The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1909-02-18
New Spring Waists

not being a candidate for reelection.
He was a strong advocate of the
protective tariff policy, but a still
stronger opponent of slavery. He
early saw that war between the North
and South was inevitable, because of
the slavery question and he was deep
ly stirred by the repeal of the Mis-
souri, Compromise in 1854, and he en-
tered actively into the canvas of
that year. In hal memorable cam
paign he was pitted against Stephen
A. Douglas, the little giant" of
the democratic party, and they met
several times in joint debate. but
later Douglas avoided meeting him.
and. as n man said. He hadn't
much to say, anyhow" About this
time Lincoln vas urged to be a
candidate for governor. but he de-
clined. he succeeded however in Sc
curing the election of Lyman Trum-
bell to the United States Senate. In
the first Repu lican National Con-
vention. held in Chicago, in 1856,
he received ITO votes for Vice-Presi-
dent on the ticket with John G. Ere
mont, but layton, of New Jersey, Sc
cured the nomination.
In the campaign That followed,
Lincoln's name hea 4ed the ticket in
Illinois, as a candidate for presiden-
tial-elector, and he went into the
political arena with his very soul
at1ame. He was defeated as elector.
BY this time he had become to some
extent a national figure and was re-
! garded as nj of the really great ora-
tors of that day.
The common people recognized
him as a diamond in the rough and
The was admired and trusted ny all.
No other orator Of that period could
equal him in the rare combination OF
wit, argument and dramatic power.
One who knew him we'll has said:
"At rest, his features, though those
of a nan of mark. are not such as
belong to a handsome man. His
head sits we'll on his shoulders, but
beyond that it defies DIES -rlption. 1t
is very ,arge and phrenologically
we'll proportional, betokening power
in all it's developments. A signify
roman nose, a w.de-cut mouth and
a dark complexion with the appear
ance of having been weather-ueaten,
completes the dscriptior."
In 1858, both he and Douglas
we're candidates for the United States
Senate. Lincoln proposed to Doug
las a series OF joint debates which
Douglas would gladly have ignored,
had not the letter asking for them
been made public. But should he re-
fuse 1t would be an acknowledge
ment of weakness, and he felt con-
strained to accept the challenge.
1t proved to be the most memoir
able debate in the history of the
country and 1T was also far and be-
yond a mere contest between two
men to decide which should be a
United States Senator. The discus
sion involved questions of supreme
Importance 20 the entire citizenship
of the ma ion and stirred the people
from center to circumference.
1t was a critical moment in the
long-drawn struggle between North
and South owe slavery and public
feeling was aroused to the last de-
gree of partisanship. Lincoln was
the acknowledged leader of the re-
publican party while Douglas was
the strong man of the democratic.
1t was a battle royal, between INTEL
lectual giants. Even in good "Old
Illinois," there were thousands who
believed in slavery and at that time
the democratic party was in ascen-
dancy In the state and the natural
inclination to shout for a party man,
just as popular as it now is, and,
while Lincoln made deeper impress
sion upon the mammoth audiences