The National tribune., 1903-06-11

tlCS during Ms reSQence IN NeutuCky, Dut
in Illinois he soon became interested in
public affairs. and was many times a can
didate for Office, usually with success. In
1928, 1929. 1882 and, 1888 he represented
Sangamon County In the Legislature,
maintaining, each time, and on one OF
two occasions when he was defeated. q
vigorous canvass for the election. The
Representatives were elected on . general
ticket for the County, and the preacher
aspirant usually stood fairly we'll up near
the head Of the poll. In 1892 there were
II names on the ticket. four Of whom
were to be elected. Cartwright was fourth
on the list. he receiving S15 votes, while
Abraham Lincoln (this being his first run
for political office) was one Of the defeat.
ed. being eighth ON the list, with 6o7
votes.
The lives Of Lincoln and Cartwright
touched at many points, though the lat
ter was much the older mamie was "a
years old when Lincoln was born, and he
lived seven years after Lincoln was slain.
1t was within the sphere of Cartwright's s
ministerial labors in Kentucky that his
colleague Jesse Head, performed the mar
riage ceremony between Thomas Lincoln
and Nancy Hanks. the humble parents Of
immortal Abraham.
Abraham Lincoln and Peter Cartwright
lived for 30 years or more only few
miles apart, in the same Illinois County.
They encountered each other in many
early political contests; they were pitted
against each other for Congress in 1916,
when Lincoln, the Wing candidate, was
elected, receiving 6.34O votes and Cart
wright, the Democratic candidate, was de-
feated, receiving 4,S27 votes.
1t IS 4 curious fact that the autObiOg-
raphy, published two or three years before
the debate with Douglas, and only five
years before Lincoln's election to the
Presidency. does not even mention that IL
lustrious name. At the time of writing
that book, Cartwright was unquestionably
more generally known and frequently
spoken Of throughout the country than
Lincoln. Neither the writer Of the Mem
Oirs nor any man living could then foreaee
that within the lifetime of thousands who
knew both intimately, the fame Of Cart
wright would have practically perished,
whiic that of Lincoln would glow with an
augmenting luster-deathless as the stars.
A CHARACTERISTIC POLITICAL EPISODE.
In his experience as a candidate, Cart
wright met with some adventures almost
parallel to those he was accustomed to as
a travelling preacher. He narrates, as fO.-
lows, one of these, avOwedly as an in
stance Of what an honest man has to
bear, if he mixes in "the muddy waters
Of political strife; also Of what powerful
temptations are thrown in his way to do
wrong, and thereby wound his tender con-
science, if he has any:
"There was a man. whom never know
ingly saw, and he did not know me by
sight, as l clearly proved At large gath
ering in Springfield, he stated that he had
lived in my neighborhood in Kentucky, and
that he saw and heard me offer to swear
off a plain note Of my Indebtedness; and
this statement was gaining and spreading
like wildfire. Those opposed to my cleo
tion were chuckling over it at q mighty
rate; some of my friends came to me and
told me Of it, and said must meet it and
ss}s stSG i: i: or it would defeat my election
Gentlemen, II you will take me to
and show me this imam, l will give you
are false MN
$50 a crowd gathered around me, and
walked up to the public square, where
this man was defaming me. l said to the
company: Take me right up to the man,
and l will show you that he never saw
me, and never knew5me.' They did so;
and when We came to him, one said to
me, This is Mr.. ca
Looking him in the eye, said I: We'll.
sir, l want to know something about this
lying report you have been circulating
about me- There was large crowd
gathered around. ri '' "l.r-. f"-
".Whe are you, lsir?' said he. 4 don't
know you.' f9.' Iof ss-fr-
"'Did you ever see me before?
"'NO, sir, not'that 1 know Of "' -
"'Well. sir, my name IS Peter Cart
wright. about whom you have circulated
the lying statement that I, in your pres
ence, in Kentucky, Offered to swear off a
plain note of my Indebtedness; and 1 have
proved to this large and respectable com
pany that you are n lying dirty scoundrel;
and now, if you do not here acknowledge
yourself liar and dirty fellow, l will
sweep the streets with you to your hearts
content; and do it instantly, or / will give
you a chastisement that you will remem-
ber to your latest day
1.-The crowd shouted, Down him! down
him! Cartwright; he ought to catch it,
We'll, gentlemen, / acknowledge that
have done Mr.. Cartwright great injus
tice, and have, without any just cause,
lied on him. At this, the crowd gave
three cheers for Cartwright.
"Now, you see, gentle reader, the mud
dy waters that a candidate for Office in
our free country has to wade through;
and well may we pray, Lead us not into
temptation. but deliver us from evil"
LABoRs AND DANGERS OF THE ITINERACY.
Aside from his conflicts with rude men,
spteful women. disreputable politicians
anu OtHeT IOcS, CdILWTiRut WAS
obliged to wage a constant warfare with
nature and the elements in prosecuting
his sacred work. In 1929 the district of
which he was presiding Elder" reached
from Springfield to Galena. The northern
portion was newly settled, and where it
was settled ut all, few scattering cab
ins, with families in them, were all that
could be expected in n vast region. When
he came upon one of these tenanted cab
ms, in his long and lonesome trips, it
would be great treat. He says he felt
as truly thankful to take shelter in one
Of these little shanties for nights lodg-
ing, as he had been under other circum-
stances, when lodged in fine house, with
all the comforts Of life around him. In
one Of his Northern trips he had q large,
uninhabited prairie to cross; about mid
way 20 miles from any house, he came to
n deep and turbid stream; 20 miles beyond
was the point he was aiming to reach that
day. The stream looked ugly and forbid
ding. He was mounted on a fine, large
horse, and knew him to be an excellent
swimmer. He hesitated for a moment; to
retrace his steps he could not consent to,
and if he advanced, n swim, on the horse.
was to be performed, no timber being in
sight. He got down, readjusted his sad
die, girding 1t tight, tied his overcoat on
behind, put watch and papers in his sad
dle-bags, and then tied them around his
neck, letting the ends rest on his shoulders,
and said to his horse: Now Buck, carry
me safe to the other bank" In they went:
the horse swan over easily, and rose on
the oDDOsite bank safely. He readjusted
his +. fairs md wanft on hia wav reioicinD