Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-28
Ry NJ. r. RINDLAUB.


Ry NJ. r. RINDLAUB.
FREEPORT. Ill.,. August al cant
saw that it seems like yesterday when
came, as o youth of 20. to cover the de-
hate between Lincoln and Douglas, but
the whole scene is fresh in my MEM
ory. r. has been great privilege 10
"eturn to Freeport for the unvcilinS oil
the Lincoln Recommendation the bronze
statue represents Lincoln as l saw him
II years ago.
The Lincoln Of the statue is the Lin
coin OF the debate. but how everything
else has changed Today l was driven
in my car from my home In Plsttevil'e.
Then came by train from Warren,
ILL.,. a distance of about 20 miles. Inc
train came down in the morning and
went back At night. IT was an arououS
trip. The automobile ride from Platte
rille. close to 100 miles. was notnlns'
Striking Chang. Noted.
An even more striking change was
the difference in the crowds--not III
size for the debate was matter Oh
tremendous interest but In dress, IN
obvious manner Of living, In evidences
of prosperity. Today. as the speakers
Maid tribute to Lincoln. their voices
through the aid Of science. could be
without the slightest effort. Wnen
Lincoln himself spoke every one strained
tn listen and many Of his words were
lost to those on ths 1rlnees OF Ine
crowd. Attention. however, was n,dcn
closer then. for people were keyed Up
to high ditch.
Every one knows that ~ YEARS sso
the term Of Stephen A. DousisS q"
united states Senator was sbous " eX-
n,re He was a candidate for re-eiec-
ron Lincoln was the Republican can
didste ara Douglas the Democratic. IL
a,ss srral',d that l$cyc;ho,A meet IN
nublic debate .. seven Illinois c1tles.
The Freeport debate. the seoul, We
tho only one heard.
Localities Of Speakers Stand.
we'll recall that the speakers stand
was erected on a vacant block. snort
distance from the old Brewster Rouse.
which is still doing business. FRIENDS
~ Douplas-and there were many OF
them-procured brougham drawn by
four white horses. handsomely capar-
soned with bunting in which they es-
corted Douglas to the speakers stano'
where he was received with rouSlng
cheers.
Scarcely had the cheering ceased
when an old-fashloneo ConestoRa wagon.
drawn by four ordinary horses: was
driven in. Upon one Of the seats IN
The wagon. accompanied by half
dozen farmers in their working clothes.
sat Lincoln. The burleSQue on the
handsome coach Of Douglas was as
complete as possible and the CROWD
roared it's delight.
Douglas spoke first and I remember
how the crowd shouted in delight When
he touched off his best oratory and
III hifinO
At the close Of his speech the cheer
ing and hand-clapping was prolonged
md tumultuous and I could not help
feeling sorry for the tall. ungainly man
who was his opponent.
Douglas Cheered when Lincoln Arose.
When Lincoln rose TO speak the
crowd broke into cheers again Tor
Douglas. keeping 1t up for several min
,,tes. while Lincoln waited patiently.
The statue unveiled Yesterday afternoon
might be portrait of the man as he
stood there on that platform-quiet.
thoughtful willing to wait.
As the enthusiasm Subsided Lincoln
extended his long right arm for silence.
When he had partly gained II he said
IN an impressive tone: What an ora
tor Judge Douglas is.
This unexpected tribute to the poph-
lar Senator aroused wild enthusiasm.
Again Lincoln extended his hand and
this time he ssid: What fine pres
ence he has"
There was more Of the tum,iltuous
applause.
More and more easily. the tall. gaupt
lawyer won silence as he went on with
admiring ordinations: How well
rounded his sentences are!'
And what splendid man Judge
Douglas is"
He ended his compliments with that
and when the audience had again be-
come silent at his gesture. ne leaned
forwf . and said:
PrOpOn',S - Startling Query.
And now, iSN mtrymen. how many
Of you can tell Inc one thing Judge
Douglas has said?"
shall never forget the drama of
that moment. IT. was master stroke.
There was, of course. no reply from the
crowd and Lincoln proceeded with his
speech without interruption. He had
won respect, il not agreement. right at
the beginning of his talk.
Histories tell much better than ! can
the further progress Of the debate, but
] should like to give the pictures my
memory holds of the two men on the
platform. The contrast between the
two could hardly have been more
marked
Lincoln was very tell and I recall
how he overtopped aIl who occupied
the platform with him. I remember