Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-02-13
SHOWS LINCOLN AS THE PLAIN
man OF THE PLAIN PEOPLE


and himself foremost figure in our
political life, I must then affirm WITH
out hesitation that in the history OF.
our government down to this hour, IL
made as that of eleyating to the head,
of affairs a man with so little prev
ious preparation for his task as Mr.
Lincoln
Wendell Phillips, the petted mouth
Piece of the literary Brahmins of New
England. cried out: Who is this buck
ster in politics? Who is this country
court advocated?
Who indeed was he? In Illinois b:
was known as a. lawyer and advocate
eff ability and tact, and man shrewd
and forceful. as well as honest in poll
teal affairs and management. InNthe
country at large he had reputation
for ability, very moderate in kind and
degree, based on his local promi
hence and on his having met on equal
terms, in what he made almost :.
drawn battle. the political idol of 3
=
senator from Illinois. Judge Dougles.
Was Out of Funds.
but he had never held an execu-
tive office; his experience as a legisla
tor even was very limited. He was
poor in pocket, obliged to borro y
money to feed his family in Washing
ton until his salary should be payable
He was ungainly and almost shamb
ling in appearance; sometimes melan
choly and moody in disposition; care
less i'll dress; simple and unconven
tional, almost rustic in his habits; alb
solutely without the capacity of posing
either physically or intellectually, as
| a great man. There were no stained
glass attitudes at his disposal or IL
his thoughts. A simply-acting, simply
speaking man. without pretense OIL
pretension; neither imposing himsei
the arrogance of others who might 81
consider themselves. he moved anon:
ordinary men and those who believed
themselves extraordinary, with The
same unaffected and unassuming mier,
What was it he took that journe.
As years ago to confront?
He had, nearly a year before, t;
the bitterest disappointment of man!
of its leaders and despite his inexper
| fence, been made the nominee of
new and powerful but sectional part,
for the presidency. After contestO
great bitterness that party had wo!
| the fight. but its victory. which owe,
! all its Significance to its position y
determined hostility to tie. eXtensio.
| of slavery to the territories. seemed &
have turned into Generalization am
! disaster after the election. The-large
/ part of the south was in open rebei
| lion, the rest preparing to follow; hal
of the country all .ablaze with the Ell
thusiasm of newborn, hopeful reVoft
4 ton; the federal government: in doub
and irresolution, with many of it's prir
i cipal officers in open sympathy VIII
the insurgents; the army, navy an
treasury depleted. @
THE fruits of the great victory c
liberty-lovers III the election of a
lanti-slavery president would hav
seemed hard enough to retain, wer
it the south alone that thus in defian
arms stood ready to resist; but at tn
north also the situation was depres.
/, ing. The joy of the fight over-som'
thing like dismay and remorse seize
the very men who had won it. A SUI
den fear changed their cry from tia
of opposition to the spread of SLAYER
at any price, to that of peace and unto
at any price. Concession and con
promise on the vital matters on whic
the political contest had been wage
, were demanded on every side.
/ The new president was criticise
{ and distrusted by men who had vote
. for him and apparently believed
y him up to the time that their fait
: should have been proved by the
4 works, while the opposition, compri
=. u