The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-02-05

%ISIAS ". EDWARDS.
people in the courthouse ut Springfield.
DIR. Early. one OF the candidates OH the
Democratic side. made some charge
that \. W. Edwards. one OF the candi-
dates on the Wing side, deemed an.
true. Edwards climbed on table, SO
as to be seen by Early and by every
one In the house, aud at the top OF his
voice told Early that the charge was
false. The excitement that followed
was intense-so much so that fighting
men thought that duel must settle
Fthe difficulty. Mr.. Lincoln by the pro-
gramme followed Early. lie took up
the subject In dispute and handled Il
fairly and with such ability that every
one was astonished and pleased. So
that difficulty ended there. Then for
the first time, developed by the excite
ment OF the occasion, lie spoke In that
tenor lntonation of voice that ultimate
~ settled down into that clear, shrlil
monotone style Of speaking that ena.
bled his audience. however large. to
hear distinctly the lowest sound OF his
voice."
It was during this campaign, posi-
bly, at the same meeting, that Mr..
Speed heard him reply to George For.
quer. F'orquer had been leading
Wing, one Of their foremost men in the
legislature Of 1884, but had then re-
Gently changed sides and thereupon
was appointed register OF the land Of.
fee at Springfield. Mr.. Forluer was
an astonishing man. He not only as.
tonlshed the people by Changing his
coat III politics." but by building the
best frame house In Springfield and
erecting over 1t the only lightning rod
the entire region could boast Of. At
this meeting he listened attentively to
Mr.. Lincoin's first speech and was
much annoyed by the transcendent
power with which the awkward young
man defended the principles he had
himself so lately abandoned. "rhe
speech produced profound impress
sion. especially upon large number
OF Lincoln's friends and admirers. who
had come In from the country" ex-
pressly to hear and applaud him.
His Lightning Rod Repartee.
Eat the conclusion OF f.ineoin's
speech" I'VE quote from Mr.. SpceD
"the crowd WIS dispensing when For
quer rose and asked to be heard. lie
commenced by saying that the young
man would have to be taken down and
was sorry that the task devolved upon
him. lie then proceeded to answer
Ilncoln's speech In n style which. while
1t was able and fair. yet in his whole
manner asserted and claimed superior
ity. Lincoln stood near him and
watched him during the whole of his
speech. When Forqner concluded, he
took the stand again. I have often
heard him since In court aud before
the people, but never saw him appear
so well as upon that occasion. He re-
piled to Mr.. Forquer with grent dlgni-
~ and force, but I shall never forget
the conclusion OF that speech. Turning
to Mr.. Forquer, he said that he had
commenced his speech by announcing
that this young man would have to be
taken down Turning then to the
crowd, he said: 1T Is for you, not for
me. to say whether I am up or down.
The gentleman has alluded to my be-
Ing young man. I am older in years
than am in the tricks and trades Of
politicians. I desire to live, and de-
sire place and distinction as pollti-
clan, but I would rather die now than,
like the gentleman, live to see the day
that would have to erect lightning
rod to protect a guilty conscience from
an offended Cod"
He afterward told Speed that the
sight Of that same rod chad led him to
the study OF the properties OF electric
lily and the utility OF the rod as a con-
ductor.r