The Dickinson press., 1909-02-13
BY HORATIO BLISS
pyri6ht. 1909. By American Press Aseocistio

ice has never been done Mrs. Lincoln.
Size was not without a prophetic quail
tty in divining her husbands future
eminence, she had spiritual insight,
she suffered many sorrows, and de-
spite her difference from Mr.. Lincoln
In temperament and inherited manners
and beliefs she was loyal to him
throughout.
One other character has been mini
mized much in the same way-William
q. Seward, Lincoln's chief competitor
for the presidential nomination and
afterward his secretary of state. One
thing that can be said for Seward is
that he was man enough to acknowl-
edge Lincoln's greatness when he saw
1t. He refused to plot against his
chief, as did some Of bis fellow men,
bers of the cabinet. He was a wise
counselor and unselish statesman. He
had enough foresight to buy Alaska
when the public scoffed at him for the
act. The truth about Seward is that
he was Of a very high type, but not.
withstanding his height was YER
Swallowed.
i Mr.. Lincoln's life falls into two
great divisions-that preceding the re
peal Of the Missouri compromise and
the formation of the Republican par
ty and that following these twin
events. His n term In congress was
the last important public service in
the first period. Following this were
five or six years Of law with little or
no politics. In congress Lincoln had
gained a reputation as a story teller
and wit. had made one or two cam.
paign speeches, had introduced a
measure to abolish slavery in the Dis
trict Of Columbia and had refused to
say that the Mexican war was right
eous. Following his term he had ap-
piled for the Office Of land commission
er, to which he had not been appoint
ed, and had been offered the governor
ship Of Oregon, which he declined. In
1850 he refused another nomination
to congress and in 1852 delivered a
eulogy on Henry Clay. 1t was in 1854
that he really re-entered politics, be.
ing stirred thereto by the repeal of
the Missouri compromise. That year
he was elected to the legislature, but
refused to serve. .He var also a can.
didate for United States senator, com
ing within a few votes, of winning
With rare unselfshness he threw all
his strength to Lyman Trumbull and
elected him. For Lincoln to go tt
Trumbull. who had but a handful Of
supporters, was like the tail wagging
the dog, but it prevented the election
Of a proslavery man. ,a.p
In 1856 MI. Lincoln participated ir
the formation OF. the Republican party
making his great ''lost speech" Al
Bloomington. He also received liz
votes for vico president in the Repub
Ilican national convention and ran fol
elector on the Fremont ticket. Two
years later came his great debates
with Douglas, which were held at OF
tawa, Freeport, Jonesboro, Charleston
Galesburg, Quincy and Alton. AS &
result he had a popular majority, but
was beaten by holdover senator's and
a gerrymander. .......
Following the struggle with Doug
las Mr.. Lincoln made speeches in Ohio
Kansas, New England and the famous
address in Cooper Union, New York
Early in 1860 the Illinois state conven
tion instructed for him for president
and in the national convention thai
met at Chicago, May 1919, he was
nominated on the third ballot. In thu
following campaign Mr.. Lincoln re
manned at home and declined to make
speeches. The Democratic party spill
on slavery, which made his election
possible. Following the announcement
of the result many of the southern
states seeded, but the president elec'
refused to be drawn into any public
utterance as to his policy. On Feb. II
1861, he started to Washington, max
ing a few short addresses on the way
and secretly passing through ,Balti
more because of rumOrs of possible