American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-04-06
Personal Character of Mr.. Lincoln,

character of Mr.. Lincoln:
Let us see what had been his previ-
Gus training for his great work. 1t was
not the training of the schools; it was
better it was a struggle with Difficult
ties among the people. He had the foun-
dation of perfect integrity, truth, candor so
briefly, self-control, self-reliance, modesty.
With clear judgment, sound common sense,
shrewd knowledge of human nature, he
is most American of Americans He
had served a single term in Congress,
but his education, his preparation, was
among the people, in humble and home
ly positions flatboatman, a rail-splitter,
a surveyor, member of the legislature
in frontier State, lawyer in the log
court houses of the West. While he had
no university schooling, few, if any, have
had a better training to develope and
strengthen their intellectual powers than
he This may seem strange, but let me
explain, and its truth will, ] think, be
conceded
" He was trained at the bar in a school
where giants were his competitors, and he
bore off the crown.
"Some twenty years ago there gather
ed around the plain pine-tables of the
frontier court-houses of Central Illinois
very remarkable combination of men
Among them, and concededly their lead
er, was Abraham Lincoln, Stephen A.
Douglas, his great political rival; Lyman
Trumbull, chairman of the Judiciary
Committee of the Senate; +. d. Baker,
the able, the eloquent Senator, soldier,
and martyr to liberty; Gen. Jas. Shields,
who won high reputation at Washing
ton and on the bistlefelds of Mexico
Colonel John j. Hardin. an able and ell
oquent lawyer, who fell on the bloody field
eff Buena Vista James A. MDougal,
the present Senator from California VIM.
A. Richardson, present Senator from Hi
nois, and General John A. M'Clernand,
now in the field. Besides these was the
late Governor Bissell, whose manly vindi-
cation Of the bravery of the Illinois vol
unteers in Mexico against the aspersions
of Jefferson Davis will be well remem-
bered a vidicaton which resulted in
challenge from the traitor, which was ac-
cepted by Bissell, but from which Davis
backed down, it is said, under the advice
Of General Taylor These men, of ma
tional reputation, and others equally able,
but whose pursuits have been confined at
home, were the competitors with Mr.. lin
coin. These were the men in contest with
whom Abraham Lincoln was trained for
the terrible ordeal through which he is
passing.
"The contest between Lincoln and
Douglas, in 1856 was the most remarka-
bic in American history. They were the
acknowledged leaders, each of his party
Both men of great and marked individu-
ality Of character. The prize was the
Senatorship of the great State of Illinois,
and the success Of the Republican or Dem
mocratic party Douglas had the addi-
tional stimulent of the Presidency in
view. These tyained leaders met, at des-
ignated places, and in the presence of the
immense crowds of people debated the
great question at issue.
Douglas went through this campaign
like conquering hero. He had his spe-
cial train of cars, his band of music, his
body guard of devoted friends, a cannon
carried on the train, the firing from which
announced his approach to the place of
meeting. Such canvass involved neces-
sarily, very large expenditures, and it has
been said that Douglas did not &pend
less than $4,000 in this canvass. Some
idea of the plain, simple, frugal habits
of Mr. Lincoln may be gathered, when
| tell you that at its close, having occu-
pied several months, Mr.. Lincoln said,
with the idea, apparently, that he had
been somewhat extravagant, L do not
believe l have spent cent less than five
hundred dollars in this canvass"
Mr.. Arnold sketched the scene at the
; Inauguration of Mr., Lincoln, rapidly re-
viewed the condition of the country at the
outbreak of the rebellion, and continued
as follows:
However others have. doubted and
hesitated, Mr.. Lincoln's faith in the sue
cess of our cause has never been shaken
He has been radical in all that concerns
slavery, ard conservative in all that re
lates to liberty.
His course upon the slavery question
has shown his love of freedom, bis saga
city and his wisdom. From the begin
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