Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1921-12-30

ner. the ruins of the Free state MOTEL
the smoking tImbers Of the Herald Of
Freedom, the governor Of Kansas
chained to a stake like a hOrse-thief."
In June, 1853, he took the longest
step of all. The Republican state con-
vention had endorsed him for the uni
ted States senate. II was then that
he wrote on envelopes and scraps
Of paper at odd moments, when his
mind was of duty. the speech begin
ming:
"A house divided against Itself must
fall. Our government can not long
endure part slave and part free"
/ was among the dozen friends to
whom ne read that speech In the State
house library. One said Of those first
sentences: ut is fool utterance.H
Another: 1T is ahead of it's time"
Another declared that 1T would drive
away the Democrats who had lately
Joined the party. Herndon and Iwere
the only ones who approved It.
Lincoln had come to another fork in
the road. For moment wondered
which way he would go.
Immediately he rose and said with
an emphasis that silenced opposition:
''F'riends, this thing has been held
back long enough. The time has come
when these sentiments should be ut
tered, and IL " is decreed that / shall
90 down because Of this speech, then
let me go. down linked to the truth
His conscience prevailed. The
speech was delivered. Douglas, thu
Democratic candidate, came on from
Washington to answer It. That led
to Lincolns challenge to Joint de
bate was with him through that
long campaign. Douglas was the more
finished orator. Lincoln spoke as he
split rails. His conscience was his
beetle. He drove his arguments deep
into the souls Of his hearers. The
great thing about him was his con.
science Unless his theme were big
enough to give 1t play In noble words
he could be as commonplace as any
one. He was built for a tool Of God
In tremendous moral issues He was
awkward and diffident In beginning a
speech. Often his hands were locked
behind him. He gesticulated more
with his head than his hands. He
stood square-toed always, He never
walked about on the platform. He
scored his points with the long, bony.
Index finger of his right hand. Some
times he would hang hand on the
lapel of his coat as IL to rest 1t. Per
spIration dripped from his face. His
voice, high pitched at first, mellowed
into pleasant sound.
One sentence in Lincoln's speech ST
Ottawa thrust 1.-THE Little Giant" of
IllincSs out of his way forever. twas
this pregnant query:
"Can the people of a United States
territory in any lawful way and
against the wish of any citizen of the
United States exclude slavery from
It's limits prior to the formation Of O
state constitutions
He knew that Douglas would an
swer yes and that, doing so, he woult
ALLEVIATE the South and destroy hii
/ chance to be President two years later
That is exactly what came to pass
"The Little Giants" answer was the
famous 'sFreeport Heresy." He wai
elected to the senate, but was no long
er possible as a candidate for tn,
/ presidency.
come now to the last step in the
career Of my friend and beloved mas
ter. It was the Republican conyen
ton OF 1850 In Chicago. I was 1
delegate. The New Workers came II
white beaver hats enthusiastic TO
Seward, their favorite son. He wal
the man we dreaded most. Many Il
the great crowd were wearing his col
ors. The delegations were in earnes
session the night before the ballotini
began. The hotel corridors wer
thronged with excited men, MY ia
ther had become man of wealth ant
great influence In Illinois. was witt
him when he went into the meeting o
the Michigan delegates and talked 4
them. He told how he came West Il
a wagon and saw the spirit of Amer
lea I'm the water floods of Niagara an
saw again the spirit OF America in tn
life OF the boy, Abe Lincoln, the
flowing toward its manhood. Whe
he sat down, the Honorable DENIM
Flanagan arose. and told OF meetin
the Traylor party at the Falls, whe
he was driving an ox-team, In tai
beaver hat; how he had remembers
their good advice and cookies an
jerked venison.
Gentlemen" he said, ~ am wilIin
toStake the word of a man whose nam
Is hallowed by my dearest recolIeC
lions. And believing what he has sal
OF Abraham Lincoln, I am for him o
the second ballot"
The green Irish lad, whom remen
Der dim1y, had become great polit
cal chieftain and his words had muc
effect. There was a stir among tn
= delegates. / turned and saw the tai