The Virginia enterprise., 1909-02-19
HE DREW THE BLHDE
SLOWLY FROM THE
SC4BB7RD.


that he might send to the other generals" The
battle OF Pittsburg Landing Shiloh had been fought
and almost lost. Three months before the country
mad dubbed the victor of Fort Doneson unconditional
Surrender Grant, and had made hero of him. Now
with the disputed responsibility for the Pittsburg Land
Ing SURPRISE there arose mighty clamor on the part
OF certain newspapers and politicians that Grant be
superseded Representative Blow talked freev with tho
president He told him what he had known of Grant
before the war and mentioned the entertained bv
some that Grant drank much to be intrusted
with high command. Mr. Blow smooth spoken
man. with sharp black eyes, quick appreciate humor
He had been successful business man for wears
before ne became interested in politics. He was rather
below the average height President Lincoln 1;ctonod
thoughfully until Mr. Blow had expressed himself and
then asked with apparent seriousness what brand of
whisky Grant drank Explaining why he sought the in
formation, he used the language about sending Soma n
the other generals which has become historic
Some who knew Lincoln" do not he,;ovo tho M
ltlcal history which has been written credits him with
his full part in the genesis of the Republican partv Thew
remember where Lincoln stood toward the last Whig
conventions They recall the movement to make him
vicepresident the ticket Fremont in 1s5e h;h
fortunately was abandoned grounds of expedencv
And they mention political acts of Lincoln which
no small significance when taken with subseouent
events John R. Spears of Tallua knew Lincoln from
1888, when he was He prominent in the
politics OF the day. He heard Lincoln speak in the Har
rson convention of Illinois 1910 and in sunnort of
nomination of Clay before the Whg convention of 1
nos in 1884, and other occasions before the Renuh
can party organized Mr. Spears has this recollection Of
Tue beginning OF the republican movement:
Lincoln called meeting of few friends at conn
try store where Tallua is He had been surveyor
when the county (now Menard) part of Sanea-
mon He knew almost everybody. There were 40 or 50
In the gathering at the store. Mr.. Lincoln made talk
reviewing political conditions Offering suggestions
as to the future He called for paper to write down
wnat position he thought should be taken upon the
lions OF the day. especially slavery There was no
paper to be had Lincoln drew a newspaper from his
pocket lay down the cellar door and wrote IN tho
margin the essence of the principles which formed the
Republican party This, believe, the first meeting
OF the kind in the United States 1t year or
the convention at Bloomington where the Repu
hcan party of Illinois started and where Iincoln
made one of the best speeches of his life which was
lost" ~~
Mr. Spears does not recall the time of this meet
Ing at which Lincoln. wrote the margin of newsnaner
the first Republican platform He knows that the meet
ing was called by Lincoln two more before the
national convention which nominated Fremont in 1s5s
He knows that this enuncation Republican prncinlea
was before the Bloomington convention
Martin L. Bundy wrote from Newcastle, Ind. to the