The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1884-04-12

it DcCdiie lcSS SSllSitlNS On lnt tlueS-
ton of the public. He made his first
political speech at the great Blaine
meeting at the battle-ground, in In
diana, in 1876. He spoke not more
than five minutes, and with the tremor
of a novice, but he succeeded even in
that time in impressing himself upon an
audience, FESTIVE of anything that de-
layed the expected effort of the white
plumed knight whom Ingersoll had
lauded beyond any mans ability to
justify.
In 1876 he was elected to his first
office. The Board ofthe South Town,
Chicago, managing affairs in the in
terest of a ring, had excited the indig-
nation of the business men, and an Ell
fort was made to compel the commits
sioner or trustees to change their
policy. The business men of the city
attended meeting Of the board in
force, secured the resignation Of the
Supervisor who held the purse strings,
and elected Mr.. Lincoln in his stead.
Mr. Lincoln accepted, and at once
began that fight against the ring, which
redeemed the South Town. He not
only looked after the business, but he
pushed the case at issue through the
local courts fought them all the way
up to the Supreme Court. and finally
won them there. He kept up the
struggle long after the people had lost
interest init his pluck, pertinacity and
legal ability all attracting marked at
tention, and showing more clearly than
anything else had done, the real char
aCter Of the man. Some of those who
had counted him only soft compla-
cent man Of society awoke to the fact
that they had tailed rightly to take his
measure. He was still sensitive when
it came to doing anything susceptible
of being considered a bid for notoriety,
but at the same time he had a stub
born courage in doing what seemed to
him right. For eXample-when the
question of nominating General Grant
came up in Chicago in 1880, he did
not attend the first meetings of those
who favored the movement lest his
warm feeling toward the old Com
mander might be mistaken for mo-
tive Of coarser quality. Seeing that his
silence was misunderstood, he ap-
peared at the first considerable formal
gathering Of Grants friends, and when
elected presiding officer defined his po-
sltion in crisp little speech which
could not be misunderstood. Through
out the canvass he kept in the back
ground, working earnestly, insisting
that older men should 60 to the front,
and protesting against any movement
that should make him prominent as a
figure-head He became conspicuous
i'll spite ooimself, however; and was
made delegate to the State Conven-
ton, and finally, one of the electors.
He came out Of that fierce convention
fight with the respect of his opponents,
and with something like enthusiasm in
his behalf prevailing among his parti-
san associates.
When President Garfield appointed
him Secretary of War, Mr.. Lincoln
took his place in the office at WASH
ington without parade and without
sign OF exultation. On that first morn
ing in office he was simply Lawyer
Lincoln, of Chicago unabashed, unob-
trusive, seeming to lack some element
Of self-assertion, and yet asserting him
self in way to leave impressions of
sharp individuality on the hundreds
who called to offer congratulations. He
was not breezily exhilarated like Blaine,
nor anyiously hospitable like kirkwood,
nor stolidly reserved like Window, but
stood at his desk with the old Grant
like droop of the shoulders. and an
under current of sullenness showing
now and then over the two ready as
sumption that Garfield had chosen 4
name rather than man, and temper
ing his linelyshaded cordiality.
Mr.. Lincoln married Miss Mary Har-
Ian daughter Of Abraham Lincoln's
Secretary of the Interior) in 1868, and
when they returned to Washington in
1881 both were received with marked
cordially by old acquaintance and
friends. Mr.. Lincoln's career since
that time has brought out plainly his
leading traits of character, but there
are still comparatively few people who
know him well. He is better edu-
Gated than nine-tenths of the rlen in
public life. He has been great
reader-has been, in fact, a genuine
student of literature, and has fully
justified his fathers wish that the son
might be prepared to serve the nation
in any position he might be called upon
to fill. He is something of a musician,
and yet few people know it. He is
not only mere student of the printed
page, but is a student also in that
larger sense of knowing how to get at
the bottom of things he undertakes to
fathom. This has been made evident
to army officers and others who have
come into official contact with him.
Most men in public life now know
that Mr.. Lincoln's character is trans
parent and wholly without guile. A
great many have reason to know that
he is absolutely sincere, bold in pro-
noting what he conceives to be right,