''Abe'' Lincoln's Yarns and Stories - University of Macau Library

Yarns and Stories, by Alexander K. McClure 292Personal encounters were of frequent occurrence in Gentryville in earlydays, and the prestige of having thrashed an opponent gave the victormarked social distinction. Green B. Taylor, with whom "Abe" worked thegreater part of one winter on a farm, furnished an account of the noted fightbetween John Johnston, "Abe's" stepbrother, and William Grigsby, inwhich stirring drama "Abe" himself played an important role before thecurtain was rung down.Taylor's father was the second for Johnston, and William Whitten officiatedin a similar capacity for Grigsby. "They had a terrible fight," related Taylor,"and it soon became apparent that Grigsby was too much for Lincoln's man,Johnston. After they had fought a long time without interference, it havingbeen agreed not to break the ring, 'Abe' burst through, caught Grigsby,threw him off and some feet away. There Grigsby stood, proud as Lucifer,and, swinging a bottle of liquor over his head, swore he was 'the big buckof the lick.'"'If any one doubts it,' he shouted, 'he has only to come on and whet hishorns.'"A general engagement followed this challenge, but at the end of hostilitiesthe field was cleared and the wounded retired amid the exultant shouts oftheir victors."GOVERNMENT RESTS IN PUBLIC OPINION."Lincoln delivered a speech at a Republican banquet at Chicago, December10th, 1856, just after the Presidential campaign of that year, in which hesaid:"Our government rests in public opinion. Whoever can change publicopinion can change the government practically just so much."Public opinion, on any subject, always has a 'central idea,' from which allits minor thoughts radiate.