The herald., 1895-04-14

ton. Ii trent c: very
Wings stood Abraham Lincoln. and he
had reasons for anti-s.avery principles
which he was neither ashamed Lor afraid
! to promulgate. On the occasion referred
to Mr.. Douglas addressed an immense
coin being in the audience. listening
carefully and taking notes" Douglas
spoke eloquently and fervently laying IA
foundation of error and building thereon
a superstructurc of sophistry well cacu-
lated TO deceive superficial minds. He was
listened to respectfully byWhigs and wildly
applauded by Democrats. In the course OF
his speech he asserted that the Wings
were all dead In the afternoon Lincoln
replied TO the Little Slant. The audience
completely filled the room, there being
quite sprinkling of Democrats present.
For sometime before beginning to speak
Lincoln sat on the platform with only his
homely face visible to the audience above
the high desk before him. On being in
troduced he arose from his chair and pro-
ceeded to straighten himselfup. For few
seconds | wondered when and where his
head would cease its ascent; but at last it
did, and Honest Old Abe stood before us.
After the applause with which he was
greeted had measrrably subsidized the
speaker said:
Fellow citizens My friend, Mr.
Douglas, made the startling announce
ment today that the Wings were all dead.
If this be So, fellow citizens. you will
now experience the novelty of hearing a
speech from a dead man, and | suppose
you might say, in the language of the old
hymn:
Hark, from the tomb, doleiul sound
''This unexpected sally set the audience
brought them into full sympathy with the
speaker. AS soon as the prolonged
laughter and cheers would permit him
again to be heard, Lincoln proceeded 30
discuss the merits of the speech made by
the eloquent champion of popular sover.
eighty He Analysed tn, arguments and
tore open the sophistries of his opponent
in mastery manner, showing by incon-
trovertible facts how dangerous to human
liberty were the teGc lings Of Douglas and
his coadjutors. For incisive logic, solid
facts, sparkling wit and thrilling elo-
quence, Lincoln's speech greatly eycelled
anything [ had ever heard from the
stump 1t stamped him as statesman
of commanding ability, and more than
one who listened to it was afterward
heard to say: old Abe will be President
of the United States. Although it is not
supposable that Lincoln himself at that
time had any such expectation.
During the memorable campaign of
1856. when the first Republican candi-
date for president, John c. Fremont, was
running against Buchanan, Lincoln
went into Pike County and made one
speech to an outdoor massmeetng at
the county seat Pittslield. The people
turne out from far and near and the au-
dience was computed by acres rather than
by individuals. He spoke for more than
two hours interspersing historical facts
aud clear logic with appropriate anec-
dotes. told in his quaint style that often
toe vast audience wit. laugh
ter. The closing portion of his speech
was full of pathos and patriotic senti-
ment, stirring the hearts Of his hearers to
such degree that many persons could
not refrain from shedding tears. 4 glec
club then sang Dixie. 1t was the first
time Lincoln had heard it, and lie de-
clared it was the best tune he had ever
listened to.