Evening star., 1932-02-12
EY w. HI. SMITH.

E1 w. n. SMITH,.
I first saw Mr.. Lincoln in August
or September, 1859. was cub re-
porter on the Indianapolis Atlas,
paper edited and published by John D.
Defrees, afterward appointed Public
Printer at Washington by President
Lincoln when that Office was estab-
llshed by Congress.
During some previous campaigns Mr..
Lincoln had spoken in some OF the
western counties of Indiana, but this
was his first appearance as a speech
maker in Indianapolis. There was no
political campaign at the time, but the
Republicans of Indiana were looking
fcrWard to 1860, and Lincoln was IN
V1ted to make an address.
In those days newspapers did not
print IN extenso political speech, no
matter now great the reputation OF
the orator might be.
The reporter wrote, in story form,
something about the appearance of the
speaker, his manne., and the method OF
his argument, closing with something
about how the speech was received by
the audience. Lincoln's reputation as a
political orator had preceded him and
the auditorium was filled to its ca
paclty. AS the president of the meet
ing was closing his few words Of intro
ductlon, Mr.. Lincoln arose from the
chair he occupied and walked to the
front of the platform He did not look
like an orator He was tall and thin of
visage and of figure.
An Air of Assurance.
There was no appearance of trepida-
ton as he came forward nor of any
stage fright. His whole appearance was
that OF one who was used to addressing
great audiences and who felt assured
of himself. At no time was his voice
loud or boisterous, but it had great car
rying powers, his words clearly reach
ing to the limits of the auditorium.
There may have been some harsh
ness in his tones, but if so, it was
quickly lost to the auditor by the in
tensity of his desire to hear the words
There was no straining after lofty
periods Of eloquence. He seemed to be
addressing himself to the intelligence
and thinking powers of his auditors
rather than to their Imagination
His words were simple, but every one
was weighed with meaning, and when
united together they formed an argu-
ment that was irresistible, or a state
ment of fact that was conclusive.
He spoke at some length OF the
existing political condition, especially
Of those in Kansas, where a state Of
semi-war existed by the efforts to force
slavery on the inhabitants of the terri
tory. He dissected the "squatter SOW
ereignty" proposal of Senator Douglass.
averring that if it prevailed the scenes
which had been enacted in Kansas
would be duplicated in several of the
States, because of the efforts of the
friends Of slavery to make that institu-
ton national instead of local. He de-
nounced the repeal of the Missouri COM
promise as political crime, character
izing it as an example of nation
breaking faith with itself
Speaks of Reverence for Law.
The part of the speech, however
which most strongly impressed me, al
the time, and has remained the longest
in my memory is what he said about
the reverence for the law. 1 noticed
that he never used the term obedience
to the law. but always reverence. SEEM
ing to regard that term higher and
more comprehensive than the other
After a lapse of nearly three-qua-ters
Of 4 century it cannot be expected that
I can literally quote the words used
shall make no attempt to do so, but