Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1885-04-09
An Anecdote Of Lincoln,

In $50 Lintoln was again canlilatc for
the legislature. and in th, canvass hr greatly
distinguished himself. on occasion thcr,
Ma To be public discussion among the oppo-
ste candidates held 1T the couri-hou-e at
Springfield. and Lincoln, among othrr-. wa-
advertised 10 speak lhi> was his first APPEAR
anre "on the stump At the county >ea'.
There we'd al this time in the most prrtrutiou-
house in the town prominent citizen with the
nsme O George Forquer. IT, hal been long
in public lf,, had been a le4dn. Wink. The
party - which Lincoln belonged. but had late
Is gone over to the Democrats. and received
from the Democratic administration an ap-
poinfmcnt to the lucrative post Of register ~
the land Office at Springfield. Upon hi> hand
some new house he hati lately placed light
uing-ro,l, the first one eyer ppt in sangamon
County. A, Lincoln was riding into town
with hi, friend. they passed the fine house Of
Forquer. and observed tha novelty Of the
l-htning-rod, discussing the manner in which
it protected the house from beins struck by
lightning.
There were seven WniS and seven Demo-
cratic candidates for the lower branch OF the
legislature and, after several had spoken ii
fell 10 Lincoln TO close the discussion. He did
it with great ability. Forquer, though not
canjidate. then asked to be heard tor the Dem
ocrats in reply to Lincoln. He was good
speaker and we'll known throughout the com
ty. Hi- special task that day was TO attack
Turning to Lincoln, who stood within few
l..
he taken down. and am truly sorry that the
task devolyes upon me-" He then proceeded
in very oyerbearing way and with AN
sumption of great superiority TO attack Lincoln
aud his speech.
Lincoln, however. stood calm, but hi, fash
ing eye and pale cheek indicated hi indigna-
ton. As soon Forquer had closed. he took
the stand and first answered his opponents
arguments fully and triumphantly. So impress
siye were his words and manner that hearer
believes he can remember TO this day, and re-
peat some of the expressions. Among other
things he said: ''The gentleman commenced
his speech by saving that this young man, al-
luding to me, must be taken down. am not
30 young in years | am in the tricks and
trades OF politician. but said he pointing
to Forquer, ''live long or die Young. | would
rather die now, than, like the gentleman,
change my politics, and with the change re-
ceiye an Office worth 80 900 year. and then,''
continued he, ''then feel Obliged 10 erect a
lightning-rod over my house to protect guilty
conscience from an offended God"
1t is difficult to-day to appreciate the effect
on the old settlers of this figure. This light
ming rod was the first which most of those
present had ever seen. They had slept all
their lives in their cabins i'm conscious security
Here was man who seemed to these simple
minded people to be afraid TO sleep in his own
house without special and extraordinary pro-
lection from Almighty God. These OLD set
tiers thought that nothing but the consciousness
of guilt, the sting of guilty conscience, could
account for such timidity. For9uer and his
lightnng-rod were talked over ia every settle
ment from Sangamon TO the Illinois and the
Wabash. Whenever he arose to speak there
after, they said: s'There is the man who dare
not sleep in his own house without lightning
rod to keep off the vengeance Of the Almgh-
ty.'-From Araoids yeg '.Ltfe Of abraham
LiacOin.'