Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-04
MEMORIES Of LINCOLN
Some RecollectionS of Ex-Sen-
ator Kellogg.
BLOOMINGTON CONVENTION
Birth of the Epigram About "Fooling
the People"
PROBABLY OFTEN REPEATED
Contradiction of Russell Sage's As
sertion That He Has No Relatives
Living-Story From Fredonia.
PROBABLY OFTEN REPEATED
BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS.

state of Illinois. The late Justice Weldon
OF the Court of Claims was also an elector
on the republican ticket In the presidential
campaign of 1850. Senator Kellogg says
that In May. 1850, he received an invita-
ton TO attend a reunion of the survivors
Of the famous convention at Bloomington,
where the republican party of Illinois was
organized In May 1853, but he was I'M
able to attend. At that time there were
thirteen survivors of the delegates who
participated in that memorable gathering.
Gen. John NJ. Palmer, John G. Nicolay of
this city and b. II. Bromwell of Denver
have since died, to Senator Kellogg's
knowledge. and how many more he can
not say.
According to the memories of several of
these survivors, it was at that convention
that Mr.. Lincoln uttered his memorable
epigram, You can fool some of the people
MI the time. and all of the people some Of
the time, but you can't fool all the peo-
pie all the time" Senator Kellogg remem-
bers distinctly hearing it then. although
he Is of the opinion that Mr. Lincoln used
the phrase frequently in other speeches
which would account for the varying rec
objections of people who claim TO have
heard it elsewhere.
"a convention was called to meet at
Bloomington, Ill, on the 29th day of May
1896, said Senator Kellogg This may be
said To have been the first step toward the
organization of the republican party in
Illinois The movement grew out of the
opposition to the Kansas-Nebraska bill and
the repeal of the Missouri compromise of
1880. There had been for some time Il
deep and growing feeling against the DOM
lnant party in Illinois, which was then re-
garced as one of the strongest democratic
states in the Union; indeed the southern
part of Illinois known as Egypt had for
years been almost unanimously democratic.
Such men as Lincoln, John NJ. Palmer,
Joseph Medill, Joseph Gillespie, Richard
Yates Norman +. Judd and others were
conspicuous in this movement which re-
suited in the calling of the Bloomington
convention. Those opposed to the demo-
cratic party were practically without reg
uiar organization, and a call was issued
as | have stated for convention to nom
mate state officers and set in motion the
requisite machinery to elect a state ticket
An apportionment was made. designating
to eacn county the number of delegates to
which II was entitled. | was then Young
lawyer practicing In Fulton county when
was accredited with sixteen delegates and
a short time before the convention in
sion at Lewistovn. the county seat,
some thirty or forty gentlemen got to-
gether in Masonic Hall and selected them.
Only two Of these sixteen so selected at
tended the Bloomington convention
Thomas Hamer and myself.
The Bloomington Convention.
Il reached Bloomington the evening be-
fore the convention, stopping at the Pike
House. The convention was held at Ma
jor's Hall. In a letter published last
spring you quoted, among others, Richard
r Morgan, prominent citizen of Dwight.
Illinois, who states that he heard the cpl
gram in question uttered by Mr. Lincoln
in speech the night before the conven-
ton In front of the Pike House, where sew
eral hundred people had gathered I heard
Mr.. Lincoln make that short speech stand
ing very near him, but Go not remember
that ne uttered the epigram at that time.
l thlnk Mr.. Morgan must have COMPOUNDED
this speech with the one made the next
day by Mr.. Lincoln before the convention.
| heard that speech also, sitting well in
front and near the speakers platform.
There have been several versions of this
so-called "Lincoln's Lost Speech" The re-
production in Miss Tarbell's Life of Lin
coin is very accurate, and in some parts
she quotes almost the exact language of
Mr.. Lincoln. 1 wildly recall the Scene
on that occasion. The hall was crowded
to the platform. There was great excite
ment, of course.
Mr.. Lincoln began slowly. holding in
his hand small piece of paper on which
lie had jotted down his points. Standing
well back on the platform, he moved for
ward gradually, and In making point.
with n peculiar gesture, he would, so to
speak, hurl his climax at his audience.
While the convention rose to it's feet in
Its excitement and enthusiasm Mr. Lin
coin would walk slowly back to the rear
Of the platform, and. glancing at the paper
in his hand, would again resume his
speech 1t has been said by some that
Mr.. Lincoln uttered his famous remark
at this time that a house divided against
itself cannot stand; that either the Union
must be all free or all slave, etc. / am
quite sure that is a mistake That re-
mark was made by Mr.. Lincoln in 1883 in
hll ~iH1sa fiF-a hall yRaI1
fore his great debate with Douglas an
utterance which. at the time. gave great
concern 10 many of his friends.
The Famous Epigram.
Il distinctly recall two or three points
made by Mr.. Lincoln. When discussing
the Kansas question and abiding TO the
threat attributed 10 the south that It would
withdraw from the Union, he said, We
won't go out and you shan't.' Another
good point was made when ne was dis
cussng the question whether slavery could
exist In the federal territories under the
Constitution. Referring to the position taken
by Douglas (whOm he constantly alluded
TO as Judge Douglas)-that slavery in the
territories could be controlled by what
Douglas denomnated as 'unsrlendly leg
isiauOn-Mr. Lincoln said in substance.
No one can long he deceived by such soph-
isiries You can fool some OF the people
au the time. and all OF the people some of
the time. but YOU can't fool all the people
all the time. Mr. Morgan recalls this epi-
gram as having been uttered at an i'm
promptu meeting the night before the CON
ventlon. / am quite sure IL was uttered
by Mr.. Lincoln IN the speech delivered in
Majors Hall the following day.
The reference IN your letter of May S
to Mr.. Nicolay rather Surprises me, as he
was delegate TO the BLOOMINGTON con-
yenti6n. You say that his daughter. when
questioned regarding this matter. said that
Mr.. Nicolay had stated that he never heard
this epigram quoted attributed TO Mr.
Lincoln while he was alive. but Mr. Nor
gan says that he heard him say II at
Bloomington In 1856. Mr. r. H. Hirst a
CORES pendent OF the Toledo Blade at Belle
we. Ohio. says that he heard Mr.. Lincoln
use the words ia speech at Harvey 'r,r-
ner's Grove. at Atlanta. ILL.,. the Fourth
OF July, 1855. The late Judge Lawrence
We,uon. who. ! believe, was not al the
bloomington convention. said he heard Mr.
Lincoln use the same expression In puhiic
speeches as early as 1855. Others seem To
have heard Mr.. Lincoln utter II IN difYar
ent speeches after 1885.
"A gentleman states that he heard Mr.
Lincoln make this remark to a delega-
tlon OF citizens who called upon him al
the White House. You say in your let
ter of May S that Mr.. Lincoln used It In the
early days of the war to delegation OF