The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1895-06-21
REs1DENcE Ar spR1NGFIELp.

esty he doubted whether he could get
the nomination even if he wished it and
asked until the next morning to answer
us whether his name might be announc-
ed. Late the next day he authorized us,
if we thought proper to do SO, to place
him in the field " Tothe question from
Mr. Grimshaw whether, if the nomina-
ton for president could not be obtained,
he would accept the post of vice presi-
dent he answered that he would not;
that his name having been used for the
Office of president he would not permit
it to be used for any other office, how
ever honorable it might be. This meet
ing was preliminary to the Decatur con-
vention and was also the first concerted
action in lis behalf on the part of his
friends.
A Great Speech.
In the preceding October he came
rushing into the Office one morning with
the letter from New York city inviting
him to deliver lecture there and asked
my advice and that of other friends as
to the subject and character of his ad-
dress. We all recommended speech on
the political situation. Remembering
his poor success as lecturer himself,
he adopted our suggestions He accept
ed the invitation of the New York COM
mittee, at the same time notifying them
that his speech would deal entirely with
political questions, and fixing a day
late in February as the most convenient
time. Meanwhile he spent the interven-
ing time in careful preparation. He
searched through the dusty volumes of
congressional proceedings in the state
library and dug deeply into political
history. He was painstaking and thor
ough in the study of his subject, but
when at last he left for New York we
had many misgivings-and he not a few
himself-of his success in the great me-
tropolis. What effect the unpretentious
western lawyer would have on the
wealthy and fashionable society of the
great city could only be conjectured.
A description of the meeting at Cooper
institute, list of the names of the
prominent men and women present or
an account of Lincoln in the delivery of
the address would be needless repetition
of we'll known history. 1t only remains
to say that his speech was devoid of all
rhetorical imagery, with marked sup
preston of the pyrotechnios of stump
oratory. 1t was constructed with view
to accuracy of statement, simplicity of
language and unity of thought. In some
respects like lawyers brief, it was
logical, temperate in tone, powerful, If
resistibly driving conviction home to
mems reasons and their souls. No for
mer effort in the line of speechmaking
had cost Lincoln SO much time and
thought as this one.
The day following the Cooper insti-
tute meeting the leading New York dali
lies published the speech in full and
made favorable editorial mention of it
and of the speaker as well. 1t was plain
now that Lincoln had captured the me-
tropolis From New York he travelled
to New England to visit his son Robert,
who was attending college In answer
to the many calls and invitations which
showered on him he spoke at various
places in Connecticut, Rhode Island and
New Hampshire. In all these places he
not only left deep impressions of his
ability, but he convinced New England
of his intense earnestness in the great