The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1903-09-19
THE TRUE ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

THE TRUE ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
The True Abraham Lincoln. By Will
liam Eleroy Curtis author Of The True
Thomas Jefferson. Crown Svo. Cloth
decorated; net: 81: Philadelphia: J. B.
There are few rare characters in
history, the record Of whose lives grow in
interest with each succeeding generation,
and which CLEAN brighter as time passes,
instead of fading with the general wreck
of men and things, by which they were
envirOEed
These characters are unique and orig
inal and bear striking analogies to each
their self dedication to truth:
They may be called the guide posts. Of
civilization, and may be named as. Christ,
the latter that William Eleroy Curtis has
written under, the title, ''rhe True Abra-
ham Lincoln
ing and full of human interest. The vol
umes which have been written about him
would stock a library of large dimensions
we have, however, read none OF them
detail, Mr.. Curtis publication. DE NOR
tuis nil nisi bonum" has exerted such a
profound influence on western thought
that it's literature fails to throw much
of distinguished statesmen and soldiers.
Mr.. Curtis. however, writes in natural
manner about a natural man, and does
not fail to remind us that Mr.. Lincoln
had faults, as a youth, and as man.
These faults. however, serve as a strlk-
ing contrast to the sublimity of his char
acter, which had been attained before
his assassination.
The Illustrations are profuse and some
of them appear for the first time in a
published biography of the Great Emanci-
.pator's life.
Bar" is full Of interest, as the author
traces his intellectual development. from
that of the average pioneer, upward and
striking power and force as to easily sur.
pass in the logical presentation OF his
cases men who had been trained in in
situations of higher education.
"The occasion upon which Lincoln dis
played unu~lal power as an orator was
the Bloom. l,,s ton Convention for the Or
ganization of the Republican party early
in 1856. Never was an audience more
...:e Convention, which was composed Of
former members of all political parties,
had adopted the name Republican, had
taken extreme grounds against slavery
and had launched a new political organ1-
cation; but it contained many discord-
ant. .envious and hostile elements. Those
who had watched the proceedings We're
anxious and apprehensive of dissention
political perceptiops.' realized the danger,
perhaps more keenly than any other man
in the assembly. He saw before him
group of earnest, jealous sincere men;
willing to make tremendous sacrifices
and undertake Titanic tasks. but at the
same, time most Of them chung to their
own theories and advocated their indi
vidual methods with tenacity that
promised to defeat their common purpose.
Therefore, when he arose in response to
the unanimous demand for a speech from
the great orator of Springfield, his soul
was flooded with a desire and purpose
to harmonic and amalgamate the patri-
otto emotions of his associates.
Those who were present say that at
first he spoke slowly, cautiously, and in
a monotone, but gradually his words grew
in force and intensity until he swept the
~discordant souls of the assembly together
with pale faces and quivering lips and
pressed unconsciously towards him. His
influence was irresistible. se.~ys