The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1904-02-13
B IOG r A PHICAL
SKETCHES.
About Men Who HaveEnriehed tho
World by Their Worn and Left 1t
Better Than They Found 1t.
A1;RAHAM> LINCOLN.

Born February IL. 1909. Died April
Is, 1885,
|. No character in American history ap-
peals SO strongly to the working clas-
ses than does that Of Abraham Lincoln
Born among the lowly, his sympathies,
no matter how high he rose in the social
scale, or hoy eminent he became, were
alWeys with the workers. He was op-
posed to the superstitious pretence that
one man could enslave another by right
divine. He hated hypocrisy. He loved
freedom and thought there was no
higher title to greatness than doing
something useful, and that ones high
est ambition should be the uplifting Of
mankind. He believed in the organiza-
ton of labor and congratulate the wor-
kers upon their having the right to
organize. He protested against special
privilege and denounced the whining
cant of the voices reased in it's advo-
cacy. Shams were distasteful to him.
Deceit had no place in his compost
ton. His form will stand through the
ages, towering above all others, as the
representative of human rights, justice
and liberty.
Abraham Lincoln, sixteenth President
of the United States, was born in Ken
lucky, February IL, 1909. His father,
poor farmer, removed from Kentucky
| in 1876 In the sparse settlements of
the great West, opportunities for
education were extremely limited. Young
Lincoln received less than one years
schooling in which he learned reading,
arithmetic, and, through the assistance
| of neighbor, writing. His earnest
desire for knowledge, led him to i'm
prove every opportunity for study
During the day he was employed in the
at night, by the light of huge log fire,
he read such books as could be borrow
ed in the neighborhood. At the age Of
eighteen, his library consisted Of six
books. Twice before the age of twenty
one, he had descended the Mississippi
in the charge of a f1at-boat-the usual
means at that time Of intercourse. bet
ween the great West and New Orleans
In 1880. the family removed to Illinois,
| and soon after Lincoln left his parents
to begin life for himself. He first be-
came clerk in a store, and afterwards
studied law, supporting himself mean
while by landsurveying. In 1884, he
was elected to the State Legislature,
| and was three times reelected. In 1885,
he was admitted to practice law, and
soon afterward removed to Springfield,
the State Capital. In 1874, he canvassed
the State for Mr.. Clay, then nominated
| for President. Mr.. Clay was defeated
! but the popularity gained by Mr.. Lin
coin in the canvass secured his own
election: to Congress in 1886, where he
| voted against the extension Of slavery.
In 1858, he canvassed the State as, a
candidate. for United States Senator,
against; Mr.. Douglass, but without sue
cess. In $780, he was nominated for the
Presidency by the Chicago convention.
The non-extension of slavery into the
| Territories, or new States to be formed
from them, was the most important
principle of his party Mr.. Lincoln
received the vote of all but one Of: the
! free States. while in =:slnosts of the
Southern States, no Republican ticket
was admitted. He was inagurated
President March b /, 1851. On prils: 2,
1855. the War of Reb lion was brought
to- close but the ys.of the nation
1Szwas; changed tos liter mou Hning Tie
Heath reside 1.inaeolnass IhozzSsal