The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-02-21

How difficult thing Is originality!
1t is as rare as genius. Perhaps it is
SO for the reason that it is chiefly
| originality that makes genius. Orig
inality is as difficult as creation. Per-
haps it is so for the reason that the
quality Of originality in the mind is
after fashion the power of creation.
These reflections were suggested oy
an article in a recent issue of Har-
per's Weekly by Jesse w. wefk on
Some Traces of Lincoln's Eloquence,
in which the writer unquestionably
! traces to another source than Lincoln's
mind the famous expression found in
his Gettysburg speech-"Governmen
of the people, by the people, and for
the people" Mr. Weik points out the
fact that Lincoln was not a great
reader of books; that up to the time
Of his election to the presidency his
library was a very scant one, even if
he can be said to have had one at all.
Up to that time he had relied chiefly
upon the library of his law partner,
Mr.. Herndon, who gave him not only
access to his library, but also sup
piled him with papers and magazines.
Mr.. Herndon kept up an active cor
respondence with Theodore Parker, the
radical Boston preacher-radicaI above
all things on the question of slavery
and Mr.. Parker kept Herndon we'll
supplied with his public sermons and
speeches against slavery. These STIR
ring religious and oftentimes violent
lie oil
don in many cases turned over to
Lincoln, who would fold them UP and
carry them away in his pocket" Then
follows this interesting narrative:
Several years ago, while in Spring
vile, Mr.. Herndon and l were en-
gagged one afternoon in an examination
and inventory of the papers and per-
sonal belongings of the late law firm
Of Lincoln & Herndon. Booths fatal
| bullet, in Mr.. Herndon's language,
had dissolved the partnership" and
the Junior member of the firm, having
removed to his farm in the country,
was preparing to retire from the active
practice of law. Hidden in a recess or
depression on the top of the old
wooden bookcase was a small paste
board box, which, judging from the
deposit of dust which covered it. must
have lain unnoticed and undisturbed
for many years. In it were found sun
dry letters and papers tied up in bun
dies. Evidently the collection belonged
TO Mr.. Lincoln himself. for on the top
Of one package, which besides letters
contained cancelled checks, notes.
newspapers, and a little of everything,
was q slip of paper bearing the la
comic endorsement in his firm and
characteristic hand, IF not found
elsewhere, look in this Another pack
age, securely tied, held the letters
written and addressed to him during
the year of his debate with Douglas.
Carefully folded UP in the letters be-
tween this package were two of the
pamphlet sermons of Theodore Par
ker. given to Lincoln by Herndon. and
showing plainly the creases made
while folded UP in the formers pocket.
One entitled THE Relation of Slavery
to a. Republican Form of Government.
was a speech delivered at the New
England Anti-Slavery Convention, May
26. 1858 On page occurs the follow
ing sentence:
I'll Democracy. - The AlI-Men-
Power: government over all, by all,
and for the sake of all.'
This evidently had arrested Mr.. Lin
coins attention, for around it with his
pencil he had drawn parenthetic lines
"a mark of his approval, apparently,
Should the document fall into any one
else's hands. The second pamphlet
entitled ''The Effect Of Slavery on the
American People" was a sermon de-
livered at the Music Hall. Boston
July 4, 1883. On page Mr.. Lincoln
had marked this:
Democracy is Direct Self-govern-
1ment over all the people, for ali the
people by all the people,
And again on page IA:
Slavery is in fragrant violation Of
the institutions Of America. -Direct
Government-over all the people, by
all the people"
Admitting this testimony to be true.
there can be no question but that the
famous Gettysburg expression-"gov-
eminent of the people, by the people
and for the people not original
with Mr.. Lincoln, but he obtained it