The Colorado statesman., 1919-02-08
Martured President Most InustTiouS
Example of What World Calls the
Self-Made Man..

Whether Lincoln ever would have been heard
of had not the Black Hawk 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 war did
occur and Lincoln did go into it as captain oil
volunteers.
This might be said to have been the turning
point in his 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
ceed.
Lincoln afterward said that his experience in
the Black Hawk war gave him greater pleasure
than anything that had occurred to him up tc
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 1t fatled
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 ran again, and was elected
and later returned for another term
Law and Politics.
While he was keeping Il general store he began
the study of law He said that one of his
first books was n copy of the laws of Indiniu.
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
oc slavery. which he began oppose with all his
might and influence. After he decided to retire
from the legislature he started 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,
mainly spent.
In 1916 he 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 the rendezvous
of many prominent men in that section. He was
famed for his stories and for his keenness in de-
bate 1t 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 a
politician. His party the Whig. He took a
lively interest in political affairs and finally took
part on the Whg side in joint debate with the
Democrats. Lincoln 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 was 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 had to be brought to the
attention of jury or court Lincoln was in his
element. He 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
no law for that would be a mistake. FIe often
would sit up to the small hours of the night read
ing law and studying case, while his opponents
probably would be sOundly sleeping. When he
went into he master of his case, and
that goes a long way toward winning n verdict.
The practice of law was beginning to take
firm hold on Lincoln to the exclusion of politics
when the Missouri Compromise was enacted. That
reused him. and from that time onward he
strongly for the abolition of slavery.
His position was known throughout the
try for he had stumped the East for Taylor years
before and the stories of his quiet ltumor and
fund of anecdote had penetrated the East,
ouently, when it was evident to the country that
il stood on the eve of conflict between slavery
and abolition, Lincoln was made the nominee of
the party that firmly intrenched on the prin-
cple of no compromise with Shareholders. He
was nominated. and was enthusiastically elected
ot the national election in 1880
He had scarcely taken his seat when the war
hurst upon the country 1t was trying time, and
M one suffered under 1t more than did Lincoln
himself But he meant to do his duty. and. as
always had been his habit, he did it then, although
it was most unpleasant and most difficult
When the made its nroads 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
IJouse talked things with them. and nearly
every one of them left feeling that her boy had
friend who looked after him although he far
AWAY in an army corps doing his duty
II was this gentle character who coldly
struck down just when the at an END
and the country was getting ready rejoice at
The glorious news. The whole country. South as
he 1oSS for I'm tha
south where the had been most disastrous,
the name OF Lincoln joined in memory with
Il grand human. just character. who
more than man.