The evening world., 1921-02-19
CONCLUSION.

WHeAA 40 Neha NhaN hpnN1u IN Ato
State House Library. One said OF
those first sentences; TT II a fool ut
terancN" Another: TT is ahead Of
It's time" Another declared that It
would drive away the Democrats who
had lately Joined the party. Herndon
and were the only ones who ap-
proved It.
Lincoln had come to another fork
In the road. For a moment I won
dorOd whioh way he would 80.
Immediately he tuse and said with
an omUhasas that sllenoed opposition;
FRIENDS, this thing has been held
back long enough. The time has come
when these sentiments should be ut
tered. and II it Is decreed that 1 shall
30 down because OF this speech, then
let mo 80 down linked to the truth"
His conscience had prevailed. The
speech was delivered. Douglas. the
Democratic candidate, came on from
Washington to answer II. That led
to uncoln's challenge TO a 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. It. drove his arguments
deep into tho souls OF his hearers. The
great thing about him was his con-
science. Unless his theme were big
enough to give II play In noble words
he could DO as commonplace as any
one. He was built for tool OF God
in tremendous moral issues. He was
awkward and dinident in beginning a
speech. Often his hands were locked
behind him. He geSticulated more
with his head than his hands. He
stood suuare-toed always. He never
walked about on the platform. He
scored his points with the long, bony
index inger Of his right hand. Some
times he would hang a hand on the
) lapel Of his coat a. IL to rest IT, Pcr-
splration dropped from his face. His
voice, high pitched at first, mellowed
, into a pleasant sound.
One sentence in Lincoln's speech At
Ottawa thrust "The Little Giant" of
Illinois out OF his way forever. II
/, was this pregnant query: ~.
. Can the people of n United States
territory in any lawful way and
against the wish OF any citizen OF the
United States exclude slavery from
its limits prior to the formation Of a
Q state oonstitution7"
Ne knew that Douglas would an
swer yes and that, doing 80, he would
, ALLEVIATE the South and destroy his
p chance to DO President two years
later. That is exactly what came 20
pass. THE Giants" answer was the
famous 'F'reeport Heresy." He was
elected 10 the Senate but was no
longer possible as a candidate for the
Presidency.
como now to the last step in the
Q career OF my friend and beloved mas
7, ter. It was the Republican oonven-
ton Of 1860 in Chicago, was dele
gate. The New Workers. came in
h white beaver hats enthusiastic for
Seward, their favorite son. He was
3 the man we dreaded most. Many in
! the great crowd were wearing his
colors. The delegations were In
earnest session the night before the
. balloting began. The hotel corridors
! were throhged with excited men. My
: father had become a man OF wealth
. and great influence In Illinois l was
y with him when he went into the meet
: ing Of the Michigan delegates and
a talked TO them. He told how he catne
9 West In a wagon and saw the spirit OF
America in the water floods Of Mag
ara and went on to the cabin VIII
?. lage of New Salem and saw again the
: spirit OF America in the life OF the
5 boy, Abe Lincoln, then flowing toward
a It's manhood. When he sat down the
o Honorable Dennis Flanagan arose
:. and told Of meeting the Traylor party
! at the Fails when he was driving an
!. OK team, in tall beaver hat: how
o he had remembered their good advice
= and cookies and jerked vension,
3 "Gentlemen," he said, Il am willing
r. to take the word OF o man whose
name is hauowed by my dearest
recoIlections. And believing what he
n has said Of Abraham Lincoln / an
for him on the second ballot"
The green Irish. lad, whom l re-
. member dimly, rad become a great
4 political chieftain and his words had
g much effect There was stir among
3, the delegates. / turned ana saw the
: tall form OF Horace Greeley entering
n the door. HIS big full face looked
rather serious. lie wore gold-bOwec
d sp.ctaolas. lie was smooth shaver
% save for the silken, white, throaI
d heard that came out from under hl'
"a collar. His head was bald on top will
d soft, sllvered locks over each ear. IL,
u was picturesque and appealing
p figure. They called on him to speak
y He stopped forward and said SLOWLY
y in a high pitched drawl;
Ulentleuen- this is my speech; OI