have spoken they telegraph like mad in all directions for German speakers to neutralize the effect of my speeches. But it is quite in vain. The Democratic newspapers attack and abuse me wildly, with the result that even German Democrats become angry and everybody's curiosity is aroused. Consequently all my meetings are crowded and I drive everything before me. The newspapers are discussing me almost as much as if I were a Presidential candidate. My printed speeches are flooding the country in hundreds of thousands and are more and more in demand.[1]
I am feeling better than ever in this turmoil. It seems as if victory could not fail us—and, by Jove! I have done my share towards it.
You were anxious about my success in New York. You might have known that the inspiring enthusiasm of the moment would sustain me.
On October 18th I shall speak to the Germans. I shall work out a speech for that occasion in which I shall do my best and shall try to excel everything I have done before.[2]
- ↑ A letter of February 23, 1860, to Mrs. Schurz contained these sentences: “Naturally countless copies of my Douglas speech have been distributed all about, and it has had excellent effect. I hear that it is being published in pamphlet form in a number of places. Lincoln writes that he is envious. In Madison, the greenhorns in the legislature stared at me in open-eyed wonder.”
- ↑
Although these opinions of a still youthful orator were expressed only
to his enthusiastic and sympathetic wife, they were far from being exaggerations.
The following quotations from letters from campaign managers in
five different States, speak for themselves:
Horace Rublee, Madison, Wis., Oct. 12, 1859: “Can the State central committee now announce some appointments for you in this State? No other man can do as much for the Republican cause at certain points as you.”
J. W. Tillman, Detroit, Aug. 27, 1860: “Our German friends in different localities are very desirous of seeing and hearing you. Can you give us from five to ten days for which we would gladly give you twenty-five dollars per day. Your expenses would be little or nothing.”
T. H. Ford, Mansfield, Ohio, Sept. 12, 1860: “A very general and
