The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1895-07-05

M THO oibcunpiou PxOCoouou Dusiuo1u
being over for the day. strolled back.
and seating myself on keg listened
with eager interest to the battle going
on among these would be statesmen.
Stephen A. Douglas. / recollect, was
leading on the Democratic side. He had
already learned the art OF lodging in de-
bate, but still he was subtle. fiery and
impetuous He charged the Wings with
every blunder and political crime he
could imagine No vulnerable spot
seemed 10 have escaped him. At last,
with great vehemence, he sprang up
and abruptly made challenge to those
who differed with him 10 discuss the
whole matter publicly. remarking that
this store is no place to talk politics.
In answer to Douglas challenge the
contest was entered into. 1t took place
in the Presbyterian church. Douglas,
Calhoun, Lamborn and Thomas repre-
sented the Democrats, and Logan, Ba-
ker, Browning and Lincoln, in the or
der named, presented the Wing side of
the question. One evening was given to
each man, and it therefore required over
- NCCh w SOhiPACeO Viz WIZ
Lincoln occupied the last evening, and.
although the people by that time had
necessarily grown little tired of the
monotony and we'll worn repetition, yet
Lincoln's manner Of presenting his
thoughts and answering his Democratic
opponents excited renewed interest So
deep was the impression he created that
he was asked to furnish his speech to
the Sangamon Journal for publication,
and it afterward appeared in the col
umns of that organ.
No sooner had the legislature adjourn
ed than he decided-if he had not al
ready so determined-to run for the same
place again. He probably wanted it for
q vindication. He was pursued now
more fiercely than ever, and he was bet
ter able to endure the utilization of
political campaign than when he first
offered himself to the voters in New
Salem.
He Champions n Friend.
It was during this same canvass that
Linccln by his manly interference pro-
tected his friend L. d. Baker from the
anger VI III OiONu DohOA
was q brilliant and effective speaker and
quite as full, too, of courage as invec-
tive. He was addressing a crowd in the
courtroom, which was Immediately un
derneath Stuart q Lincoln Office. Just
above the platform on which the speaker
stood was a trapdoor in the floor, which
opened into Lincoln's office. Lincoln
4 Of hic habit
lying on the floor looking down through
the door at the speaker. / was in the
body Of the crowd Baker was hot head
ed and impulsive, but brave as lion.
Growing warm in his arraignment of
the Democratic party, he charged that
wherever there was land Office there
was Democratic newspaper to defend
its corruptions. - This angered the
brother of the editor of our town paper,
who was present, and who cried out,
Pull him DOWN. at the same time
advancing from the crowd as if to per-
form the task himself Baker, his face
pale with excitement, squared himself
for resistance. A shuffling Of feet, for
ward movement of the crowd, and great
lOllOMtu. OuSb tDtH
pair of legs were seen dangling from
the aperture above, and instantly the
figure of Lincoln dropped OH the plat
form. Motioning with his hands for ST.
lence and not succeeding, he seized a
stone water pitcher standing near by,
threatening TO break it over the head Of
the first man who laid hands on Baker.
Ill he chAntal
This is the land of free speech Mr..
Baker has right to speak and ought to
be heard. / am here to protect him, and
no man shall take him from this stand
if / can prevent it" His interference
had the desired effect. Quiet was soon
restored, and the valiant Baker was al
lowed to proceed.
The Long Nine"
The canvass of 1910 was Mr.. Lin
coins last campaign for the legislature.
Feeling that he had had enough honor
out of the Office, he probably aspired for
place of more distinction. Jesse b.
| Thomas, one of the men who had repre-
sented the Democratic side in the great
debate in the Presbyterian church, in a
I spctCn tbO ehio
campaign, INDUCED in some fun at the
expense Of the Long Nine, reflect
ing somewhat more Oh Lincoln than the
rest. The latter was not present, but
being appraised by his friends of what
had been said FASTENED to the meeting
and soon after Thomas closed stepped
upon the platform and responded. The
substance of his speech on this occasion
1 was not so memorable as tie manner
/ of its delivery.
He felt the sting of Thomas allu-
sions. and for the first time, Oh the
stump or in public, resorted to mimicry
for effect. In this, rs will be seen later
along, he was without a rival. He i'm
itated Thomas in gesture and voice, at
times caricaturing his walk and the
very motion of his body. Thomas, like
everybody else, had some peculiarities
of expression and gesture, and these
Lincoln succeeded in rendering more
prominent than ever. The crowd yelled
and cheered as he continued Encour-
aged by these demonstrations, the lu-
dicrous features of the speakers per-
Torrance gave way to intense and scath-