Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1881-04-27
ANECDOTES OF LINCOLN.

Mr.. l.. J. Cist collected for a Cincinnati
paper some interesting anecdotes of the
martyred president. In 1882, when %
years old, Lincoln was induced by his
friends to run as Whig candidate for the
as follows Gentlemen, fellow-citizens
| presume you all know who am. I am
humble Abraham Lincoln. / have been
solicited by many friends to become can
didate for the Legislature. My politics are
short and sweet, like an old woman's
dance. | am in favor OF national bank,
/ am in favor of an internal improvement
system and a protective tariff. These are
my sentiments and political principles.
If elected, | will be thankful. If not, it
is all the same" He was not elected at
that time.
There resided in Springfield, in 1860,
an Irish laborer, John McCarty by name,
a red-hot Democrat. Shortly after the
presidential election, Mr. Lincoln was
walking past the public square, where
John was at work cleaning out the gutter.
AS the President-elect drew near, Nc
Carly, pausing in his work and holding
out his hand, said bluntly can so yer
elected President are ye? Faith, an it
wasn't by my vote ye wur." Well, yes,
John," replied Mr.. Lincoln, shaking
hands very cordially, the papers say
I'm elected, but it seems odd | should be
so when you went against me-" Well,
Mr.. Lincoln said John, dropping his
voice lest some brother Democrat should
hear him, "Pm glad you got it afther all.
It's mighty little pace I've had wild Biddy
for votin' torninst ye, an if ye'd been
bate she'd hev druv me from the shanty
as shure's the wurrld." "Give my com
pliments to Biddy, John, and tell her I'll
think seriously OF woman's suffrage" said
Mr.. Lincoln, with smile as he passed
OH to his Office.
President Lincoln once said that the
best story he ever read in the papers about
himself was this: Two Quakeresses were
travelling OH the railroad, and were heard
discussing the probable result of the war
{" Think said one, that Jefferson will
succeed" Why does thee think so p
asked the other Because Jefferson is
praying man." "And so is Abraham
Lincoln praying man." "Yes, but the
LOTQ VIII lHlLk y DTdudlll Is only JOklnS,
doubtfully replied the first.
After state election in New York, in
which the Republicsn party was defeat
ed, Mr.. Lincoln was asked how he fell
after having heard the news. He replied:
"Somewhat like the boy in Kentucky
who suubbed his toe while running to see
his sweetheart. He said he was too big
to cry, and too badly hurt to laugh"
During the spring of 1864, friend, ii
conversation with Mr.. Lincoln about the
approaching presidential election, sale
that nothing could defeat him but Grant
capture of Richmond, followed. by hi
nomination and acceptance. "Well,
said the President, II feel very much
like the man who said he didn't want tt
die particularly, but if he had got to die
that was precisely the disease he would
like to die of.
In the summer Of 1862 Gen. Mcclellan
wrote from the Peninsula long letter
to the President, giving him advice as tc
the general politics Of the country ano
how to carry on the affairs of the nation
"What did you reply?" asked one Of
Mr.. Lincoln. Nothing, but it made me
think Of the Irishman whose horse kicked
up and caught his foot in the stirrup,'
"Arrah p said he, +" if you are going tc
get ON [ will get off,