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

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

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<strong>Yarns</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Stories</strong>, by Alex<strong>and</strong>er K. McClure 352One <strong>of</strong> the campaign songs <strong>of</strong> 1860 which will never be forgotten wasWhittier's "The Quakers Are Out:--""Give the flags to the winds! Set the hills all aflame! Make way for the manwith The Patriarch's name! Away with misgivings--away With all doubt,For Lincoln goes in when the Quakers are out!"Speaking <strong>of</strong> this song (with which he was greatly pleased) one day at theWhite House, the President said: "It reminds me <strong>of</strong> a little story I heardyears ago out in Illinois. A political campaign was on, <strong>and</strong> the atmospherewas kept at a high temperature. Several fights had already occurred, manymen having been seriously hurt, <strong>and</strong> the prospects were that the resultwould be close. One <strong>of</strong> the c<strong>and</strong>idates was a pr<strong>of</strong>essional politician with ahuge wart on his nose, this disfigurement having earned for him thenickname <strong>of</strong> 'Warty.' His opponent was a young lawyer who wore 'biled'shirts, 'was shaved by a barber, <strong>and</strong> had his clothes made to fit him."Now, 'Warty' was <strong>of</strong> Quaker stock, <strong>and</strong> around election time made a greatparade <strong>of</strong> the fact. When there were no campaigns in progress he wasanything but Quakerish in his language or actions. The young lawyer didn'tknow what the inside <strong>of</strong> a meeting house looked like."Well, the night before election-day the two c<strong>and</strong>idates came together at ajoint debate, both being on the speakers' platform. The young lawyer had tospeak after 'Warty,' <strong>and</strong> his reputation suffered at the h<strong>and</strong>s <strong>of</strong> the Quaker,who told the many Friends present what a wicked fellow the young manwas--never went to church, swore, drank, smoked <strong>and</strong> gambled."After 'Warty' had finished the other arose <strong>and</strong> faced the audience. 'I'm nota good man,' said he, '<strong>and</strong> what my opponent has said about me is trueenough, but I'm always the same. I don't pr<strong>of</strong>ess religion when I run for<strong>of</strong>fice, <strong>and</strong> then turn around <strong>and</strong> associate with bad people when thecampaign's over. I'm no hypocrite. I don't sing many psalms. Neither doesmy opponent; <strong>and</strong>, talking about singing, I'd just like to hear my friend whois running against me sing the song--for the benefit <strong>of</strong> this audience--Iheard him sing the night after he was nominated. I yield the floor to him:

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