Mower County transcript., 1895-07-24

tion for him he replies: "You say you
shall instruct your delegates for me IN. :,
less object. I certainly shall not OBJ.
jeot That would be too pleasant'a COM
pliment for me to tread in tho dust
And besides, if anything should happen
(Which, however ia not probable) by
which Baker should be thrown out of
the fight, I would be at liberty to ao-
cept the nomination if could get it. I
do. however, feel myself bound not to
hinder him in any way from getting the
nomination. I should despise myself
were to attempt it. -
Bakers friends had used as an argu.
ment against Lincoln that he belonged
to a proud and aristocratio Hamily, re-
ferring doubtless to some Of the distin-
guished relatives who were connected
with him by marriage. The story reach
ing Linooln's ears, he laughed heartily
over it one day in a Springfield store
and remarked:
''That sounds strange to me, for do
not remember of but one who ever came
to see me, and while he was in town he
was accused Of stealing jewsharp."
In the convention which was held
shortly after at the town Of Pekin
neither Baker nor Lincoln obtained the
coveted honor, but John ]. Hardin of
Morgan, destined to lose his life at the
head Of all Illinois regiment in the Mex
lean war, was nominated and in the fol-
lowing August. elected by good major
ity. Lincoln bore his defeat manfully.
He was no doubt greatly disappoint-
ed, but by no means soured. He con-
oeived the strange notion that the pub
licity given his so called "aristocratic
family distinction would cost him the
friendship of his humber constituents
his Clary's grove friends.s He took his
friend James Matheney out into the
woods with him one day, and calling up
the bitter features Of the canvass pro-
tested "vehemently and with great en-
phasis" that he was anything but aris-
tooratic and proud. why, Jim," he
said, II am now and always shall be the
same Abe Lincoln was when you first
saw me-
A Tempting Prize.
No sooner had Baker been elected to
congress in August, 1874, than Lincoln
began to manifest a longing for the
tempting prize to be contended for III
1S46. Hardin and Baker both having
been required to content themselves with
q single term each, the struggle among
Whig aspirants narrowed down to Logan
and Lincoln. The latter's claim seemed
to find such favorable lodgment with
the party workers, and his popularity
seemed so apparent, that Logan soon
realized his own want of strength and
abandoned the field to his late law part
ner.
The convention which nominated Lin
coin met at Petersburg May l, 1846.
Hardin, who, in violation of what was
then regarded Us precedent, had been
seeking the nomination, had courteous
ly withdrawn. Logan, ambitious to Sc
cure the honor next time for himself,
with apparent generosity presented Lin
coins name to the convention, and,
there being no other candidate, he was
chosen unanimously. The reader need
not be told who the Democrats placed
in the field against him. It was Peter
Cartwright, the famous Methodist di-
vine and circuit rider. An energetic call
vass of three months followed, during
which Lincoln kept his forces we'll in
hand. He was active and alert, speak
ing everywhere and abandoning his
eharo Of business in the law Office entire
~. Cartwright had extensive family
connections all over the district, was al
most 20 years older than Lincoln and in
every respect dangerous antagonist
Another thing which operated much to
L:nco1n's disadvantage was the report
. circulated by Cartwright's friends with
| respect to Lincoln S religious views. He
| was charged with the grave offense OF
: infidelity, and sentiments which he was
| reported to have expressed with refer
cnce to the inspiration Of the Bible were
! given the campaign varniSh and passed
trorA hand to hand. His sighting allu-
sion expressed in the address at tho Pres
! by terian church before the Washington
Temperance society Feb. ?, four years
before, to the insincerity Of the Chris
tian people was not forgotten. 1t, too,
played its part, but all these opposing
circumstances wero of no avail. Our Ia.
borious efforts met with suitable ro.
ward. Lincoln was elected by major.
ity of l,5ll in tho district, n larger vote
than Clay's two years before, which was
only Ola.
On tho 9Th of December, the day be.
fore tho house organized, Lincoln wrote
me letter about our fec in a lawsui,
and reported the result OF the Whig eau
Gus the night before. On the 18th he
wrote again, Dear William-Your let
ter, advising me of the1eceipt Of GU,
fee III the bank case, is just received,
and ! don't expect to hear another q.
good 4 piece Of news from Springfield
while lam away" He then directed/lne
from tho proceeds of this fee to pay a
Gebt at the bank, and out Of the balance
left to settle sundry dry goods and gro
Gerry bills. The modest tone of the l;ls1
paragraph is it's most striking feature.
"As you are all so anxious for me tt
distinguish myself" he said, IT have