The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-02-15
LINCOLN.

udy he WOulQ nave De6n 5S years Olu. Or
SO years he has been in his grave, yet
so fast have we progressed, it almost
seems as though he belonged to far
older history. Lincoln was remark
able man, and as we survey his life,
the struggle that he had to obtain the
education which enabled him to rise
to one of the greatest positions among
men, his character stands out all the
more remarkable. His rise among his
fellow men illustrates what great
things a strong will power will accom-
pish. One can hardly imagine more
adverse circumstances under which a
man could work his way up to in
fuence, than those under which Lin
coin labored. 1t has been said by some
of Lincoln's most ardent admirers that
he was genius and so he was to
certain extent, that this genius caused
him to grasp and absorb things more
quickly than the average individual,
that he saw through things at first
sight. But his law partner, VIM. Fl.
Herndon, who was associated with
him for years and knew him intimate
ly, says that this idea of Lincoln is
not true That instead of this he was
Just the reverse that Lincoln was slow
to absorb the features of any case that
he read slowly and fingered over the de-
tails, but that when he had mastered
any particular point. he had it most
firmly fixed in his memory ready for
use when the occasion should demand.
Herndon further says that the popu
lar belief that Lincoln was great
reader and devoured every book he
could get hold of is not true. On the
other hand, says Herndon, Lincoln was
not great reader, and he asserts that
it is doubtful whether the great
ever read book through in his
life. He read a great deal in great
many books, in fact got the best there
was in them, but he did not read in
systematic way. AS a matter of fact
Lincoln did nothing in systematic
way In the matter of law Herndon
says that Lincoln was not well read,
that he never followed up its study in
his Office as other lawyers do. When
he got case he looked up some in
connection with it, but seemed to rely
most on his powers over jury, and
here he was dangerous opponent
If then this popular belief as to Lin
coin studious habits is not true, if he
was not the wide read man it has gen
orally been supposed he was, wherein
then came that great power he exerted,
the vast fund Of information he al
ways. had on hand. There is one ex-
PLANTATION for this, an explanation
which gives at once the key to his sue
cess and greatness. Herndon says that
without doubt Lincoln read less and
thought more than any other man in
America. He was possessed of singu-
lar mind, strong mind of vast rea-
soning powers, and while not quick to
grasp the full meaning of things, he
reasoned them out for himself and
with singular correctness. He was
possessed of far seeing powers, and
looked way beyond his associates as to
the outcome of questions and policies.
His foresight in this respect was re-
markable. 1t was displayed when he
made his famous "house- divided
against ITSELF speech which called out
the serious objection of his
friends and their declaration that he
ruined not only his own chance for
future success, but that of his party as
we'll. 1t was most forcibly illustrated
in his great debate with Douglas when
he asked the senator if he would ad-
NIT that the people Of a territory had
a right to exclude slavery from it's
borders Lincoln's friends urged him
not to ask the question, because they
said Douglas would answer yes, and
would be elected senator as a result.
But Lincoln persisted in asking it,
and as had been predicted Douglas an
swered in the affirmative, and it made
his reelection to the senate a GER
tainty. When Lincoln was again re-
minded that he had made mistake he
replied that he had larger game in
view than the senate, and while the
question had made Douglas a senator
it had defeated him for the presi-
dency. Lincoln clearly foresaw that
an affirmative answer to that question
from Douglas would throw the South
against him and it did. Not only that,
but divided the Democratic party and
rendered Lincoln's election possible in
$780, And so all through the war Lin
colin was at every turn exhibiting these
same great qualities of mind. He
was surrounded by some of the great
sst men of the country, men possessed