The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-06-03

"'Nss ss'-' s'es hfhA WI IN
all winter and never knew anything Of It. Mr.
Thornton went on to say that he knew beyond
doubt that the sensational account Of Lincoln,
temporary insanity was untrue, and he quoted
from the House journal to show how impossible
II was that as Lamon saws, using Herndon'.
notes. Lincoln went crazy as a loon and did
not attend the Legislature for this reason " or
that. a. Herndon says. he had to he watched
constantly. According to the record taken
from the journals Of the House by Mr.. Thornton.
which has been verified in Springfield.
Lincoln was in his seat on the fatal Is, of
January" when he Is alleged to have bee.
cropping in the shadow Of madness. and he VA,
also therv on the following day. During the
whole Of January and February he was absent
not more than seven days; a. good a record
Of attendance. perhaps, as that made by thu
average member.
What Is known as Llncoln's lost speechs
was delivered at the Republican State
Convention. which met in Bloomington.
H., on May 20. 1885. Throughout the
North the excitement over Kansas had
risen almost to the pitch OF frenzy. The
new State was in the hands Of a pro-slavery
mob. her Governor was a prisoner. her capital
was In ruins and her voters were inundated.
The newspapers. too, were full Of accounts Of
the attack on Sumner In the United States
Senate by Brooks, II Is not surprising that
when the convention met its members were
resolved upon taking radical action. ltadopted
a platform. appointed delegates to the Repubs
lican National Convention and nominated
State ticket. thus completing the work Of ore
g~anizing the Republican party In Illinois. Then
came a call for speeches. The convention felt
the need o! some pcwarfml matchmaking forca.
which would weld together its dlscordant els-
msnts. In spite of the best intentions Of the
members they knew that in their hearts still
fingered political enmities, that the Whis was
still a Whig. the Democrat a Democrat, the
Abolitionist an Abolitionist. Man after man
was summoned to the platform and spoke
without producing any marked effect. when
suddenly there was a cry raised for a name not
on the programme. Lincoln! Lincoln! Give
us Lincoln!" The crowd took up the cry and
made the hall ring until a tall figure arose az
the back OF the audience and slowly strobe
down the aisle. As he turned toward his audi
tors. there came gradually a great change upon
his face. A Judge Scott OF Bloomington
told the author OF this book; There
was on his countenance an express
sion Of intense emotion. II was the emotion
Of a great soul. Even In stature he seemed
greater. He seemed 10 realize that It was a
crisis in his life" Lincoln. In fact. had come
to the parting of the ways. TO the moment when
he must break publicly with his party.
For two years he had tried to fight slavery
extension under the name of a Wing. He
had found il could not be done, and now, In
spite OF the efforts Of the conservative friends
who had tried vainly to keep him away from
the Bloomington Convention. he was facing that
body, determined to acknowledge openly that.
henceforth. he should work with the Republican
party. Lincoln's extraordinary insight and
sympathy told him. as he looked at his audi
ence, that what these earnest but hesi-
tating and cropping men needed was 10 feel
that they had espoused a cause OF such tram
scendent import that beside IL all previous
associations. ambitions and duties we're az
nothing. II he could make them see the trivi.
atty OF their differences. as compared with
the tremendous principle OF the new party.
he was certain that they would go forth Re.
publicans In spirit as well as In name.
We are told that he began his speech deeply
moved and with a profound sense Of the mo-
mentous nature OF the crisis. At first he spoke
slowly and haltingly. but gradually grew in
vigor and intensity. until his hearers arose
from their chairs and. with pale faces and
ouiverng lips. pressed unconsciously toward
him. Starting from the back Of the
deep platform on which he stood, his hands
on his hips, he slowly advanced tow-
ard the front. his eyes blazing. his face white
with passion. his voice resonant with the force
Of his conviction. As he advanced he seemed TO
his audience to expand in bulk and stature.
and when. at the end Of a period, he stood az
the edge Of the stage. hands still on the hips,
head back. raised on his tiptoes. he seemed
like a giant inspired. AT that moment
Judge Scott has testified. he was the
handsomest man l ever saw" So power
full was the effect upon his auditors that men
and women wept "a they cheered. and children
who were there that night still recall the scene.
although at the time they understood moth.
ing OF It's meaning. As he went on there came
on the convention the emotion he sought to
quicken. Every one in that assembly. before
incongruous. cam to feel as one man. to think
as one man and 10 purpose and resolve a. ono
man" says one OF his hearers. He had made
every man Of them Republicans. He did
something more. The indignation which tho
outrages In Kansas had aroused was uncon-
troled. Men had talked passionately Of war. 70
was at this meeting that Lincoln, after firing
his hearers by an expression which became q
watchword Of the campaign. we wont go out
OF the Union. and you shan't." poured oil on
the wrath Of the Illinois opponents Of the Ns>
braska bill by advising ballots. not bullets
Nothing better exemplifes the extraordi-
nary influence Of Iincoln's speech at Blooming.
ton than the impression made on the news
paper reporters Among these was Mr.. Joseph
Medil. Il did make" he recalls. a few para
graphs OF what Lincoln said In the first eight
or ten minutes. but I became 80 absorbed In
his magnetic %oratory. that I forgot myself
and ceased TO take notes. and Joined with the
convention in cheering. and stamping and clap
ping. to the end Of his speech. well remember
that after Lincoln sat down and calm had suc-
ceeded the tempest. I walked out OF a sort q
hypnotic trance. 1t was some sort Of salts.
faction TO ind that had not been 'soooped. a.
all the Newspaper men present had been equally
carried away with the excitement caused
by the wonderful grafton. and had made no
report or sven sketch. Of the speech" They
all went home and wrote burning editorials
about tbs grafton and the great principle which
10 embodied but, as 10 reproducing IL. they could
not. Men came TO talk OF il all over Illinois.
They comprehended that It had been a purt-
flying fire for the party. but. as to what 1t con.
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