Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1919-02-07
Martufed President Most IlluStriouS
Example Of What Work. Calls The
Self-Made Man.


Of had not the Black Hawk war occurred about
year after he went to work at New Salem Sanga-
mon county remains question. 1t need not
bother any one, however, because the did
occur and Lincoln did go into it captain of
volunteers.
This might be said to have been the turning
point1in his career Up to this time he had not
found himself. He was 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 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 1t 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 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 was copy of the laws Of Indiana,
and that about all the law he knew up to
that time.
1t was while serving as legislator in Illinois
that Lincoln first turned his attention to the blot
of slavery, which he began to oppose with all his
from the legislature he started to practice law,
having been licensed to practice In 1887. He
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 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 was
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 no place for
him to debate any question with Lincoln.
By this time Lincoln had become something OF
politician His party was the Wing. He took
lively interest in political affairs, and finally took
part on the Wing side in 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 to note, was also
sought in marriage by Douglas who thus became
Lincoln's opponent in love as well as in politics.
but beaten by him in both.
AS lawyer Lincoln might have appeared lazy
to those who did not understand his methods. He
dsliked office work and the drawing Of legal pa
pers, but when case had to be brought to the
attention of jury court Lincoln was in his
element He was 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.
Put it should not be imagined that Lincoln knew
no law, for that would be mistake. He often
would sit up to the small hours of the night read
Inc ar nd vi xyff 10 pprltc
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 a
firm hold on Lincoln to the exclusion of politics
when the Missouri Compromise enacted. That
rolsed 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
f,snd OF anecdote had penetrated the East, conse-
qaently, when it was evident to the country that
il stood on the of conflict between slavery
ard abolition Lincoln was made the nominee of
the party that firmly lntrenched on the prin-
ciple of no compromise with shareholders. He
WIS nominated and was enthusiastically elected
at the national election in 1860.
He had scarcely taken his seat when the war
burst upon the country. 1t was trying time, and
nu suffered under 1t more than did Lincoln
hi1aself. But he meant to do his duty, and as
always had been his habit. he did 1t then, although
it was most unpleasant and most difficult.
yhen the made its inroads into many
homes, Lincoln had unpleasant duty to per-
fosm. He sympathized with the mothers left at
hoyae and did what he could for their boys az the
frcSit He received the mothers at the White
Hoase, talked things with them, and nearly
every one of them left feeling that her boy had a
friand who looked after him although he was far
away in an army corps doing his duty.
Il was this gentle character who was coldiy
struck down just when the war was at an end
ana the country getting ready to rejoice at
thu glorious news. The whole country, South az
wei as North, nourned the loss. for even In the
South. where the war had been most DISASTROUS.
the name Of Lincoln was joined IL memery with
xs~nd human, just character. who wus even
more than man.