Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-02-27
A RECEPTION TO LINCOLN.
Dan Dougherty Had to Make a Speech on
Short Notice

Don DoubhcttS 10 UthS" u SDecch on
Short Notice
Bv reason of being nfs birthplace, Philsdel.
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, ard mary
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
1864, as the guest of the Union league
Morton McMichael, whose fame as 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 MIR. McMichasl had
prepared brilliant address OF welcome By
some mischance President Lincoln arrived
ahead of time, and quietly proceeded to a
hotel after his usual unobtrusive fashion.
He was Immediately pounced upon by
MIR. Webster, a genial jolly "man about
town" who knew everybody, and was occa-
sionally over officious Taking 1t for grauted
that it was all right, Mr.. Lincoln stepped into
the carriage which Mr. Webster had in walt
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. Mcsfichael I'VE
are the committee
10 follow In hot chase was all they could
do' out Mr. Webster was on the watch, and
as the we'll known group entered the fair
room by one door, hs took the president out
OF another, and drove straight to the Union
~ tns.,
mittee. were assembled to do honor to the
president
The committee, boiling over with wrath,
gave chase; vainly, for by this time the
streets were packed with dense crowd,
anxious for sight of Mr.. Lincoln. 1t was
impossible to drive 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
Mr. Dougherty wus one of the members
anxiously 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
somebody must say something. You're the
only fellow who can do it. and you must"
In vain Mr. Doughsrty 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 win be addressed on
behalf the Union league of Philadelphia, by
Mr, Daniel Dougherty."
Mr.. Dougherty was absolutely trembling
with stage fright, and his pallor was sight
to behold, but Ne made the speech, and Presi-
dent Lincoln said afterward that he had sell
dom listened to such torrent Of oratory.
II have never overcome dread Of rising
to address an audience, however small" said
Mr.. Dougherty, few days ago. Even
when rise before jury, would feel CRATE
full if the floor would open and swallow me
| want TO get away. My lips are dry, my
hands tremble and / feel myself turn pale
After get started lose myself in my sub
ject This feeling gradually wears away,
and l soon forget these disagreeabls syrnp-
toms in my absorption in the work before
me. New York Star