The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-07
COMMENT ON ABRAHAM LINCOLN
IN VILLARD'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY
The Late Emancie HIS Earlier Days, Unable AbprrcI-
War Presidents Greatness

An autobiography Of the late Henry VII
lard, soon TO appear in book form, con-
tains much comment on President Lincoln,
some of which is reproduced in the Febru-
airy number Of the Atlantic Monthly. VII
lard, afterwards a inancier. began his
career as a newspaper man when he came
to this country in 1853. He reported the
joint debate Of Lincoln and Douglas for the
Stats Zeitung. beginning with the second
of a series Of seven meetings, Aug. q, 1855.
There was nothing in Lincolns favor so
.far as appearance went. Willard says: He
had a lean. lank. gawky figure. an odd fea-
tured. wrinkled. inexpensive and altogether
uncomely face. He used singularly awk-
ward. almost absurd. up and down and side
wise movements Of his body to give en-
phasis to his arguments. His voice was
naturally good, but he frequently raised II
to an unnatural pitch, yet the unprejudiced
mind felt at once that while there was on
side skillful dialectician and debater
arguing wrong and weak cause, there was
on the other a thoroughly earnest and
truthful man, inspired by sound convictions
in consonance with the true spirit of Amer
lean institutions" After Lincoln closed his
speech of an hour and a half, two
young farmers rushed onto the plat
form, seized him and carried him off on
their shoulders; and Willard says: 1T was
really a ludicrous sight to see the grotesque
figure holding frantically to the heads Of
his supporters, with his legs dangling from
their shoulders, and his pantaloons pulled
up so as TO expose his underwear almost
to his knees" Willard was introduced TO
Lincoln at FreepOrt, saw him frequently
during the senatorial canvass. and did not
like him. Some of the things he says
though familiar enough years ago will
seem strange TO this generation which
knows only an idealized Lincoln: IT must
say frankly that, although L found him
most approachable, good-natured, and full
of wit and humor. could not take a real
personal liking TO the man. owing to an in
born weakness for which he was even
then notorious and so remained during his
great public career. He was Unfortunately
fond of jokes, anecdotes and stories He
loved to hear them, and still more to tell
them himself out Of the inexhaustible sup
ply provided by his good memory and his
fertile fancy. There would have been no
harm in this but for the fact that the
coarser the joke. the lower the anecdote
and the more risky the story. the more he
enjoyed them. especially when they we're
or his own invention. He possessed, more
over. a singular ingenuity in bringing
ABOUT occasions In conversation for in
dulgences of the kind"
LINCOLN'S AMBITION
During the canvass Willard was alone with
Lincoln one evening at flag station on the
railway, about twenty miles west of SPRING
held. The former was waiting for a train
and the latter driven to the place in a
buggy and left. A thunderstorm came on,
and as there was no railway building they
took refuge in a freight car and sat on the
floor. Lincoln was led TO speak of his DO
liticaI ambition. and evidently Willard has
told what he said, taking too seriously his
self-depreciation: ut was then and there
he told me that when he was cIerking in a
country store his highest political ambition
was TO be member of the State Legis-
lature. Since then, of course he said laugh
lngly' L nave grown some, but my friends
got me into this business (meaning the can
VASE. / did not CONSIDER myself qualified
for the United States Senate and il took me
a long time 10 persuade myself that was.
or his peculiar laughs, L am convinced that
am good enough for it; but, in spite of il
all, am saying to myself every day: ITS
II. Mary (his Wife, insists, however that
l am going TO be senator and President of
the United States too These last words
ne followed with a roar of laughter with
MS arms around his knees and shaking oil
over with mirth at his wife's ambition Just
think, he exclaimed. of such a sucker as
me as President! The conversation turned
on religion and Lincoln asked about German
opinion on the subject. Willard said the
most or the educated people were not
church-goers, and yet not openly professed
1nndels, saying he himself did not believe in
the Christian doctrines In regard TO the ex-
istence of God. the divinity of Christ and
immortality. Lincoln somewhat re-
served but so far as he spoke on the theme
left the impression that ne took the same
ylews-as his intimate friends, Herndon and
Lamon, have said.
AFTER THE ELECTION
After Lincoln's election to the presidency
Willard was made Associated Press reporter
at Springfield, and saw him every day. He
made use of the Governors room i'm the
Statehouse for receptions and met all sorts
and conditions of men frankly and easily
answered proper questions fairly. and en-
tered with zest into discussion. maintain
ing reticence, however. on certain points
such as his policy toward the seeding
States. He showed tact and insight i'm
dealing with all comers and he had a sure
WHAT OUR COLORED