The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1904-12-02
VIC. T. U.COLUMN.
CONDUCTED BY MRS. NJ. L. HOBBS.
The Pioneer OF lis All.

firm lie has the blncoln law
hooka and Office furniture. Follow
ing the afternoon adjournment OF
me .irst days session OF the III.
convention, the delegates went over
n Abraham Lincoln's old residence,
nm south Sth street, which is now
the property of the state and is kept
omen for inspection of tourists, and
tbere nstned TO remarks from sever
al gentlemen. Among others was
Nr Patton who said:
ladies and Gentlemen We are
standing upon consecrated gIound
This spot, where Lincoln lived hls
home life, ought to be a sacred
pace to every one who loves bis
home and country. Here Lincoln
lived out the life of total abstinence,
which be publicly advocated foi
many Of his younger days. Out
here at Breckenridge, in this county
lives Cleopas Breckenridge, who
when a boy too young to sign hi
own name, gave 10 Lincoln his con
sent for his name TO be signed 10
the Washingtonian pledge. Here
in springfield as one OF our dele
gates to this convention is Thomas
Crowder, who attended meeting
addressed by Abraham Lincoln in
little school house near the pres
ent borders of this city, when he
was only seven Years OF age. Lin
coin placed his hand upon his head
and with his consent wrote biz
nsme upon total abstinence
pledge, which has been kept TO this
hour. Oh, for the return to the
W bite House Of man whose heart
was engaged in such holy work Tor
humanity in bis younger daysl
Here we are standing by the home
Of one who hated the accursed cup,
and never allowed il to enter biz
home for any purpose. Ii is q well.
known and recorded fact, that when
Lincoln was nominated for the pres
ideDcy, on the occasion OF the visit
Of the notification committee to this
city, and this home, some OF his
friends knowing his temperance
sentiments, and wishing to save
him the embarrassment of providing
the usual wines for the social occa
sion, took it upon themselves to
provide the same. When Lincoln
was informed Of this, he placed
upon il his emphatic veto, and after
the committee had notified him, he
invited them into the dining room
Tor Gods own refreshing beverage
OF cold water.
In Springfield, on FEBRUARY y,
1912, Lincoln delivered that mem
orable Washingtonian address, from
which we have culled the stirring
words which now hangas notices in
our Prohibition state convention.
Those words, mild and conssIva-
tive, yet strong, would be un well
come words in any political conven-
ton or rally in America today, out
side of the Prohibition party.
| will never forget a little talk !
had when | first commenced the
practice of law in this city, with
LincC ln's former law partner. Ny
partner, General Orendarff, mad in
our Office an old table that had
once belonged to Lincoln, and one
day was at work at this table,
when VIM. II. Herndon, who knew
Lincoln better than any one knew
him came in and sat down by my
side. He said: ~ will tell you
some history about that table by
which you are sitting. Upon thai
table Lincoln wrote bis famous
speech, "A house divided against 1T
self cannot stand. This natior
must become all slave or all free.
lie said Lincoln kept his manu-
script upon it and locked it in th'
drawer as he worked and after h'
completed it he called upon severa
0 us to meet him one evening anc
20 over it. Mr.. Herndon said NJ
soon as the first words we're read by
Mr. Lincoln, there was amazemen
pictured upon the face OF every ont
Of his friends, and they almos
unanimously advised against tn,
retention Of those words, and tolc
him that il he uttered them Doug
lass would brand him abolutionls
from one end cf the state to TIT
other and would defeat him for tb'
United States Senate. In repll
Lincoln said: "Gentlemen, these
things are true, they ought to b'
said and | shall say them" An'
he did cay them and the result !
history. The country was electrl
fed with those words. Douglas dit