Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-04-15
A RECEPTION TO LINCOLN.
Dan Dougherty Had to MAIZE Speech
Short NoficA

Dan Dougherty Had to MAKE Speech ON
Short Notice
By reason OF being MS birthplace, Philadel-
phia claims Dan Dougherty. This claim,
however, is disputed by New York, which is
now his home, and both cities, with equal
cause, are proud of him. As an orator, Mr.
Dougherty's reputation is national, and many
stories are told of the readiness of his elo-
quence Perhaps the most striking instance
of this faculty was afforded at the time of
President Lincoln's visit to the great fair of
the sanitary commission in Philadelphia in
1894, as the guest of the Union league.
Morton McMichael, whose fame as a fluent
speaker still lives wherever he was heard !;
Charles Gibbons and several other leading
members of the league, were upon the COM
mittee of reception. and Mr.. McMichael had
prepared a brilliant address of welcome. By
some mischance President Lincoln arrived
ahead of time, and quietly proceeded to a
hotel after his usual unobtrusve fashion
He was Immediately pounced upon by a
Mr., Webster, "a genial, jolly imam about
town" who knew everybody, and was occa-
sionally over ofiicious. Taking it for granted
that it was all right, Mr. Lincoln stepped into
the carriage which Mr.. Webster had in wait
ing and was driven to the fair When the
committee of reception called at the hotel to
wait upon him, he was gone, as the clerk
said, with "a committee from the Union
league"
impossible" said Mr. McMichael Eve
are the committee"
To follow in hot chase was all they could
do, but MIR. Webster was on the watch. and
as the well known group entered the fair
room by one door, he took the president out
OF another, and drove straight to the Union
league, whore the members, minus the com
mittee, were assembled to do honor to the
president.
Tue committee, boiling over with wrath,
gave chase; vainly, for by this time the
streets were packed with dense crowd,
anxious for a sight of Mr. Lincoln 1t was
impossible to drive a carriage through the
crowd, and at Twelfth and Chestnut streets
they were obliged to get out and fight their
way on foot, inch by inch. Meantime, at the
Union league everything was upset for lack
of MIR. McMichael and the eloquent address
too safely slowed away in his pocket
MIR. Dougherty was one of the members
anxiousiy watching for the committee which
did not come. At last, growing desperate
some one called him aside and said: DAN
this won't do. McMichael isn't here, and
SohicpoAg uiuSI say eOuSJuln9. on re the
only fellow who'can do it, and you must"
In vain Mr.. Dougherty protested he was
totally unprepared," etc, etc, and begged
to be excused Mr.. McMichael was ex-
pected to speak, and they ought to wait for
him" He was pushed to the front and intro
duced with:
Mr.. President, you will be addressed on
behalf the Union league of Philadelphia, by
MIR Daniel Dnuuhartv
MIR. Dougherty was absolutely trembling
with stage fright, and his pallor was sight
to behold, but he made the speech, and Presi-
dent Lincoln said afterward that he had sci
dom listened To such a torrent of oratory.
II have never overcome a dread of rising
to address an audience, however small, (" said
Mr. Dougherty, few days ago. ''Even
when rise before jury, | would feel CRATE
ful II the floor would open and swallow me
| want TO get away. My lips are dry, my
hands tremble and feel myself turn pale
After i get started lose myself In my sub
ject. This feeling gradually wears away,
and ! soon forget these disagreeable symp
toms in my absorption in the work before
me. New York Star.