The Glenwood post., 1922-03-09

myself anu with washington and Clay
and Webster and Shakespeare and
Burns and DeFoe and Scott and
Blackstone and Parsons. On the
whole, I've been in pretty good COM
pany.' t~ ga
"He has not yet accomplished much
in the legislature. don't think that
he will until some big issue comes
along. Tn not much of hand at
hunting sQuirrels,' he said to me the
other day. Wait till see bear The
people Of yandalia and Springfield
have never seen him yet They don't
know him as do. But they all re.
spect him-just for his gOoi-fellOw-
ship, honesty and decency. guess
that every fellow with foul mouth
hates himself for it and envies the
man who isn't like him. They begin
to see his skill as a politician, which
has shown itself in the passage of a
bill. removing the capital to Spring
field. Abe Lincoln was the man who
put 1t through. But he has not yet un-
covered his best talents. Mark my
word, some day Lincoln will be big
man.
1.-THE death Of his sweetheart has
aged and sObered him. When we are
together he often sits looking down
with sad face. For while not
word out of him. Suddenly he will
begin saying things. the effect of
which will 60 with ME to my grave,
although cannot call back the words
and place them as he did. He Is what
l would call great captain of words.
Seems as If 1 heard the band playing
while they marched by me as well
dressed and stepping as proud nnd
regular as the Boston Guards. In
some great battle between Right and
Wrong you will hear from him. 1
hope 1t may be the battle between
Slavery and Freedom, although at
present he thinks they must avoid
coming to clinch. In my opinion it
see the fight and to take part In It,"
Late in the session of 1838-1S37 the
prophetic truth of these words began
to reveal itself. A bill was being put
through the legislature denonncing the
growth of abolition sentiment and its
activity in organized societies and up
holding the right Of property In slaves.
Suddenly Lincoln had come to fork
in the road. Popularity, the urge OF
many friends, the counsel Of wealth
and power. and public opinion. the can
Of good politics pointed In one direc-
tion and the crowd went that way. It
was a stampede. Lincoln stood alone
at the corner. The crowd beckoned.
but In vain. One man came back and
Joined him. 1t was Dan Stone, whs
was not a candidate for reelection,
His political career was ended. There
were three words on the sign-board
pointing toward the perilous and lone
ly road that Lincoln proposed to fol.
low. They were the words Justice and
Human Rights. Lincoln and Dan
Stone took that road in a protest, de.
claring that they believed the institu.
tion Of slavery was founded upon In
Justice and bad policy" Lincoln had
followed his conscience, instead of the
crowd.
At twenty-eight years Of age he had
safely passed the great danger point
In his career. The declaration at De
catur. the speeches against Douglas.
the miracle of turning 100000 beasts
into 100000 men, the sublime utter.
ance at Gettysburg. the wise parallels.
the second inaugural, the innumerabls
acts of mercy. all of which lifted him
into undying fame, were now possible
Henceforth he was to 60 forward with
the growing approval Of his own spirit
and the favor of God.