The herald., 1895-04-14

privilege, ii,SiiiiiiTig III,
speculative holders of land to either use
their land or let go so that Others might
use it, IT would end the trusts and mo-
nopolies, and all the other outgrowths OF
the special privileges created by our vi
cious tariff tax. and by equalizing the OPP
portunites of all. would in fact as well as
IN theory permit all men to be equally en-
dowed with the inalienable rights of life,
liberty and the pursuit OF happiness
Ralph +. Hoyt entertained the audience
with "reminiscences of Abraham Lincoln,
IN which among other things. he said
The time is a long way off when the
American people Will cease to be in
terested in anything pertaining to the
life and character of Abraham Lincoln.
1t is with this fact in view that | now
present some "reminiscences of that Won
uerful man, who was the most unique
character in the history OF his country
and who, thirty years ago tomorrow, was
stricken down by an assassin. Itwas my
good fortune to be raised in a portion of
Illinois contiguous to Lincoln's old
stamping ground, and to have slight
personal acquaintance with him from the
time when he first became conspicuous as
a political speaker to t e day OF his UNI
timely death. | saw him at various
times and under variety of circum-
stances, both previous to his election to
the presidency and afterwards. Each
time | became. almost unconsciousk,
absorbed in the study of his character
lstics. The first time saw him l also
saw Stephen A. Douglas. and on that
occasion an incident occurred that for
chilly illustrated Lincoln's natural keen
ness.
. 1t was in the fall of 1854 or 1855. am
not positive as to the date. Some great
public exhibition was in progress at
Springfield, and the town contained
large percentage of visitors. Lincoln and
Douglas were there, and the respective
friends OF those popular men arranged to
have a speech from each of them. The
meetings were held in the daytime, so
that the visiting farmers might con-
veniently attend. The place selected was
Representative Hall, in the old State
House. 1t was before the anti slavery
element in the Wing and Democratic par
ties had crystallized into the Republican
party. Lincoln was still staunch Wing,
of the Henry Clay school, but the country
was greatly excited over the slavery ques
ton, in consequence of the repeal OF the
Missouri compromise by which it became
possible for slavery to be established in
the then territories of Kansas and Ne
braska, whenever they should adopt state
constitutions and be admitted into the
Union. Douglas was the champion of
the repeal, and on this he based his pet
theory of popular sovereignty. He was
ready and anxious to defend his theory
on the stump, whenever occasion offered.
and be did it with great earnestness and
consummace skill. But in the Wing party
of the NORTH there was n powerful anti
slavery element which. though not com
mitted to abolitionism viewed with
alarm the steady encroachments of the
slave power, and would under 10 condi-
ton acquiesce in the intioduct. on of the
in stitution of human slavery into terri
tory which was supposed to be forever
dedicated TO freedom. The men vino
com tossed this element had no intention OF
interfering with the institution where it
then existed but they wished to keep it
within those limits, and tHey hoped at
no distant day to see il placed where, as
Mr.. Lincoln alterward expressed it. "the
public mind would rest in the belief that
it was in the course of ultimate extinc-