Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1909-02-11
He DREW THE BLHDE
SLOWLY FROM THE
SCAB5HRD.

drank in order
that he might send some to the other generals" The
battle of Pittsburg Landing, Shiloh had been fought
and almost lost Three months before the country
had dubbed the victor of Fort Unconditional
Surrender" Grant and had made hero of him Now
with the disputed responsibility for the Ptsburg Land
ing surprise, there mighty camor on the part
Of certain newspapers and politicians, that Grant be
superseded Representative Blow talked freely with the
president. He told him what he had known of Grant
before the and mentioned fear entertained bv
some persons that Grant drank much to be ntrusted
with high command. Mr.. Blow was smooth spoken
man with sharp black eyes, quick to appreciate bumor
lie had been successful business man for wears
before he became interested in politics. He was rather
below the height President Lincoln listened
thoughtfully until Mr. Blow had expressed himself and
then asked with apparent seriousness what brand of
whisky Grant drank Explaining why he sought be in
formation he used the language about sending some to
the other generals which has become historic
Some men "who knew Lincoln" do not believe the no
ltica history which has been written credits him with
his full part in the genesis of the Republican party They
remember where Lincoln stood toward the last whie
conventions. They recall the movement to make him
vcepesldent on the ticket with Fremont in 1856 which
fortunately was abandoned grounds of expediencv
AND they mention political acts Lincoln which
no small significance when taken with subsequent
events John r. Spears of Tallula knew Lincoln from
1888, when he was surveyor was prominent IN tho
politics of the day. He heard Lincoln speak in ba Har
rison convention of Illinois in 1910 and in support Of the
nomination OF Clay before the Whig convention of Ii
nos in 1874 and other occasions before the Renuh
can party organized Mr. Spears has this recollection of
the beginning of the Republican movement:
Lincoln called meeting of few friends at a coun-
try store where Tallua is He had been surveyor
when the county (now Menarc) part of Sanga-
mon He knew almost everybody There were 40 or SO
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
what position he thought should be upon the oues-
uons OF the day. especially slavery There was no
paper to be had. LINCOLN drew newspaper from his
pocket, lay down the cellar door and wrote nm the
margin the essence of the principles which formed the
Republican party. This, believe the first meeting
ol the kihd In the United States 1t was year or
before the convention at Bloomington where the Renub
mean party of Illinois was started where Lincoln
made one of the best speeches his life which was
lost" ~ ~
MI Spears does not recall the time of this meet
ing at which Lincoln wrote the margin of newsnaper
the first Republican platform He knows that the meet
ing was caieo oy Lincoln two years or before the
national convention which nominated Fremont in 1856
lie knows that this enunciaton of Republican principles
was before the Bloomington convention
Martin L. Bundy wrote from Newcastle Ind to the