The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1903-04-02
LINCOLN'S FREEPORT SPEECH.

Winston Churchill interested the
American people in his story, 1.-THE
Crisis" He interested two general
classes of readers. One-and the class
overwhelmingly in the majority
which read the story because it was a
story, cared nothing for it beyond a
momentary purpose, present interest
in the society people, and forgotten
never remembered-the characters and
incidents of the novel, except, posi-
bly,, in the vaguest and most general
way; the ether, which became alb
sorbed both in certain typical actors
in the drama and the authors account
of the rescue of st. Louis from the
hands of the secessionists at the very
beginning of the war of the rebellion,
a work of large Importance to the
Union cause. AS historical novel
"The Crisis" is interesting almost
solely for the story of the origin and
execution of the plans to save St,
Louis and, incidentally, Missouri from
falling into the hands of the rebels
The final chapters leave ragged
edge of unfinished business, partic-
ularly in respect of the fate or future
of characters, like Col. Carvel, who
filled the foreground. The action is
slow in places, blocked by too much
fine writing respecting natural seem
cry and incidental matters Had more
of the story of contemporaneous events
and characters filled these pages, "The
Crisis" would have been a better nov
ell, historically and in dramatic incl
dent and interest.
But the purpose was not to write a
criticism 1t was to present matters
which, to the small minority of read
ers, together with the incidents writ
ten of above, constitutes the browning
interest of the book, to wit, the in
PRODUCTION of Lincoln on the stage
and his speech at Freeport, in which
he sprung the question on Douglas
which wrecked all the latter's politi-
cal aspirations.
Respecting Lincoln's encounter
with Douglas at Freeport, and
Ohurchill's story of the events of the
day, Mr.. Ingalls, Carleton, Of Rock
ford, Ill, writes in the Republic of
that city, correction of certain of
Mr.. Churchill's statements in "The
Crisis" Mr.. Carleton. who is a
cousin of Hon. Hiram Carleton of this
city, and who went West from Marsh
field, VT, and "grew up with the
country" was present on that now
historic occasion at Freeport, going
from Rockford with the contingent
Winnebago county contributed to
swell the great multitude assembled
at this contest of wits. Mr. Carleton
says there was no procession, and sis
inclined to the view that the author
of THE Crisis has taken liberty
with history in order to make better
story of the day." although he is at
establishment. That the Winnebagc
people carried any banner, as set forth
by Churchill, Mr.. Carleton knows is
fiction. He corrects the story in some
minor details which are not essential
to "the truth of history" and writes
an extremely interesting chapter OF
events and incidents as he say them.
The multitude arriving after noon by
the train which took Mr.. Carleton tc
Freeport struggled to the Brewster
Hotel where Lincoln and Douglas
were quartered. The street was
packed with people cheering for theil
respective champions. Mr.. Carleton
continues:
Presently Lincoln and Douglas
came out on the balcony of the hotel
They stepped out arm in arm and the
crowd cheered and cheered. | mus
say that Douglas made the more grace
full bow. 1t seemed to be natural TO
him to bow. Lincoln bowed
awkwardly and appeared to be more
awkward IN comparison with th'
RrdCeluluesS anu ease Ol DOuSldSS WIN
accepted the plaudits of the people al
one who felt that they belonged to him
sit vas a remarkable contrast tina
those two men furnished. not only il
physique but in manner and in atti re
Lincoln was tall and ungainly, with
lean face, homely and sorrowful look
ing, while Douglas was short and fat
easy in manner and his full face ap
peared to be that of a man whose lif
had been one of success and sunshine
Douglas was dressed in what Nigh
have been called plantation style. H
wore a rutfled shirt much in style i
wealthy and aristocratic circles i
those days, a dark blue coat buttone
close, with shiny buttons, light trous
ers, shiny shoes and wide brimme
soft hat like the prosperous politician