Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-02-22

/ ALL p1ONC0 AL StOdy anu 1uOHldA d1S"
cipline, borrowing a grammar and other
books, which he mastered before he LAID
them aside. Here in this humble posi-
ton he soon gained the entire conf
dence Of the community because of his
sterling honesty, accommodating spirit,
sociability and high sense of right and
justice. Hence, scarcely a year later,
when the Blackhawk war broke out, he
volunteered in one of the Sangamon
county companies and was promptly
made captain. Just before his depar-
ture for the war, which lasted three
months, he had announced himself
candidate for the Legislature. but was
defeated, owing to the fact that the
| Legislative district was very large one
and he was comparative stranger, out
side of the immediate section IN which
he lived. His defeat, however, was soon
salved in a measure by his appointment
as postmaster at New Salem.
Mr.. Lincoln ambitiously entered into
business for himself, but either tile
commercial spirit was not strongly de-
veloped in him or else extraneous H.
fluences were too potent to be overcome
and he soon failed, entailing upon him
self a burden of debt under which his
spirit groaned until he had liquidatcd
it to the last dollar. While he was in
| this financial strait, the county sur
veyor of Sangamon made him one of his
deputies; which position, it is need
less to say, he filled with that con-
scientious regard for duty which SO
strongly stamped his conduct through
out life.
He had scarcely recovered from the
distress of his business failure, when
in 1884, at the age of 25, he was elected
to the legislature; to which body he was
reelected in 1886, 1888 and 1910, at the
end of the latter term declining a re-
nomination. In the same year that he
was first elected to the Legislature ho
entered earnestly upon the study of
law and was admitted to the bar in the
autumn of 1886. Six months later, or
April Is, 1897 he left New Salem and
removed to Springfield, then the coun-
ty seat of Sangamon and later the cap
ital of the state, to begin the practice
of law. Here he soon became recog-
nized as a young man Of patient and
laborious effort, a lawyer who earnestly
guarded the rights of his clients, a
neighbor who could be trusted and
loved and a citizen of patriotic inn
pulses.
Nine years passed, in which Mr.. Lin
coin studied unremittingly, improving
himself i'll the literature of his Ian
guage, as we'll as acquainting himself
with the intricacies of the law, travel
ing the extended circuit which was en-
braced within his practice and forming
wide acquaintance, which served hum
| cto in, f11t
He was elected TO congress in 1916 as
whig; i'll 1854 the opposition of four
members of the Legislature alone pre-.
yented his election to the United States
senate. When, two years later, the re-
publican parry was organized in ILLINOIS,
Mr.. Lincoln became its recognized Lead
er and in 1853 occurred his memorable
contest with Mr.. Douglas for the United
States senatorship, which resulted in
the election of his adversary, but also
gave him national reputation, which
eliminated III his nomination over MIR.
Seward in 1860 and his accession as
president of the United States.
Mr. Lincoln's life in connection with
the war is part of the history of the
country itself. Probably the most
memorable events in which he was
prime factor were his proclamation of
emancipation, January /, 1868, and his
Gettysburg address in the same year.
In all the years of the peril of the re-
pubic he inspired general confidence,
because of his master genius and the
sublime patriotism which animated
him. The eyes of all loyal men were
turned toward him and in no case did
he dsappoint their expectations. His
administration in those trying times
was cautious, yet brave, and efficient
to all the ends had in view. Reelected
; in 1864, he was assassinated April IA,
following, in Ford's theater, by John
Wilkes Booth.
Mr.. Lincoln was married in 1912 to
, Mary Todd, and one son, Robert I. Lin
coin, survives. Mr.. Lincoln was six
feet, four inches in height, spare in
build, yet muscular; he had homely
and sad, yet attractive face; his spirit
was cne of Kindness and gentleness
towards all-enemies as we'll as friends.
His virtues were legion; his faults were
trifes. He was too great that he should
! have been other than magnanilnous,
. and those whom duty compelled him
to overcome. lost in his death a friend
| that would have shown love for them
in the hour of their adyersity. Because
of the nobility of his life and the great
ness of his deeds. his name is a house
hold one and will be so as long as the
nation continues a republic and es-
teens virtue. honor and patriotism as
the highest qualities of American citi-
zenship. WILLIAM ROssER CoBBE.
Couldn't Keep Them All.
Ee-Did YOU hear about Prof. Mash
eer. the lecturer, having to cancel his
engagements?
She-AIercy, no! Has he been drink
ing?
He-No; he married one of the en-
gagements, and had to cancel the rest.
He snent the summer at ASbury. YOU