged experience Of
aspiring poverty, the wild sports and
rude games of a newly and thinly peo-
pied forest region-the education born
of the log-cabin, the rife, the ak, and
the pillow, combined with the reflections
of an original and vigorous mind teagre
in the pursuit of knowledge by every
available means, and developing char
acter Of equal resource and 6rmn"ss-
made him the man he has since proved
himself
At 81, he pushed further Wast into
lllinos, which has for the last thirty
years been his home, living always
near, and 70: some years past in Spring
field, the State Capital He worked on
farm as hired man his first year in Illi-
nois; the next year he was a clerk in
store, then volunteered for the Black
Hawk war, and was chosen a captain
by his company; the next year he was
an unsuccessful candidate for the Leg
islature; he was chosen the next, and
served four sessions with eminent USE
fulness and steadily increasing reputa-
tisn; studied law, meantime, and took
his place at the bar; was early recog-
nized as a most effective and convinc-
ing advocate before the People of Whig
principles and the Protective policy and
Of their ilustrious embodiment, Henry
Clay; was Wing candidate for Elec
tor in nearly or quite every Presidential
contest from 1886 to 1852 inclusive; =
was chosen to the XXXth Congress
from the Central District of Illinois in
1916, and served to its close, but was
not candidate for reelection; and in
1913 measurably withdrew from politics
and devoted himself to the practice of
his profession until the Nebraska Ini-
quity Of 1854 called him again into the
the polical arena. He was the candi-
date of the Wings for U. S. senator be-
fore the Legislature chosen that year;
but they were not a majority Of the body;
SO ne declined and urged his friends to
support Judge Trumbull, the candidate
OF the anti-Nebraska Damocrats, who
was thus elected. a ssn ~