The Irish standard., 1907-02-16
still continued his lo

straig ightforward speeches attracted the
attention of the people OF his own
state. Then came the memorable de-
bate between Lincoln and Stephen A..
Douglas. one Of the ablest men of his
time. When Lincoln was pitted against
Douglas for tho United States senator
ship he was regarded as poor match
or the able Democratic leader. Doug.
'as won the senatorship. but two years
later Lincoln won the presidency
against Douglas
Even after his election TO the presi-
denry, some OF the ablest leaders
feared that Lincoln was not euual to
the task. He was by no means con-
sldered the ablest leader in the anti
slavery ranks. 1t was right here, at
the inception of his presidential term,
that the great character of Lincoln
showed itself. fIe selected his cabinet
from the ranks of his enemies. He
placed at the head of the war and
state departments the ablest men tina.
could be found. EEe even asked Doug
IS TO take Il place in his cabinet.
All through the war he had to deal
with the impcrious Stanton at the head
of the war department and Seward
and Chase, both of whom had been
considered ADLER and greater than Lin
coin. He even took abuse from his
associates and subordinates His Gem
erals in the field made sport of HIM
To all these complaints he answered
with somc simple joke. One to illus
trat": l-i4lcoln mad issued a comDn,nu
to the War department.. His command
Was carried by subordinate to
stanton. Stanton refused to obey, but
'e army officer said the President so
ordered and stanton replied Lincoln
is fool Stanton'S remark was car
rictl back to the President and Lincoln
said, stanton says | am fool. Well
| d" not seem to have much influence
with this administration" Most any
other man would have gone to the
,ar department and dismissed the
Secretary of War at once. Lincoln
knew the value of Stanton. He needed
the great secretary, so he shouldered
the indignites thrust upon him. He
bore patiently not only the criticisms
of the cabinet and army officers, but
also the unreasoaing complaints OF
his own household.
FIe had a fund of humor that car
ried him through many difficult places
He always evaded saying anything
business inquiry was sent to him about
the standing of Il fellow lawyer with
whom he was not on the best of terms
and who it appears did not possess
much Of this worlds goods. His
answer as to this mans responsibility
was about as follows: "He has a
wife and child. worth s5oo,0oo TO any
man; IL table. value s1.0O; three chairs,
value s1.50, and a rat hole in the COR
ner of the room, which might bear
looking into and signed "a. Lincoln"
Thus he avoided saying anything about
his enemy.
Lincoln had no faults, unless it was
a fault to allow others to impose upon
IA Io f41,v f,>4,
jealousy and revenge. He never bore
Il grudgc. He never made Il COM
plant. Hc never uttered an, oath OF
spoke Il lie. Tho only other American
that can be mentioned in the same
class with Lincoln is Washington. lie
WAS an entirely different type Of man.
Washington was an aristocrat, born Of
good parentage. He was high tempered
impetuous, loved money and was by no
means a saint in his home relations
Washington was necessary for the
work that lie had to do. No other man
then living, perhaps could have
brought the revolutionary armies tG
victory. He was great and we'll bal
anced like Lincoln, but he was not
free from some vices. The men of his
time respected and admired Washing
ton. but they did not love him. Men
loved Lincoln.
AS the years SO Oh, it is probable
that February 18th will be more uni
versally observed even than February
22nd. When the South forEets the war
they will still remember that Lincoln
was the best friend that the South had
in the North. The time will come
when they will remember Lincoln's
birthday south OF Mason's and Dixon.s
line, even as it is now remembered in
the North.
NEWSPAPER FILTH.
The yellow nowsna,,,rs .ro ,,,,.;1,