During the Revolution our fathers to justify their rebellion dug down to the bed-rock of human rights and planted their standard there. They declared that all men were entitled to liberty and that government derived its power from the consent of the governed. But when victory came, the great principles were forgotten and chains were put upon the limbs of men. Both of the great political parties were controlled by greed and selfishness. Both were the defenders and protectors of slavery. For nearly three-quarters of a century these parties had control of the Republic. The principal object of both parties was the protection of the infamous institution. Both were eager to secure the Southern vote and both sacrificed principle and honor upon the altar of success. At last the Whig party died and the Republican was born. This party was opposed to the further extension of slavery. The Democratic party of the South wished to make the "divine institution" national--while the Democrats of the North wanted the question decided by each territory for itself. Each of these parties had conservatives and extremists. The extremists of the Democratic party were in the rear and wished to go back; the extremists of the Republican party were in the front, and wished to go forward. The extreme Democrat was willing to destroy the Union for the sake of slavery, and the extreme Republican was willing to destroy the Union for the sake of liberty. Neither party could succeed without the votes of its extremists. This was the condition in 1858-60. When Lincoln was a child his parents removed from Kentucky to Indiana. A few trees were felled--a log hut open to the south, no floor, no window, was built--a little land plowed and here the Lincolns lived. Here the patient, thoughtful, silent, loving mother died--died in the wide forest as a leaf dies, leaving nothing to her son but the memory of her love. In a few years the family moved to Illinois. Lincoln then almost grown, clad in skins, with no woven stitch upon his body--walking and driving the cattle. Another farm was opened--a few acres subdued and enough raised to keep the wolf from the door. Lincoln quit the farm--went down the Ohio and Mississippi as a hand on a flat-boat--afterward clerked in a country store--then in partnership with another bought the store--failed. Nothing left but a few debts--learned the art of surveying--made about half a living and paid something on the debts--read law--admitted to the bar--tried a few small cases--nominated for the Legislature and made a speech.