Norwich bulletin., 1920-05-05

against Stephen A. Douglas the author Of fhe repeal. ] While Lincoln made ready for that campaign, as always in every hour or decision, he retired within himself lie consulted no one and gave no hint or ms | line of attack until he called together dozen friends and read to them his open ing speech. which began with those inn i mortal words: "A house divided Against Itself cannot stand. I believe that this i government cannot endure permanently half slave and half free IL VIII become all one thing or all the other. Every man in the little group warned him that if he delivered the speech 1t would defeat him for the senate IT l had to draw a pen across my record ! and erase my whole life from sight, ne quietly replied "and I had one poo ] gift or choice left as to what l should save from the wreck I should choose that speech and leave it to the world un- ] erased.
 The Ldncoin-Dougias debate is the old story over again of David and Goliath \ Although physically Lincoln lowered above the Little Giant who was hard iy five feet, four, Douglas had all but forgotten the country lawyer that he had tleft so far behind in his swift climb up the steps of fame. and the brilliant sen ator patronizingly dismissed his antag- onist now as a "idnd-hearted, amiable gentleman a right good fellow, etc, etc" | Lincoln modestiy admitted that he had [, been fiat 4ailure in the race Of am bition on which the two men had started in Springfield % years before. T affect no contempt" he added, flor the high
 enfnence he has reached. So reached that the oppressed of my species might . have shared with me the elevation l would rather stand on that erainence than wear the richest crown that ever press ed monarch's brow"
 si Lincoln was transfgufed by the great ] issue that had taken possession of him. H 1 Forgetting in his earpestness stage man. ners and platform tricks. his gestures , we're as simple as the words that he . spoke In his high tenor voice, which
 sometimes ran almost into piping fal-
 satto or again softeneA into music.
 Dougas carried few more legislative districts and was reelected, but Lincoir led in the aggregate popular vote. As tho defeated candidate was going home 1T the rainy election night he caught him
 self as he was about to lose his footing
 ane in his superstitious vein, he he drew
 from the incident an omen: Tt is sliI and not fall"
 Lincoln had met his Bunker Hill. Tn, igreat unknown. who had dared to eros lSw0rdS With the foremost cnaInplon O
 the repeal, piqued the curiosity of tn
 lcountry. Accepting an invitation t speak in New York, his Cooper Uniol
 address establinshed his intellectual an
 moral right to lead the nation.
 Nevertheless, when jealous neighbor
 had first entered him as a candidate fo
 tpresident. he protested that he was no
 fit for the place. Until the convention c
 1860 actually met in Chicago his nam
 seldom was mentioned for the honor out
 side of his own state. Two-thirds of tn
 delegates really favored the nominatio
 of William H. Seward, but as so ofte b. happens in politics. the very pre-emir ss ence of the New York senator made hil k unavailable. In the end Lincoln wa g. nominated largely because he was th to least known man on the list of cand 'le dates.
 n. As they reluctantly turned from s, re ward to cast their ballots for Lincol he some of the delegates actually she n- tears for the great man that had falle CT Few dreamed that a greater man ha ug risen.
 al
 gy Tomorrow: Called tp the Helm In
 Storm