The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1919-02-06

he forsook farming and sought position
clerk in country store.
Whether Lincoln ever would have been heard
of had not the Black Hawk war occurred about
year after he went to work at New Salem. Sangn-
mon county, remains a question. 1t need not
bother any one. however. because the war did
occur and Lincoln did go into it as captain OF
volunteers.
This might be said to have been the turning
point in his career. Up to this time he had not
found himself. He studying, but drifting He
does not appear to have had any aim in life be
yond the ambition to educate himself and to sue
coed.
Lincoln afterward said that his experience in
the Black Hawk war gave him greater pleasure
than anything that had occurred TO him up to
that time. He had no opportunity to distinguish
himself in that little conflict, but he returned to
New Salem man of more public Importance than
when he left it. He started store, but it failed,
and the debts fell upon him. He was appointed
postmaster, the first federal office he ever held
He ran for the legislature, but was defeated But
the next election he again. and was elected
and later returned for another term
Law and Politics.
While he was keeping a general store he began
the study of law. He once said that one of his
first books copy of the laws of Indiana.
and that about all the law he knew up TO
that time.
It while serving as a legislator in Illinois
that Lincoln first his attention the blot
OF slavery, which he began to oppose with all his
might and influence. After he decided to retire
from the legislature he started to practice law,
having been licensed to practice in 1887. He re-
moved to Springfield, where the remainder of his
days, until he went to Washington as president,
were mainly spent.
In 1916 he was elected to a seat in congress,
but he declined reelection and settled down to
the practice Of his profession in Springfield
Lincoln spent his spare time in the store Of his
friend, Joshua Speed, which was the rendezvous
of many prominent men in that section. He
famed for his stories and for his keenness in de-
bate. 1t was in this little general store that Lin
coin first met Douglas in debate. Douglas was
regarded far and wide little giant in debate.
and he remarked that the store was place for
him to debate any question with Lincoln.
By this time Lincoln had become something of a
politician His party the Wing He took a
lively interest in political affairs. and finally took
part on the Wing side in a joint debate with the
Democrats. Lincoln was the last speaker in that
debate, but his words took the deepest hold of the
spectators and added greatly to his reputation
1t was in Springfield that Lincoln married Mary
Todd, who, it is interesting 10 note, also
sought in marriage by Douglas, who thus became
LincOln'S opponent in love well in politics,
but beaten by him in both
AS lawyer Lincoln might have appeared lazy
to those who did not understand his methods. He
disliked Office work and the drawing of legal pa
pers, but Nhen a case had to be brought TO the
attention OF jury court Lincoln was in his
element. He a born debater and story-teller.
He knew how to get the jury in good humor and
how to make his point to them reach home.
He had the genius for putting the human touch to
all he did, and his homely SMILES and good stories
often went further than his opponents knowledge
of the law
Apostle of Abolition.
But it should not be imagined that Lincoln knew
law, for that would be mistake. He often
would sit up the small hours of the night read
ing law and studying case, while his opponents
probably would be soundly sleeping. When he
went into court he was master of his case, and
that goes long way toward winning verdict.
The practice of law was. beginning to take q
firm hold Lincoln to the exclusion of politics
when the Missouri Compromise was enacted That
reused him, and from that time onward he was
strongly for the abolition of slavery
His position known throughout the coun-
try for he had stUmped the East for Taylor years
before, and the stories Of his quiet humor and
fund of anecdote had penetrated the East conse-
ouently when it evident to the country that
If stood on the eve of a conflict between slavery
and abolition, Lincoln was made the nominee of
the party that firmly fntrenched on the prin-
ciple OF no compromise with Shareholders. He
was nominated and enthusiastically elected
at the national election in 1860.
He had scarcely taken his seat when the war
burst upon the country. It trying time and
no one suffered under it more than did Lincoln
himself But he meant to do his duty and as
always had been his habit, he did it then although
If was most unpleasant and most difficult
When the made its inroads into many
homes, Lincoln had unpleasant duty to per-
form He sympathized with the mothers left at
home and did what he could for their boys at the
front He received the mothers at the White
House talked things over with them and nearly
every one of them left feeling that her boy had a
friend who looked after him although he was far
away in an army corps doing his duty.
1t was this gentle character who was coIdIy
struck down just when the war was at an end
and the country getting ready to rejoice at
the glorious news. The whole country South as
well as North, mourned the loss for even in the
South where the had been most disastrous
the name of Lincoln Joined in memory with
a grand, human, just character, who was even
more than