The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-16
LINCOLN AS A POLITICIAN.
Skillful Treatment of Campaign Lie When
lie Was Legislative Candidate.


In the summer of 1882 a young man on his
way from Kentucky to the Northwest stopped
off a day at Springfield, ILL.,, and visited. among
other things, the Lincoln monument The latter
structure is in charge of John G. Powers, who
offciates as custodian, and exhibits to visitors
the relics and mementoes of Lincoln that have
been gathered and treasured up in a memoria
room in the base Of the monument The youngi
man gave to the gentleman i'll charge letter
which he said he had found among his fathers
papers after the latter's death, and, inasmuch
as it was written by Lincoln he thought he
would present it to the Monument Association,
who had possession of all 9th er memen toes per-
tanning to the great Emancipation. In 1886
Lincoln and Ninian W. Edwards, lawyer in
Springfield, were candidates on the same ticket
for the egslature-Sangamon county being
then entitled to more than one representative
The letter given below refers to that canvass
and is frank and fearless challenge on the part
of Lincoln to Col Robert Allen and others of
the opposition who, by innuendo, sought to
reflect on his integ of character 1t is
written in clear legible hand, and is as fol-
lows
NEW SALEM, June 81, 1886.
''Dear Colonel--I am told that during my alb
sence, last week, you passed through this place.
and stated publicly that you were in possession
of fact or facts which, if known to the public,
would entirely destroy the prospects of n. W.
Edwards and myself at the ensuing election
but that through favor to us, you would forbear
to dlvulge them. No one has needed favors more
than l. and generally few have been less unwill-
ing to accept them, but in this case favor to me
would be in Justice to the public, and therefore
must beg your pardon for declining it, That
once had the confidence Of the people of Sanga-
mon is sufficiently evident and if / have since
done anything, either by design or misaGventure,
which, if known, would subject me to a forfeiture
of that confidence he that knows of that thing
and conceals it is traitor to his countrys inter
est. find myself wholly unable to form any
conjecture of what fact or facts, real or supposed
you spoke; but my opinion of your veracity will
not permit me for moment to doubt that you
at least believed what you said. | am f1attered
with the personal regard you manifested for me-
but co hope that on mature reflection you Will
view the pubc@ interest as paramount consd-
eration and therefore determine to let the worst
come. here assure You that the candid state
ment of facts on your part, however low it might
sink me. shall never break the tie Of personal
friendship between us l wish answer to
this, and you are at liberty to publish both, if
you choose.
Very respectfully. A. LINCOLN.
"Col. Robert Allen"
Alas for Col Robert Allen! He never an
his friend Colonel Allen. in his ardor for Demo
cratic success, had invented campaign false
hood, and he proposed to push him to the wall
Conscious of his own innocence, he found in
the letter means to show the mettle he was
made of. Without further comment it may be
said that this document is one of the most skill
fully drawn political letters the student of his
tory is likely to meet Lincoln pretends for
Allen the best of friendship however low the
charge Allen suppresses may sink him. IN the
estimation of men, and if the latter cannot boil
Ster up his lnnuendo, he IS left standing "a trait
or to his country's interest, or self confessed
caluminator Allen, as | said before, never
swered the letter, and the strangest thing Of all
is that his own son should now give this letter.
which leaves his father dangling in such ri
dculous plight, to be published to the world. 1t
should be borne in mind that Lincoln was at
the date of the letter only twenty-seven years
DID, but he was learning the art of politics
unless you call politics science-very early and
rapidly. He displayed the same foreseeng judg-
ment In this as he did later in life when he
accepted the nomination for senator against
Douglas. and thereby deliberately drove the
nail in Stewards political coffin. His manly re-
spouse to Aliens attack made him friends
all over Sangamon county, and he and
his colleague, Edwards. were triumphantly
elected. The latter afterwards became Attorney
general of the State, and is still living, very
old and decreplt man, in Springfield He and
Lincoln afterwards became brothers in law both
marring into the Todd family. At the session
Of the Legislature to which both were elected
the delegation from Sangamon county numbered
nine-seven in the House and two in the Senate.
Each one was over six feet in height, and they
were known as the Long Nine In the aggre
gate they measured over fifty-four feet. AT this
time Lincoln first met Douglas; also Logan,
McClernand. Hardin and other men who after
wards became prominent in the history of the
State. Too poor to OWE a horse of his own, or
even to hire another, he made the long journey
from his home in New Salem to Ianoana wn.1..
was then the capital, on foot. Among the few
measures he introduced was one looking to the
abolition of slavery, which many of his Wing
colleagues earnestly Endorsed. He also, in imi
tatlon of his great model and cheftain. Henry
Clay, favored liberal appropriations for the great
internal improvement system, and manifested a
broad and liberal comprehension of the needs of
the times. Though tail and honely. and un-
prepossessing in appearance, he was fast making
strides forward, but the men who listened to his
chimney corner yarns little imagined that he
would ever be known outide the confines of the
State. JESSE W. WEEK
GREENCAsTLE, Ind, Aug II.