Major J. B. Merwin and Abraham Lincoln—They Together Canvass Illinois for State Prohibition in 1854-55—Lincoln's Arguments Against the Saloon—Facts Omitted by Lincoln's Biographers—President Lincoln, Generals Scott and Butler Recommend Merwin's Temperance Work in the Army—The President Sends Merwin on a Mission to New York the Day of the Assassination—Proposition for Freedmen to Dig Panama Canal—Lincoln's Last Words to Merwin—Merwin's Characteristic Address at Lincoln's Tomb—"Lincoln, the Christian Statesman"—Merwin Living at Middlefield, Connecticut. It will, no doubt, be of interest to here introduce a man who, perhaps, knew Mr. Lincoln as well as any man now living. It is Major J. B. Merwin, of Middlefield, Connecticut, who is now eighty years old. He is a noted educator and lecturer. He formerly resided in St. Louis, Missouri, and was the founder of "The American Journal of Education," in that city in 1867. Since that time he has written much and lectured widely on educational and literary subjects. Learning of his associations with Mr. Lincoln, that they together campaigned the State of Illinois for State prohibition in 1854-55, I wrote Mr. Merwin for some items relative to his acquaintance and associations with the great emancipator. In his reply, Mr. Merwin said: "I mail you a very brief résumé of my connection with Mr. Lincoln from 1854 on, up to the day he was assassinated. This will answer your query and request, I think, fully. Of course the address made at the tomb of the great, dear man, on May 26, 1904, was greatly abridged for lack of space, but many essential points you will be able to gather from what I send you. And I am glad to do this, for nearly all his biographers ignore both his prohibition and his religious work and character." From what Mr. Merwin furnished, as stated in his letter, the following facts are here presented: