Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-10-31
Half Fights the
of Another Day. and Figures the Stump and PtmWhen
Uncle Joe Cannon Game

against three other candidates
twelve years of federalism. and sixty
Of democracy entered the third great
political epoch-forty-four years OF
republicanism.
* x X
T 1NCOLN did not receive a majority
of the popular vote cast, but hav-
ing large plurality over Douglas he
carried seventeen out Of the thirty
three states and received a majority of
fifty-seven in the electoral vote. Other
Presidents, who have been elected by a
minority Of the popular vote. have been
Polk. Taylor. Buchanan, Hayes, Gar
field, Cleveland. Benjamin Harrison and
Wilson. All OF these received a plurality
Of the votes. except Hayes.
The 1860 campaign was one of the
most memorable historically in the an
mails of this country. 1t was sigma Lied
by immense mass meetings. Torchlight
professions were at their zenith. stump
speeches were made as never before or
since. and ringing campaign songs added
to the general excitement. Party feel
ing ran strong and deep.
Uncle Joe'' Cannon, scheduled for a
return % the House for his twenty-third
term, Is the only man living whose name
was on the ballot with Lincoln's. Can
non won out for states attorney.
William H. Seward was the out
standing republican party leader and its
ablest early champion. Two-thirds of
vention were friendly to him. Lincoln
was chosen because the majority of the
states could best agree on him and be-
cause he could carry Pennsylvania and
Indiana Seldom, if ever, in the panora-
ma Of American politics has a greater
4.
nee been given than in the temporary
wigwam in Chicago. erected to seat
about 5000, than when the first repub-
lican President was nominated. II was
a battle of the giants Thurlow weed
master politician, led the fight for Sew
parade before the convention: When
Lincoln's friends got wind OF this they
packed the wigwam, while the Seward
forces were marching, with men whose
one purpose was to hurrah for Lincoln:
So when the Seward parade attempted
already filled. Frenzied cheers for ABE
Lincoln" dominated the. proceedings
Horace Greeley, editor of the then "Re-
publican Bible,' who had started the
opposition to Seward, was seated as a
member Of the Oregon delegation
nounced the switch OF four votes that
gave Lincoln majority. large charcoal
picture of the rail splitter" was display
ed from the rear gallery. The vast gatn-
ering, packed largely with Lincoln part
sans, gave way to pandemonium; TINS
convention is recorded in political
history as the ablest that ever assem-
,bled up to that time and as having
evidenced the highest type OF POLITICAL
strategy, which is studied and copied
even to this day. Lincoln as President
appointed Carter Chief Justice OF Inc
The democratic convention that
year met for the first time in the Tar
south, at Charleston, home of CAL
houn. cradle of notification and hot
bed Of secession. It was stormy as
semblage. and a number OF states states
pomp and ceremony. stephen A.
Douglas had a majority. but could not
command two-thirds of the depleted
convention, SO, after the fifty-seventh
ballot, it was decided to adjourn the
convention to Baltimore. The seced-
journed to Richmond. At the second
regular convention. in Baltimore. still
other state delegations seeded, but
finally Douglas was declared the
democratic nominee, having received
practically the unanimous vote of the
seceders from the Baltimore conven-
ton and the seceders from the
Charleston: convention organized an
other convention, with twenty-one
states represented, and, after applying
the two-thirds rule. ]. c. Breckenridge
Of Kentucky was nominated.
Douglas made a very vigorous
speaking campaign, while Lincoln and
Breckenridge took no prominent part
personally. An outstanding feature
Of the campaign was the development
Of war spirit in the north. This was
quickened by organizations known as
wide Awake clubs. They wore caps
and. capes and carried lanterns in
night parades. They drilled as mill
tary organizations. because the winds
from the south carried threats Of war.
College men were interested to a
marked degree in the Lincoln-Dou-
misunderstanding campaign. and
never before and seldom since has
there been such able discussion of ma
Of slavery. Campaign songs made
popular was:
Hurrah! for the choice Of the ma ton,
Our chieftain so brave and true:
Well go for the great reformation,
For Lincoln and liberty. too.
OF unusual literary merit were some
Of these songs, for example:
No sectional feud shall e'er sever
The bands which our forefa theirs wrought;
The Union forever and ever,
Unsulied. unstAtned and unbought,
Is the watchworkd from Lincoln we borrow.
And he stands by his promise SO true:
Then who will our leader not follow
When his nog is the red, white and blue?
This election of Lincoln was the