Norwich bulletin., 1921-02-12
uE.AEAN WHO TALKS

Aincc1R-Ghe cuSpr4nE Of poverty anu ohscurity. The day on waicn these lines appeared in print will be February 12, the anniversary of the birth of the greatest man of ,he uinetssnta century" No man in all our history who rose tv the exalted pos'tion of president ever sprang from such .owix origin. The log cabin in Kentucky, h when he was born Feoraary IF, 1909, was the home of aD- iect poverty. I cannot learn that the young Abraham actually suffered from want and hunger, but his father, rest. less, thriftless man, living by odd johs at carpentry and farming. was a wreched- iy paoe preytder. Ills mother, frail we- man, dying young, left him sorry crea- tufe; but his fathers second wife, Wo- man of eeod nature and great energy. vas the salvation of those early days. It was the step-gnother who disc0verea the uncut diamond; it was her kindly hand that washed off the mud and let 1t shine. The poverty of this log cabin was b9nished Ay the richness of LineoinH spirit. No. boy need to be ashamed of the squalor of his early surroundings i; the disgrace comes in when he h satis- fed with 1t.
 LiEees1-Khe bay eageF fer IeOrnAnG. The nest popular story of American life with boyS is probably the episode of
 
 the next ts Lincoln studying at nighs by the flicker of pine torch. There is . wide difference between them: the hatch et story is clearly fake but Ltncoln'a torch is vefitahle history. The past is full of illustrations, and nowhere more clearly than in Lincoln's early life where as' real thirst for knowledge will con- quor obstacles that are seemingly in- superable. For tine explanation of this we have not far to seek: If one's destde fer knowledge, or anything else, is over mastering it will call forth ones latent powers that are equal to the task. When suite young, Lincoln net only had this passion for S.arning. but grew very strong l physically. His long, lank, ungainiy figure was the very Incarnation oi strength, generally commented on by all who knew him. Thus Nature very kind Y equipped him for carrying ont Iii. 1 enor for seh-education. What an in 1 spiration this ought to be to every MvelJ desire to make the most of yourself Then go to 1t with just the eQuipmen4 you have! You can't be more handi l capped than Lincoln was. Write Excel siof on ycnF banner and then plungv 1 through "snow and ice"
 f LlRootn--The yeunE lawyer and bud 4 dinS DoHtaeisA. The preparation he mad | for the bar seems to have been yer, II vague and his studies desuitory. Tn fl wonder is that he could qualify for ad natasieR when we consider that twice
 failed tn business and was not . gfea
 success at fhrming during this period c
 hWt study. but in due season he va regularly admitted. His staEt In the DO ], Hticnl world was lareeay due to hi ! genial gpod nature. We can hardly suf ]. pose that his dull surroundings Ver alive to his extraordinary mental endoN
 meat. but his great athletic strength, hl 1 dauntless courage, his manliness an kindly disposition made him exoeeding7 , l popular. It wouldn't be bad for yeun
 men today who want to make most 1 themselves to take their cue fros
 these qualities. One cannot be DOT ? ulsr If he Is grouchy, and without pel sonal popularity there is no chance
 saecess in politics. Lincoln made peep . like him and that commanded theft vote Why can't yeu, young man, do the sant Lincoln-A member of the state es federal legislatures. It Is not my pu
 pose to enter the stormy scenes tn: - attended Ltncoin's early political caree t The new republican party was in il Ri process ef formation. The agitation ,- the slavery question was growing hott !. and hotter every year. Each factf,
 sought public approval at the polls, al hence many candidates were in the he for state and federal offices. At fir ' Lincoln was quite unsuccessful in P candidacy because he was utterly lac 1t ing in the tactics of the ward politician ,- The good grace with which he submit if to defeat gained friends for him, a ,H when the people saw that great aA1
 ty hay back of this good sportmansf and Eenfality they gave him their con l. dence. After his first election to { is state legislature of Illinois his rise 'tt the political world was rapid. He ,e again I wonder why more young m er do not take their cue from Lincoln. h the writer's mind 1t Is positively alar - ing how few of our bright, clean yoa, men take any interest in poIiHcal Ii !" Political life will not be cleanssa of bad Odor until young men of the bet ln sort come to the front
 LincoIn-The Debater. It was as to debater that Lincoln showed the great " mental endowment. Jenersen's rens 1t that the man who nut himself on pal ne against Hamilton was a lest man. ! of piled to Lincoln. His contest with Stepi h. A. Douglas for a seat in the Uni ., States senate was one of the most
 table debates in this, or any otker co,
 try. I have rea0 the political speed h- of Pitt and Fox in the Hail of Westm ng ster, and the great contest between w Id ster and Calhoun in OUT own natio it congress. but for intellectual acum he in the grasp and setting 10 .h of great political Ideas this gr ss presentation Of the ecnstitutionaiity .A slavery in It's bearing upon state 8 te ereignty was the beginning of the rep ns hcan party. There is a great need nd fuller knowledge and more effective las sertion of the foundation principles m- our form of government in there days .h. growing tendency to lawiessneas crime.
 Lineoln-In the White House. M
 are still living whe renae.hber the p
 idential tangle of 1860. On May 1S lse that year, the republican national ( 'ry ventioR met at Chicago Uu to the '
 hour of bailoting Stewards nomfna
 seemed assured. but on the third trial ne majority, having as competitors bes
 Seward, aNch men as Chase and c
 eren. That year the democratic p: was badly broken up over the ques
 of slavery. The reguia" nominee asF Lincoln's old opponent. Stephen A. Ds
 les; the seceders, nominated Bred
 ridge, and the extremists" Bell Flee aET day was November 6. 1860, when of far the largest vote ever case h ext Union was given. Lincoln did not. C
 out of the eurznoiI with a clear naajo
 but the electoral vote gave him 1St u..i the combined 114 against him. It -. very fortunate that strong man had ep called te the helm The band of tral Tea with Buchanan as their tool had left
 treasury empty and the aTsenah pil
 ed No president ever began his ,eo- ties under mole unfavorable auspices.