g away of the
heroes of the Revolution is a fine example of the Websterian style:
"They were a forest of giant oaks; but the all-resistless hurricane has
swept over them, and left only here and there a lonely trunk, despoiled
of its verdure, shorn of its foliage, unshading and unshaded, to murmur
in a few more ruder storms, then to sink and be no more." The closing
sentence of the address is almost wholly, in the later style and might
have served for the close of the First Inaugural, which, in its
original form, did actually contain a Biblical quotation.

That the rhetorical manner had not gained entire possession of Lincoln
at that time, but was simply used by him on what seemed to be
appropriate occasions, is sufficiently shown by a speech delivered in
the legislature early in 1839, in which we find the strictly logical
discussion of the first address. This speech is especially interesting
because of the fact that it is the earliest encounter of Lincoln and
Douglas that has been preserved. In a way, therefore, it may be
regarded as the first Lincoln-Douglas debate.

One other rhetorical effort was made, in 1842, and then we find no more
specimens of this class of speaking until the so-called Lost Speech of
1856. This address of 1842 was delivered before the Springfield
Washingtonian Temperance Society, on Washington's Birthday, and it is
even more inflated than the first specimen. Combined with the
rhetoric, however, there is a mass of sober argument that again
suggests the later Lincoln. The arguments, too, are characterized by a
sound common sense that is no less characteristic of the speaker. The
peroration deserves quotation as being one of the finest and at the
same time one of the least familiar passages in Lincoln's writings:
"This is the one hundredth and tenth anniversary of the birthday of
Washington. We are met to celebrate this day. Washington is the
mightiest name of earth: long since mightiest in the cause of civil
liberty, still mightiest in moral reformation. On that name a eulogy
is expected. It cannot be. To add brightness to the sun or glory to
the name of Washington is alike impossible. Let none attempt it. In
solemn awe pronounce the name, and in its naked, deathless splendor
leave it shining on." This approaches very closely the beauty and
strength of the presidential period.

In 1844 Lincoln wrote several poems, which are not without merit. As a
boy he was famous among his com