Los Angeles herald., 1905-02-12
RecollectiOnS of the Great Pres
sident, by Ralph Hoyt, a Git
izen of Los Angeles, Who
Saw Him on Many
Occasions
Written for The Herald.

NIllttH lNI ! liz iitA7iN'
Ninety-four years ago today in the
obscure town of Hoegeville, Ky, a
child was born, of humble parentage,
yet possessing remarkable qualities of
head and heart-as subsequent events
showed. His name was Abraham
Lincoln. Though born in poverty, the
young mans thirst for knowledge in-
duced him to study books at home
and catch at everything that might
add to his store of valuable knowl-
edge. Step by step he climbed the
ladder of honorable distinction, till at
last he became president of the United
States.
Being an Illinoisan for many years
1 had the good fortune to meet and be-
come acquainted with Abraham Lin
coin. l saw him in Il variety of
places, and under some peculiar cir
cumstances. The first time was in
Springfield, ILL.,, when he delivered
mastery speech in reply to Hon
Stephen A. Douglas. l subsequently
met him on steamboat plying the
Illinois river; again in the supreme
court at Springfield; again in rail
road car, where | was his seat-mate
during the journey. and enjoyed his
words of wisdom and his frequent sal
lies of wit and humor. Again in the
town of Griggsville, my old home,
where he chatted with us for an hour
or more before going to Pittsfield and
there addressing an outdoor mass meet
ing that was estimated by acres rather
than by numbers. l was also in the
mammoth wigwam, in Chicago, at
! tending the national convention by
which he was nominated in May, 1860;
| and finally in Washington City, in Oc-
| tober previous to his second election.
He was a wonderful man in every
respect. A noble citizen and wise
! statesman. / have seen ten presi-
dents of the United States, and lis
tened to scores of our most noted Or
ators, past and present, including sew
en- presidents, but in my estimation
not one of them quite equaled Lincoln
in his earnestness, his charming sim
certy and his power to convince those
| who listened to his clean-cut words.
His eloquence was captivating his
| humor was unique; his manifest hon
esty of purpose beyond suspicion.
True, his oratorical ability lacked such
auXiliaries as the polished manners
of Charles Sumner the classical style
Of Wendell Phillips; the scathing in
VectiVe of Roscoe Conkling and Ro-
bert G. Ingersoll, and the rolling
thunder of stephen A. Douglas and
Andrew Johnson, but for effective logic,
skillful use of facts and earnestness of
manner ii is doubtful if Lincoln had
an equal. His every gesture, tone and
expression was calculated to carry con-
viction to the minds of his hearers, A
more convincing speaker probably
never stood upon the rostrum.
Lncon's Wit
think It was in the memorable cam
paign of 1856 while John G. Fremont
the first Republican candidate for
president, was in the field against
James Buchanan, when Lincoln went
into Pike county and made one speech
to an outdoor mass meeting IN Pitts
field the county seat. He spoke fol
more than two hours, interspersing his
historical facts and stern logic with
appropriate anecdotes, told in his
quaint style, that often conVulsed the
vast audience with laughter In allud'
ing to the popular sovereignty
theory of Mr. Douglas with reference
10 the slavery question Lincoln de-
clared that the theory as embodied Il
the Douglas Kansas n ebraska bill wa'
very thin and weak
1T reminds me" he added, "of hom
eOpathlc broth, which, 1 have been IN