The Irish standard., 1907-02-16
His Place in History as One Of the Great
Masters Of English Prose is Con-
ceded by Scholars.
The Gettysburg Speech and Second inaugural
the Source Of the Quotations in
Most Common Use.

joinder to the practical politician to
whom it was written must have given
him something to ponder over
Lincoln's sayings and phrases are
so growing into the vernacular thet it
may be Of interest to recall other ex-
pressions almost equally notable, and
the documents or speeches in which
tation: Keeping step to the music
of the union," but not all who quote
the line know that it originated with
Lincoln. Tn his so-called 'Iost speech"
delivered before the republican con-
vention at Bloomington on May 20,
1856, he used these words: "Let us
keep step to the music of the union"
He repeated the same thought in his
first inaugural when he said, with SOL
enn cadence: "trhe mystic chords Of
memory, stretching from every battle
field and patriot grave. to everX-heart
and f1earthstone all over Liis broad
land, will yet swell the chorus Of the
union
electrified its hearers by it's flaming
eloquence and it's radical predictions
that the reporters forgot to take notes,
sounded the keynote OF the Fremont
campaign of 1856. which welded the
various disatfected elements of several
parties into an army of freemen, "high-
ly resolved to resist the further ag-
| gressions Of the slave drivers on the
liberties of the people.
Notice these prophetic Introductory
! words: "Unless public opinion makes
itself strongly felt, and a change is
made in our present course, blood will
| flow on account of Nebraska and BROTH
er's hand will be raised against BROTH
er." Further ON he said: BE not de-
/ ceived, revolutions never go backward
Slavery will endure no test of reason
or logic. Slavery yields nothing itself
! and gets all it can besides. Slavery is
q violation Of the eternal right. We
have temporized with it from the ne
cessities Of our condition, but as sure
as God rcigns and school children read,
that black, foul lie can never be conse-
Grated into Gods hallowed TRUTH
In speaking of the heroic and sue
cessful efforts of the early fathers to
| thMart the introduction of slavery into
Illinois, he continued: "And this is
why this hall is a temple for freemen
instead of d negro livery stable. We
must highly resolve that Kansas must
be free. (These words, highly re-
solve" are repeated in the Gettysburg
speccl.) We must make this a. land
of liberty in fact as well as in name.
We will say to the southern disunion-
lists: We won't go out of the union
and YOU sl1an't' There is both a mag
c and power in public opinion. 10 that
let us now appeal; and while, in all
probability, no resort to force will be
needed, cur moderation and forbear-
ance will stand us in good stead when,
if ever. we must appeal to battle and
God Of hosts.''
This speech created the widest ex-
citement and enthusiasm in the con-
vention. 1t marked the dawning of a
new epoch. 1t was the most effective,
in molding public opinion. Of any of
Lincoln's speeches before the war.
| The fateful sentiment, "This gov
ernment cannot endure half slave and
half free which became the broad
text, with many amplifications and
Celebrations, of his great debates with
Douglas, was first proclaimed by Lin
coin before the republican convention
at Springfield June Is, 1858, which in
dorsed him for senator, in these words {:
IA house divided against itself cannot
stand. I believe this government can.
not endure permanently half slave and
half free. do not expect the union to
be dissolved, do not expect the houss