The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1885-05-14
LINCOLN AS AN ORATOR. !,
His Far Reaching Fame as a Speaker
Some Anecdotes.

Some Anecdotes.
Courage, genius, and original
thought, expressed in terse form with
intense earnestness, enforced with
plain. rugged gestures and never Lack
ing in apt words, were the chief points
of interest in Mr.. Lincoln as an orator
and advocate.
Even to contend with the brilliant
and eloquent "Little Giant" in the
Douglas campaign of 81 was evidence
of supreme courage in his native State,
but to contend for seat in the Senate
and almost win it over such a master
of language was proof OF genius in
high degree.
That he was original no one ever
claimed 10 denv. His whole record
proves it. His Gettysburg speech, that
! Horace Greeley called one of the three
master speeches by the foremost Amer
! leans since the settlement of this coun-
! try, is proof conclusive In that ia
nous speech only ninety separate
words were used, yet volume of mean
ing was conveyed to the hearers and
readers.
But there were other points of inter-
est in his oratory that only his nearest
neighbors best knew. He was known
and believed by the whole city of
! Springfield to be honest. so honest, in
! fact. that no retainer would be large
enough to command his services ON the
wrong side of litigation. This gave
him great power with jury or an au-
dience. His words had manhood be-
hind them.
How long it took him to acquire this
sterling reputation and character no
one remembers. 1t seemed a part of
his very being. He was wise in choos-
ing the right side of questions and COM
sistent in adhering to his convictions.
No matter whether the client was a car
driver, princely merchant, or a prai-
rie farmer, the right side was his gov
I erning fee, and settlement generally
came at the end of the lawsuit.
His fame (as a speaker) was far
reaching. Let it be known that '.Abe'
Lincoln would address a public meet
ing and the audience could be measur-
ed in advance by the capacity of the
building. Let it be known that he
would address jury and the court
room was sure to be crowded. He was
quaint, deep, graphic, sincere. Such
is the verdict of his friends and neigh
bors who knew him most intimately be-
| fore he became President
81 heard him at his best" said Judge
| Gould, of Kansas, "when few men
could speak as he felt without falter-
ing" 1t was an evening meeting on
the public street north of the Planters
| House. in Leavenworth. The crowd
was large and noisy. 1t was directly
on the heels of terrible raid in Mis-
souri,. The long. feurhorse omnibus
came over the big Muddy" on a fat
boat from the Missouri side, and was
driven rapidly to the hotel, where, al
ter few moments of rest, the bonfires
were lighted and thousands congregat-
ed. 1t was a crowd of desperate,
armed and disguised men, mingled
with many courageous citizens and
very ready listeners. Only a few days
previous the cornfelds of Kansas were
the skulking places of Prices raiders.
and many of his followers were believ-
ed to be in the audience. Revolyers,
bowie-knives, cloth faces, SLOUGH hats,
and cavalry outtit set the men off to ad-
vantage as they formed around the
speaker stand (on horse back forty
OF fifty deep. on the uphill side of the
Planters House platform.
| AC p1Au pay Gu, du4 l6ll 1uan
came out, with soft felt hat, dressed
in plain black, erect and animated, who
was instantly recognized as ''old Abe, :"
and hearty cheers. with a few groans,
greeted the speaker. The spectacle
was inspiring to few, and momentous
to many. 1t might mean fight or it
might mean renewed courage. 1t GER
tainly meant that a man stood on the
| L., L. II
gan by reminding his hearers of that
brayest of bravery, that kind of fair
play and chance for a fair hearing
that Western men had never denied
and always respected. He referred to
that (Southern) hatred of cowardice
that strikes one when unarmed or I'M
der his adversary, and that chivalry
known even among the rude mountains
of his early home in kentucky-where
he hoped many of his hearers had
hunted in the days of their boyhood-
that home of brave men and fair wo-
men-the home of fair play and gener-
ous manhood. Over to the Western
border had come the sons of Kentucky s
best blood and most daring young men
in search OF homes-and SO he went on,
earnestly, graphically, eloquently, gain
ing ms hearers sympathy, goodwin,
and applause until men swung theiE
broad hats in the air, crowded up neaE
the platform, or broke out in strong
sentences. like Hes rightm We've
been thar" Tell us some more OF
old Kaintuckr' What about Brown
who wants to free the blacks?" I'D
Fight for that man, go onr' ''Give
us more"' and the like. till Lincoln had
no more fear, or reason to fear, than
any of the armed party before him.
His speech was an Inspiration in Leav-
enworth. 1t braced up the settlers.
quieted the raiders, encouraged free
thought, and endeared him to the peo-
pie, as his speeches did to all audiences.
1t proved that he was a master of men
and a master of oratory, the art that
comes by surprise, captures the will
and conVinces the judgment. Americs
has had but one Lincoln. W. DOnG-
ran, ia The Clrrent.