Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-06-11
IN KANSAS IN 1859.
Extracts From Ex-senator ingalls, Essay |
in the New York Sun.

LINCOLN IN KANSAS in 1905
Extracts From Ex-senator ingalls, Essay
in the New York Sun.
The republicans of Kansas territory
had called a convention to assemble at
Osawatomie on the 18th of May, to eff
feet formal organization of the party,
and Mr.. Lincoln was invited to be pres
ent. He accepted conditionally, but
the condition developed SO rapidly in
Illinois that he was unable to attend.
On the 10th of that month the repub-
Ecans of that state met at Decatur, and
he was announced with great enthu-
siasm as the '.rail-splitter candidate"
for the presidency in 1860.
The Wyandotte, Kan, constitution
was framed in July, adopted in October
by popular vote, and an election for
state officers was held in December,
1889. The canvass was animated,
though the result was a foregone con-
clusion. and again Mr.. Lincoln was
urged by some of his Illinois friends
and acquaintance who had settled in
the territory to address the republicans
upon national politics. This was the
pretext, but in fact his appearance was
intended as demonstration to enable
him to compete with Seward for the
delegation from Kansas in the presi-
dental nominating convention.
He accepted the invitation and the St
Joseph Gazette of November so, 1859,
noticed his arrival in that city on the
previous day, en- route to the territory
ito make republican speeches" His
first appearance was at the now extinct
city of Ellwood, directly opposite St
Joseph, on the Missouri river. The
Free Press of that city, December 8,
1859, says that a large number of citi-
zens gathered at the Great Western ho-
toll to hear Mr.. Lincoln on the evening
of December /. He was received with
enthusiasm. He stated the reasons
why he could not make speech and
could only say a few words to those
who had come out to meet him the first
time he had placed his foot on Kansas
soil.
In conclusion Mr.. Lincoln adverted
briefly to the Harper's Ferry incident
He believed the attack of Brown
wrong, for two reasons First, it was
a violation OF law, and second, it was,
as all such attacks must be, futile as
far as any effect it might have on the
great evil. We have a means provided
for the expression of our beliefs in re-
gard to slavery. 1t is through the bal
lot box, the peaceful method provided
by the constitution John Brown has
shown great courage and rare unselfish-
ness, as Gov. Wise testifes, but no
man north or south, can approve of VIZ
olence or crime. Mr.. Lincoln closed his
speech by urging all to vote as became
the free men of Kansas.
Leaving El1wood, Mr.. Lincoln droye
to Troy. where he delivered a brief
speech in the afternoon, to which Col
A. G. Eye replied He continued his
journey to Doniphan, where he passed
the night, making a short address in
the dining room of the hotel to a small
audience. There he was met by A ID.
Richardson, by whom the next morn
ing, December 2, he was con-
Quoted to Atchison. He was enter
tanned at the MaSSasoit house, and in
the evening delivered an address at the
Methodist church, which was described
by General Stringfellow as the most
logical and vigorous he had ever heard
from republican orator. 1t was the
evening of the day that John Brown
was executed at Charleston The tele-
graphic announcement of the execution
had been received in the afternoon.
One of the most dramatic incidents of
the speech of Mr.. Lincoln, who pur-
sued substantially the same line of ar
gument developed at Cooper Institute
in the following February, was an allu-
sion to the Harpers Ferry incident
Referring to the threats of disunion by
southern leaders in case of the election
of a republican president, he said this
would be treason-''and if you are
guilty of treason we will hang you. as
you have hanged old John Bro wn this
afternoon"
From Atch;son he drove to Leaven-
worth, and the Times of December s.
announced his expected arrival, called
upon its readers to give the gallant
champion of freedom a reception fitting
his great talents, his stirring eloquence,
his devotion to the cause of liberty
He was met by a procession upon the
Fort Leavenworth military reservation
and escorted to his hotel, where he was
received vita a speech of welcome from
Cox Vaughan, to which he responded
briefly, giving a hasty but graphic
sketch of the republican party, the
trials of free state men in making Kan
sas the home of liberty, and said that
we were about to enter upon a final
battle for free institutions His speech
at Stockton hall in the evening was
upon popular sovereignty and the in
consistency of democracy.
In an editorial. the Times says that
its report was the merest outline of a
speech which must be regarded as one
of the authors ablest and best efforts.
He made no display, and no attempt at
oratory, but gave home-bred truth in a
home-bred style that charmed the
hearts of his hearers His noble senti-
ments carried conviction and aroused
enthusiasm, and he was greeted at its
close with cordial cheers
The next day he departed for his
home in Springfield Three months
later he delivered his historic Grafton in
New York In less than a year he had
been elected president Emerging from
the profoundest obscurity. he became
the most central figure of the most stu
pendous tragedy of time. and passing
through the gate Of martyrdom took
his place unchallenged among the lead
ers Of mankind whose fame will remain
SO long as the race shall endure.
This episode has escaped the atten-