Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1894-12-21
LINCOLN AND DOUGLAS COMPARED.
-s>ts-7-
An Analysis of the Two Men by Horace
White, Who Knew Them Both.
"Did you compare the two men? p"
{ TO BE CONTINUED. }

"Dld you compare the two men?"
Indeed | did. All my sympathies
were enlisted with Lincoln. This fact
predisposed me TO nnderrate Douglas
powers. Looking backward, | now
think that Douglas intellectual gifts at
least equaled Lincofn's, while his per-
sonal magnetism and his power to COM
mand men were far greater. On the
Other hand, Lincoln's moral superiority
was such as to dwarf Douglas. Lincoln
never could deceive anyone in debate,
nor would he allow anyone to be de-
ceived if he could help it. Douglas was
a master of trickery. and dealt it out
everywhere at all times"
Didn't he know how to be honest?'
"rhe fact is that Douglas was riding
two horses at once-North and South.
Deception was inevitable"
Did he fool HIMSELF"
40. The time came when Douglas
showed all his power without resorting
TO subterfuge. That was in the spring
OF 1861, when secession became an ac-
cOmplished fact. Then Douglas re-
turned to Illinois like a thunderbolt.
He was the only man who could insure
the support of the Democrats of the
West to Lincoln and the cause of the
Union. | do not mean to say that
Democrats would not have otherwise
supported the Union, but | do mean that
1t was IA time of wavering and doubt and
that the trumpet s)ngue of Douglas was
the deciding factor which made the
Northwest solid for the Union. For this
reason | would now as gladly decorate
his grave as that of any soldier sleeping
at Arlington"
Where do you place Lincoln among
great Americans?'
Next to Washington. Our first
President was the greater man because
he commanded armies in the field as
well as laid the foundations of the re-
public. Lincoln had very great trials
and he bore them with patience and
fortitude beyond all praise. yet think
that WashingtOn's trials were greater
and more varied as well as of longer
duration. He was the indispensable
man of his time. Without him the
American cause would have persisted
fifty times over; but it is useless 10 set
these two great men over against each
other. We owe to both of them more
than we can ever repay in our reverence
and homage"
Did you think Lincoln ugly physical
ly?o
"In room he was awkward. When
speaking his homely features became
animated and actually handsome. His
action was angular but not ungraceSul.
Thought positively transformed him."
What quality of voice had LincolnP"
"A thin, piping treble voice that was
heard at long distance, much further
than Douglas deep, oratorical voice"
WAS Lincoln companionable?"
More so than any man | ever knew.
Full of anccdote, full of the milk of
human kindness, there was no end TO
his capacity of entertaining company.
His goodfelIowship amounted to
genius"
How would you sum up Lincoln, Mr..
WhiteP"
"Now ! must absolutely refuse to
answer that last question. | must
draw the line somewhere and here il
shall be. Do You know that never al
low myself to be interviewed? Do you
know that I've done what | vowed I'd
never do for anybodyP Do you want a
complete history of the late war at one
sittingP"
Certainly, if I can get it. People
live on Liebig's extracts of everything
nowadays. and | don't strike a lead
like you every day, Mr. Editor. How
ever, I'll be merciful and hold my other
queries in reserve for the next time. -
kdte FiciTS Washington.