Rensselaer Republican, Volume 15, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 August 1883 — LINCOLN’S GREAT SPEECH AT RENSSELAER. [ARTICLE]

LINCOLN’S GREAT SPEECH AT RENSSELAER.

A MOVING SPEECH. The Greatest Effort of His Life. How It was Interrupted. He is Sensitive About tbe Regular Army. “Have You Got it With Yout” Editor Lingle, of the Lafayette Courier, was on board the presidential train when it passed Rensselaer a couple of weeks ago, and from his inner consciousness has evolved the following account of what took place at Rensselaer during tho few minutes which the train stopped at the station here. The head lines are the Courier’s as well as what follows: At Rensselaer where the Presidential train loafed to kill him, Mr. Lincoln, the Secretary of War, was gracefully introduced by Hon. Thomas B. Ward. “No taffy young man. Give us a story,” said a voice in the crowd. Mr. Lincoln f smiled. “My speech,’ said Patsy Maloney, was reported in fall in the London Times—‘not a word left out —and I had the close attention of a large , audience’ said Pat ‘A short hand reporter took it down. I know he was short hand because he was a friend of mine and 1 was with him when he lost his other hand in a steel trap.’ ‘What was your speech about—upon fthat subject—what did you Say,' asked an incredulous listener. ‘I said “Not Guilty’ was the response. This was Maloney’s speech, and must be mine—l have no gifts in that way and am not guilty as a speech maker, bat enthusea somewhat by the able and eloquent addresses I have heard from the various members of the Presidental party, at every station en route, I am moved—moved”—just then the train moved—and the remainder of this interesting speech might have been lost to tho literature of oratory, but at Fair Oaks, tho next station, Tom Hanlon, still pale, and somewhat emaciated in the vest pattern, as the result of his first cigar with the President, came in to say that the eager multitude, swift of hoof, had followed in breathless eagernoss to hear the conclusion of that speech. Mr. Lincoln was not insensible to tbe compliment implied. He came out to the platform and, again introduced by Congressman Ward, bowed his acknowledgments, and said; “My Fellow Citizens —I thank you for this kindly greeting: As Secretary of War and in my relation to the regular army,” —“Have you got it with you P” asked a veteran soldier in the crowd. This interruption was very embarrassing to Mr. Lincoln, who in common with the average American citizen, is somewhat sensitive as to the numerical strength of the Grand Army. It broke him all up and his reputation as an impromptu orator (ho had three sheets of closely written letter paper in tho hands of General Gresham, who was to prompt him) might have suffered but for the remorseless time-card of the conductor, who started the train, leaving the multitude waiting and wondering.