The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1864-10-26
[Fr m the Nsw York Mercuryl
Photographs of Popular
People.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

Is a Southern man Win makeShlft prln-
ciples Every President ought to be
popular but Lincoln, certainly, is not
We insert his ugly phiz in cur Popular
Photograph Gallery out of respect to his
position, since we can have little for him.
self 4
Mr.. Lincoln was born in that part ot
Hardin County, Kentucky, nov known as
Larue, on the 18th of February, 1909
He is consequently fifty five years of age
His father was born in Rockinghau N
County, Virginia His mother, Miss
! Nancy Hanks, was also native of the
| Old Dominion. Mr. Lincoln is, there.
fore, a Southern man all the way through
As this section OF the country has nc
cause to be very proud of him, we are
glad to place his origin on the other side
of Mason 4 Dixon's line.
Old Abe had only about six months
schooling. The rest of his education
such as it is. he picked up for himself
When he was about seven years old, his
father emigrated from Kentucky to South
ern Indiana, in Spencer county Until he
was eighteen, he labored in the woods,
cutting down trees and splitting rails
Hence bis soubriquet, This Railsplitter.
At nineteen. he was hired as Hatboat-
man, to 90 to New Orleans. In 1880, his
father removed to Illinois, and settled on
Sapgammon River, since celebrated in
many of Old Abe's filthy stories. Abe
pushed further on, and reached Menard
County, in the same State, where he work
ed on farm near Petersburg.
The next spring, Lincoln made another
trip to New Orleans, On tiatboat, and,
upon his return, he took charge of his
employers store, in the village OF New
Salem. When the Black Hawk War
broke out, he raised company and was
made a captain. Afterward, he re-enlist-
ed as private. During the war, he never
heard a hostile shot. ;As he himself ex-
presses it, II did not Sec any live, lighting
Indians, but had good nany bloody
struggles with the musquitos.' Upon his
return he ran for the Legislature, but vas
defeated Then he engaged in business,
but failed and sold out. Then he tried
surveying, but soon got tired of that.
Finally, he became Postmaster of New
Salem--zhis first Offices
In August 1884, CD Abe was elected
to the Legislature In 1885, 1888, and
1910, he was reelected As a legislator,
he was only noted for his country bump
kin manners and his broad jokes. During
the time he was thus feeding at the pub
lie crib he studied law, and was admitted
to the Bar. This proved lucky specu-
lation. In every campaign, from 1886 to
1852, he was candidate on the Wing
ticket for Presidential Elector, and was
defeated every time. In lS46, he was
elected to Congress, and distinguished
himself by his disloyal course in regard
to the Mexican War, his speeches being
still quoted by the Peace men and Rebel
sym pathizers in support of their position
in regard to this war. If that were the
only ammunition with which he has sup
piled the enemies Of the nation, he might
be more readily forgiven.
In 1913, Mr. Lincoln was delegate to
the Wing National Convention. In l849,
he was defeated as candidate for the
United States Senate. In 1854, he was
again candidate, but withdrew, seeing
his chances hopeless. At the first Re-
publican National Convention, he was an
unsuccessful candidate for Vice President.
When Fremont ran, Lincoln was on the
Electoral ticket In 1858, he ran against
Douglas for the United States Senate, and
was whipped by the Little Giant on
the stump and on the vtte. In 1860, he
was nominated for President by the Re-
publican Convention, at Chicago, as a
compromise candidate. Nobody wanted
him; but the factions could not agree upon
anybody else. Thus he slipped into the
nomination; and, through the split in the
Democratic party, he slipped into the
Presidency. That was sad day for the
country! Our readers have only too
much reason to remember the su ubsequent
events in his career, and We will not re-
peat them. g
There is a good deal Of trash talked
and written about Lincoln beinga self
made man-a representative OF the peo-
ple-cradled in log cabin, and now rest
ing in the White House-and much more
in this strain. The simple truth is, how,
ever. that Mr.. Lincoln does no credit tc
the system of popular government. Hac
he been good President, he would have
thonored the system: but as he is a bac
President, he has disgraced it. Old ABB
was, aud is, mere cunning politician
who has crawled up from office to Office
until he is now at the highest. Look a
his record here. See how many Office
he has filled, and how continually he KEEP
running for office, hunting for Office, beg
ging for Office, aud then decide what CLAIM
he has to be considered representative
of the people. A representative of th
little, mean, scurvy, barroom- haunting
politicians he may be, but net of the great
honest, hard working masses of the Amer
Eican people.
/ Mr.. Lincoln is a political thimbleris
ger, with no policy and no principles. II
found the North united and the South di
vided, and he has simply reversed thi
state of affairs most disastreusly. Hi
incompeteney for his position is obvious
He is not an anti-slavery man on pripci
pie, although he now pretends to be- Il
is not conservative, although he play
that rulc when it serves his petty purposes
tie has bungled the best-laid plans of oo