Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1885-09-09
An Anecdote OF Lincoln.

In 1886 Lincoln was again candi-
date for the legislature, and in this can
vass he greatly distinguished himself.
On one occasion there was to be pub
lie discussion among the opposing can
didates, held at the courthouse at
Springfield, and Lincoln, among others,
was advertised to speak. This was his
first appearance ION the stump" at the
county seat. There lived at this time
in the most pretentious house in the
town a prominent citizen with the name
of George Forquer. He had been long
in public life, had been a leading wing,
the party to which Lincoln belonged,
but had lately gone over to the demo-
Gratis, and received from the democratic
administration an appointment to the
lucrative post of register of the land Of
flee at Springfield Upon his handsome
new house he had lately placed light
ning-rod the first one ever put up in
Sangamon county. AS Lincoln was
riding into town with his friends they
passed the fine house of Forquer, and
observed the novelty of the lightning
rod. discussing the manner in which it
protected the house from being struck
by lightning.
There were seven wing and seven
democratic candidates for the lower
branch of the legislature, and, after
several had spoken, it fell to Lincoln to
close the discussion. He did it with
great ability. Forquer. though not a
candidate, then asked to be heard for
the democrats in reply to Lincoln. He
was good speaker and we'll known
throughout the county. His special
task that day was to attack and ridiculc
the Young man from Salem. Turning
to Lincoln, who stood within few feet
of him, he said, This young man must
be taken down, and | am truly sorry
that the task devolves upon me-" He
then proceeded in very overbearing
way and with an assumption Of great
superiority to attack Lincoln and his
speech.
Lincoln, however, stood calm, but his
| flashing eye and pale check indicated
his indignation. AS soon as Forquer
had closed. he took the stand and first
answered his opponents arguments full
ly and triumphantly. SO impressive
were his words and manner that hear
er believes he can remember to this day,
and repeat some of the expressions.
Among other things he said: The gen
tleman commenced his speech by say
ing that this young man, abiding to
me, must be taken down. am not so
young in years as | am in the tricks and
trades of politician, but" said he,
pointing to Forquer, ''live long or die
Young, l would rather die now, than,
like the gentleman, change my politics,
and with the change receive an office
worth $4,000 a year. and them con-
tinued he, then feel obliged to erect a
lightning-rod over my house to protect
guilty conscience from an offended
Cod
1t is difficult to-day to appreciate the
effect on the old settlers of this figure.
This lightning-rod was the first which
most of those present had ever seen.
They had slept all their lives in their
cabins in conscious security. Here was
man who seemed to these simple
minded people to be afraid to sleep in
his own house, without special and ex-
traordinary protection from Almighty
God. These old settlers thought that
nothing but the consciousness of guilt,
the stings of guilty conscience, could
account for such timidity. Forquer and
his lightning-rod were talked over in
every settlement from Sangamon to
the Illinois and the Wabash. When
ever he arose to speak thereafter, they
said There is the man who dare not
sleep in his own house without light
ning-rod to keep off the vengeance OF
the Almighty. '-From Arnolds NeaC
"Litc of abraham Lincoln"