Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-05-24

Af-teAA-N -s-sAlti-t' -a Ailllt4AAs
EDiToR LEADER Our exceedingly warm
hearted and affectionate 'Democratic" friends,
who prViesz 20 great an amount Of interest in
the welfare Of the Republican party having
ended their obseqdies over the great defeat
ed, return 70 their old occupation Of vitu-
peration and slander. Knowing as did the
ifrsproachable character of Mr. Lincoln,
bad been led 10 suppose that his nomination
would force the hDemoeraeyn TO resort to
new mode Of warfare during the CURRENT po-
litical campaign. But as the effect of pure
melody il 70 make ''dogs and critics howl"
so blameless life incites the slanderer to re-
doubled efforts in the way Of villiHcation. As
an instance Of the terrible strait to which
they are driven in this work, the DAILY Ma
tiOnal Democrat Of this eity--the columns Of
which have for months been wont to TEEN
with condemnation of Mr.. Douglas, whom it
represents as an ambitious demagogue, dan
gerOus leader corrupt politician, and an
untrustworthy man-now introduces the
''ltie Giant to prove that Mr.. Lincoln once
kept grocery. The Democrat of yesterday
morning quoted from Mr.. Douglas opening
speech at Ottawa, Illinois, August 2lst 1858,
upon the occasion of the first joint debate
between Mr.. Lincoln and Mr.. Douglas during
the formal Senatorial contest On page SO
of the published debates of Lincoln and
Douglas, is the statement referred to, which
reads thus
81 have known him Lineolnl for nearly
twenty-five years. There were many points
of sympathy between us when we first got
acquainted. We were both comparatively
boys, and both struggling with poverty in a
strange land. ! was school teacher in the
town of Winchester, and he fourishing
groeery-keeper in the town of Salem. He
was more successful in bis occupation than
was in mine, and hence more fortunate in this
worlds goods Lincoln is one of those pecu-
liar men who perform with admirable skill
everything which they undertake"
Thus, under the guiseOf friendly sympathy,
and covered with a profusion of honeyed
words, Judge Douglas sought to pervert the
facts and thus create prejudice against the
man whom he knew to be more than his
equal in fair argument That such men as
the editor of the PAN Dealer, who do daily
homage to their short-legged and big-headed
god in nlinois,-shOuld now reproduce this
tale, is not 10 be wondered at but it is passing
strange that the editor of the National Dem
ocrat should bring on the stand one whom he
has hitherto proclaimed as so utterly unrelia-
bic. These gentlemen forget to copy from
Mr. Lineoln's reply, made from the same
platform within the next hour, and which
may be found on page rs of the same volume.
He thus briefly disposes Of his opponents
statement: .EcH
Now ! pass on to consider one or two
more of these little follies. The Judge is
wofnlly at fault about his early friend Lin
coin being grocery-keeper.' | don't know
as it would be great sin, if ! had been;
but he is mistaken. Lincoln neDer kept
grocery eHyphers iR the sOoTId' D
Here We have an emphatic contradiction to
a charge which no sane man would make in
the region where Mr.. Iincoln's personal his
tory is well known,-which Judge Douglas
never attempted to prove, and which he
dared not repeat. Mr.. Lincoln's denial ended
the matter at the time, for Judge Douglas is
a man of too good sense to question Mr.
veracity before the people Of Illi-
nois -.......,-- ee.
The editors of the Democrat and Plain
Dealer have been pleased TO comment upon |
your correspondents incidental allusion to
the early life of Mr.. Lincoln, in which he
stated his occupation as that of blacksmith.
The writer is too young TO have known Mr.. |
Lincoln in his youth, but during a somewhat
extended sojourn in the vicinity of the home |
of the great statesman, was accustomed to |
hear many interesting "reminiscences Of his
carly life In ulI OF wbIols- he ~@s npokeu of |
as having been poor boy. The inquiry was |
suggested as to what was his oc-
in those days, and friend replied |
that it was blacksmithing. Supposing this
correct, it was adverted to in the |
article in your paper of Saturday last
From a somewhat minute personal biogra-
ply in the Chicago Press and Tribune, am
convinced that the statement was incorrect;
but am glad if it has furnished a subject up
on which these politically impoverished ed
itors can. .expend their superhuous gas.
Cleveland, May %, 1860. D.