The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-02-10

tfce has never been done Mrs. Lincoln.
she was not without prophetic quail
ity In divininR 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.
mined much in the same way-William
III. Seward, Lincoln's chief competitor
for the presidential nomination and
afterward his secretary Of state. One
thing that can be said for Seward H.
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 his fellow mem
bers Of the cabinet. He was wise
counselor and unseifish 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 very high type, but not.
withstanding his height was over
shadowed.
Mr.. LincOln's life falls into two
great divisions-that preceding the re
peal Of the Missouri compromise and
b the formation OF the Republican par
~ and that following these twin
events. His one term in congress was
the last important public service In
the first period. Following this were
Eve or six years of law with little Oh
no politics. In congress Lincoln had
gained a reputation as 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 tc
say that the Mexican war was right
eous. Following his term he had ap,
piled for the Office Of land commission
or, to which he had not been appoint
ed, and had been offered the governor.
ship of Oregon. which he declined. Ir
1850 lie refused another nomination
to congress and III 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 yeal
he was elected to the legislature. but
refused to serve. He was also can.
didate for United States senator. com
ing within few votes Of winning
With rare unself1shness he threw al.
his strength to Lyman Trumbull and
elected him. For Lincoln to go tC
Trumbull, who had but q handful OF
supporters. was like the tail wagginl
the dog, but 1t prevented the election
of proslavery man.
In 1856 Mr.. Lincoln participated Iii
the formation Of the Republican party.
making h.s great lost speech" at
Bloomington. He also received 11C
votes for vice president In the Repub.
lican 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 II
result he had popular majority, but
was beaten by hOldover senators and
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 1850 the Illinois state conven'
tiOn instructed for him for president
and in the national convention that
met ut Chicago, May 1919, he was
nominated on the third ballot. In the
following campaign Mr.. Lincoln re-
mained at home and declined to MAKE
speeches. The Democratic party split
on slavery, which made his election
possible. Following the announcement!
of the result many of the southern
states seeded, but the president elect
refused to be drawn into any public
utterance as to his policy. On Feb. IL
1861, he started to Washington, max.
ing few short addresses on the way
and secretly passing through Baltl
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