The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-02-12
LINCOLN AS A POLITICIAN.


Abraham Lincoln was politician. He
had an ambition to participate in pub
lie affairs because he was interested in
public matters and believed that he had
the ability to render a constituency
good service, and at the same time win
its confidence and esteem. Nor was he
one of those very good people who hold
that the Office shall seek the man and
are chronic political dyspeptics because
offices never run them down and capture
them. He asked for the places which
he desired. A few days after Lincoln
had returned from the Black Hawk war
in 1882 an election for members Of the
Assembly was held, and he announced
himself a candidate in the following
card:
Every man is said to have his peculiar
ambition. Whether il be true not can
say, for one. that have no other SO great
as that of being truly esteemed by my fell
low-men, by rendering myself worthy. OF
their esteem How far l shall succeed in
oped. 1 am young. and unknown to many
of You. l was BORN and have ever re
manned, in the most humble walks of life.
| have no wealthy or popular relations or
friends to recommend me. My case is
thrown exclusively upon the independent
voters of the county and, if elected, they
will have conferred favor. upon me for
which ! shall be unremitting in my labors
to compensate. But, if the good people, in
their wisdom. shall see fit to keep me in the
background, have been too familiar with
disappointments to be very much chagrined
Remembering that Lincoln was not
then twenty-four years of age and had
only such education as he had picked up
in the few books which he had read,
the above is a remarkable piece of En-
glish, while the clear and modest state
ment of his case would have done credit
to his maturer years. 1t is a model;
but Abraham Lincoln never did "agi-
tate" the American eagle with pen or
tongue. He was not elected that time,
but at the next election, when he was
better known, he was at the head of the
poll. In 1886, in his card to the electors
Of the district he defined the relation
which should exist between constituents
and Representative as follows:
If elected / shall consider the whole peo-
pie of Sangamon my constituents, as well
those that oppose as those that support
I shall be governed by their will on all sub
jects upon which have the means of know
ing what their will is; and upon all others
I shall do what my own judgment teaches
me will best advance their interests.
No wonder that the man who lived
UP to such a creed was elected four
tines to the Legislature In close dis
trict, and would have been elected in
definitely If he had not declined to be
voted for in 1872. That constituency
had entire confidence in Lincolns integ
rity and ability. Why should they drop
a man who could best serve the people
simply because some other person
claimed the right to turn"
A I, r ir1cn al We rapt int
with the practical. everyday people; and
he was SO sagacious that he could easily
distinguish between their voice and that
of the mob. That is. he knew the differ
ence between the draft riots in New
York and the desire of the purposeful
people who recognized him as leader.
He was never one of those demagogues
who believe that the people can be more
easily fooled than trusted with a good
cause. When he spoke of the govern
ment of the people he meant the great
mass of the intelligent people of the
country. Because he believed in gov
eminent by and for the people he could
not have been inveigled into support
ing gerrymanders or into voting appro-
priations for objects which the people
do not approve, or in defeating a fair
salary bill when he knew the people de-
sired such legislation. Between Abra-
ham Lincoln and the people there were
no Intermediates, no professionals of the
third house to defeat the popular desire.
Abraham Lincoln was staying poll
tician. He believed in legislation through
parties to carry out policies. He was
not one of the time servers who are
always in evidence when they are can
didates for nominations. but who hasten
to the rear to sulk or play the traitor
if they are not nominated. He was not
of that order of politicians who are half
with the enemy when their party is in
the minority and the most active in the
Guest of place when it is the majority.
He stayed with the Wing party in Illi-
nois to the last, preparing it for the
great party in which his will ever be
the most potential name, SO that when
the time came he led the mass of the
old to the new. He was inspired by the
highest motives in being q politician.
No one could ever think of his being
such for "all there is in it, or for the
stuff
He stands the great exemplar for all
men to follow who are ambitious for
public service. None can reach his
transcendent craftsmanship. but all can
emulate his integrity and share his faith
in the plain people
Individual and municipal borrowers