Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-02-12
RECOLLECTIONS OF
ABRAHAM LINCOLN
Horace White in New York Evening Past

NV nlsl meeting Win AuiaiidiH Atiit
coin was in 1854. had secured a posi-
tion as a reporter ON a newspaper IN
Chicago. ! had scarcely become ac-
quainted with my duties in the oihce
when ] was sent by the chief editor TO
Springfield. lll., to report speech OF Mr.
Lincoln against the repeal of the Mis-
souri, Compromise
As l was the reporter OF the principal
Mhie newspaper Ia the State lNr. LIN
coin himself belonging TO that party, /
was the recipient of some local attention
when / arrived in Springfield and was
presented to Mr. lincoln before he
made his speech / had never even heard
his name before AT first glance his app
pearonce was not attractive. lie was
tall bouy. angular, and destitute OF all
the eraces except o. winning cast of coun-
tcnancc with which he greeted all com
ers but that counted for much hindh-
ness and honesty hcamcd from bis eyes
and from every wrinkle ON his face. All
this ] took 10 az my first meeting with
him, but I did not expect much OF
speech from hint
ID was u warmish DAY IN early October
and Mr. Lincoln was in his shirt sleeves
when he stepped ON the platform. ] OBJ
served that, although awkward, he VAS
not in the least embarrassed He began
In a slow and hesitating manner, but
without any mistakes of language, dates,
or facts. H. was evident that he had
mastered his subject, that he knew what
he was going to say, and that be- knew
he was right lie had a thin, high pitch
ed falsctto voice OF much carrying
power. that could be heard % long dis
tance In spite of the hustle and tumult
OF a crowd. lie had the accent and pro-
nunciaiion peculiar TO his native state,
Kentucky. Gradually he warmed up with
his subject, his anguarity disappeared,
and he passed into that attitude of un-
conscious majesty that is so conspicuous
IN Saint Gaudens' statue at the entrance
Of Lincoln Park In Chicago. / have often
wondered how this artist, who never saw
the subject of his work, could have di-
vined his presence and his dignity as a
public speaker 80 perfectly.
Progressing with his theme, his words
began TO como faster and his face 10 light
up with The rays of genius and his arms
and body 10 move in unison with his
thoughts His gestures. would not be
called either graceful or unmaceful They
were the natural expression of the man,
and so perfectly adapted 10 what he was
saying that anything different from il
would have been quite inconceivoble.
Sometimes his manner was very impas-
stoned. and he seemed trnnsfgured with
his subject. perspiration would stream
from his face, aud each particular hair
would stand on end. Then the inspira-
tion that possessed him took possession
of his hearers also. His speaking went
70 the heart because Il came from the
heart. ] have heard celebrated orators
who could start thunders Of applause
without changing any mans opinion. Mr..
lincoln's eloquence was of the higher
type which produced conviction in others
because of the conviction Of the speaker
himself. His listeners felt that he be-
lieved every word he said. and that like
Martin Luther he would 90 10 the stake
rather than ahate one iot or little of It.
ln such transhgured moments as these
hc was the type OF the ancient Hebrew
prophet as 1 learned that character at
Sunday school ia my childhood.
This speech WAS two or three hours
long. it made 80 profound an impression
upon me that I feel under its spell 10 this
day. II is known in history AZ Mr.. Lin
coins Peoria speech. Although first de-
liNcrcd az Springfield October 4th, 1854
II was repeated at Peoria twelve days
later and then first published.
-Four years later, 1 was brought into
more intimate relations with Mr.. Lin.
coin. ! then filled a subordinate place in
the Office OF the Chicago Tribune Mr.
Lincoln had been nominated by the Re
publicans Of Illinois for the seat in the
United States Senate then held by Ste.
phcn A. Douglas A senatorial campaign
unsurpassed in interest and unparalleled
IN results was thus begun. / was chosen
by my employers TO accompany Mr.. Lin.
coin TO describe the scenes and the
events, and generally TO write up th,
campaign for the newspaper This tasl
brought me into Mr.. Lnc0ln's society al
most constantly for four months. w,
were often together in public convey
anoca and public houses without othei
company Mr. Lincoln was seldom sileni
when ho had anybody 10 talk with.
was frequently his only interlocutor, ans
although | was bus n STRIPPING, he hon
ored me with his conversation, and pai,
the same Difference 10 mine as though
had been his equal In years and expert
enco. He never gave himself any airs %
superiority over anybody, old or young
white or black lie put everybody a.
ease whom he met without seeming q
do so, on being aware that he was doinD
so, aud he was always at case himsel
except In fashionable socioty. In an
place where he was expected 10 exer
himself in a social way, he was Il
marked distress.
In 1858, Senator Douglas filled IN
public eye TO q greater extent than an
other living American, not exoeptin
President Buchanan. His committee /
Illinois advised him not TO accent Lin
coins challenge TO public debate, sayin
that If he did so ne would lift Iincol
into a position of prominence which
could not otherwise gain This sound
rather oddly now, but IL was a true cor
ception. Lincoln could not have bee
nominated for President In 1860
Douglas had not accepted his challenq
lincoln WAS brought into the range ,
vision 10y his conflict with the Iitt'
Giant, but when he once came within N
range of vision, he remained there 3
his merits, and very soon he was reco,
nized as the greater man of the tNl
Douglas knew that If he should declh
lincolns challenge on any croun,
whatever he would lose the battle. m
people of Illinois were accustomed
Joint debates. They had no use for ca
pet knights on for any candidate I,
public honurs who was not willing
meet his competitor face 10 face S
Douglas accepted the challenge. but
limited the number of Joint debates
seven, evidently thinking that the,
would be sufficient TO save his reput,
tion for courage, but not sufficient
give Lincoln the advantage TO which h
logical power and his moral standing el
titled him. Each Of these men was rul