Newark post., 1910-02-09
Abraham Lincoln
A SKETCH.

A SKETCH.
Who would have though that the
boy, Abraham Lincoln, born of Poor
whites, was destined to occupy the
Presidential chair? Hardin County.
Kentucky, claims the honor OF being
his birthplace, where he first saw the
light OF day on February IL, 1900. He
was reared in the midst of poverty and
ignorance. His father was a carpenter
and a poor one, at that He seemed
TO be satisfied with an easy, lazy life,
and the mother of Lincoln was little
better than her husband. When the lad
was seven years OF age the family
moved to Indiana, where the mother
died in 1913. In due time the father
married again, bringing TO his home
woman, who proved to be a good step
mother. She improved conditions i'll
the wretched home, ard cared well for
the children. The boy picked up lit
tie schooling first in Kentucky. and
then i'll lndia:<,, but the schooling OF
his lie could be compressed within one
wear. However, he developed the
taste for Knowledge, and he read such
books as the Bible, Aesops Fables,
Robinson Crusoe and Pilgrims Pro-
gress. AS a youth he was known.
throughout the neighborhood as
bright and diigent story-teller. When
he was I'll years of age the family went
to Illinois. He soon showed his in
terest in the house by clearing a space
of about IS acres, planting it with corn
and then splitting rails, after which he
considered himself at liberty to strike
out for himself First, one occupation
and then another engaged his atten-
ton He was store keeper and post
master, beginning at this stage of his
career the study of law At the age OF
"a he was the CAPTAIN OF company
OF militia called out by Governor Rey-
nolds, OF Illinois, to help bring the
Indians TO terms. He went through
the Black Hawk war without brush
with the enemy AT the age OF Is his
ambition made him seek to become
member of the State legislature, and
he secured the coveted prize. At 27
he was admitted to the bar, and began
the practice OF law in Springfield. At
,S, still higher honor awaited him,
when he was elected a member of
Congress. While in Congress he was
an opponent OF the slave question,
though not regarded as an offensive
opponent Nine years later his fame
as political speaker had reached the
East, and calls came to address poll
tical gatherings i'll New York. He en-
gagged in Joint debate with Stephen A.
Douglas, OF Illinois. his aim being to
be chosen by the legislature as a Sena
tor from Illinois He failed to win. but
the contest served to bring him promi-
nently before his party as its possible
candidate for the Presidency. However
he ielt the defeat keenly, saying that
was like the boy who stumped his
toe: at hurt too bad to laugh, and
he was too big to cry" At the age
OF 81 he received the nomination OF the
Republican party for the Presidency.
The nomination was almost equivalent
to an election. since the Democrats
were hopelessly divided, and had two
tickets in the field, while the old Know
Nothing Party, under a new name, led
no chance OF winning. Once again
Lincoln and Douglas met as political
.onsoents, but this time Douglas tasted
the bitterness of defeat. 1t may be IN
terestine to run over the figures OF that
exciting election The popular vote
was as follows: Lincoln, 1850 .452
Douglas. Northern Democratic Party
I15I57. Breckenridge, Southern De-
mocratic Party. S47,953. Bell, Union
Party. 5oo,63I. The electoral vote was
thus divided: Lincoln. 1So; Douglas,
12: Breckenridge, u, and Bell 80
Shortly after the news OF Lincoln
victory was made known, the State
Convention OF South Carolina passed
an Ordinance OF Secession, which was
the signal for the Southern States TO
withdraw from the Union. In little
over month after Lincoln's inaugu-
ration. Fort Swift was ,bombarded'
and the Civil War was on. In 1904
Lincoln was elected for asccond term
OF office, his opponent General McClel-
lah, making poor showing. The elec-
toral vote stood 2I2 to FL. On March
= 4th 1865. he was inaugurated; on Aprli
9th following came the surrender OF
Lee thus practically closing the war;
and five davs later on April 18th the
President was killed in Fords hea,
ire Washington. The dastardly deed
was committed by a fanatic, Jotili
Wilkes Rootn. an actor, who having
fred the fatal shot, leaped from the
hox shoutiro the words. Sic Semper
Tvrannis." and then fled IRON the
scene ia die later on from the bullet OF
soldier The death OF Lincoln was 4
calamity Before the Christian era,
one TnIius Caesar was forced into a
civil war, and being crushed, his op-
moments contrary to all expectations,
planned to unite the opposing forces,
He conceived of good scheme Tor
the correction of all abuses in govern
me,t and for the expansion of the
Roman Empire. A fanatic, Brutus'
conspred with some jealous men ~
kill Caesar. Having accompisheu
their purpose they plunged this coun,
try into all the horrors OF war, l.ae
Caesar been permitted to live some,
wears who can tell to what height OF
glory he would have led Rome? The
III - T ;,co1, was a calamity, since