Beginning with the Lincoln-Douglas debates, Abraham Lincoln became and remained a national figure. From that time his life belongs to the history of the United States and has been dwelt upon with ever increasing fullness and eulogy. By contrast his early political life has been almost forgotten. This work covers that neglected period, dealing with Lincoln the politician, showing his development and his training for national leadership. The story is largely told in the words of Lincoln himself, stress being laid on crucial incidents hitherto, in the main, indifferently considered. A unity, dramatic in its simplicity, appears in his recital, giving glimpses of a man who was guided by a supreme political philosophy in seeking to externalize his gospel of the brotherhood of man in statute and decision. Considerable attention is devoted to Lincoln in Indiana and at New Salem, showing the peculiarity of his power, his political popularity, and the rapid maturity of his convictions as to the wisest methods of attacking entrenched evil. An earnest, reverent and impartial study of his political career is an enriching education. There is no need of hiding its humble, rude phases. The more his life is lingered over, the greater the wonder grows at the emerging of Lincoln from the humility and the poverty of his environment with a "message of range and sweep," to the sons of men the world over. CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. LINCOLN IN KENTUCKY 15 II. LINCOLN'S ENVIRONMENT IN INDIANA 21 III. THE POLITICAL HERO OF NEW SALEM 39 IV. PRACTICAL LEGISLATOR 58 V. PROTESTOR AND PATRIOT 76 VI. PARTISAN IN STATE AND NATIONAL AFFAIRS 87 VII. RESTLESS POLITICAL AMBITION 109 VIII. LINCOLN OPPOSES THE INCEPTION OF THE MEXICAN WAR IN CONGRESS 121 IX. LINCOLN'S ATTACK ON SLAVERY IN CONGRESS 135 X. THE SCHOOL OF SOLITUDE 152 XI. AN EMANCIPATED POLITICIAN 162 XII. THE PILOT OF THE NEW FAITH IN ILLINOIS 181 XIII. LINCOLN AND THE DRED SCOTT DECISION 197 XIV. LEADER OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN ILLINOIS 201 XV. THE DAWN OF NATIONAL LEADERSHIP 207 XVI. THE POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 213 BIBLIOGRAPHY 223 INDEX 227 LINCOLN THE POLITICIAN CHAPTER I LINCOLN IN KENTUCKY