aign, later
prepared a version based upon notes, from which some general idea of
the character of the speech can perhaps be gained.

The Lincoln-Douglas Debates furnish perhaps the best example of this
class of public speaking that is available. Although they were
extempore, as far as the actual language is concerned, they have been
preserved in full. In spite of the informal style appropriate to the
"stump," these discussions of the Dred Scott decision, Popular
Sovereignty, and the other questions suggested by slavery are marked by
a closeness of reasoning and a readiness of retort that show the great
master in the difficult art of debate. These qualities are not
confined to the one speaker, for his opponent was no less adroit and
ready. We may well say in this connection, "there were giants in those
days."

Much of Lincoln's success in these historic debates was due to his
intense conviction of the righteousness of the cause for which he was
pleading. As lawyer and political speaker Lincoln always felt the
necessity of believing in his case. He frequently refused to appear in
suits because he could not put his heart into them, and he never
defended a policy from mere party loyalty. Much of Lincoln's success
as a speaker was due to the fact that his hearers felt that they could
trust him. This is simply a new application of the old principle that
the chief qualification for success in oratory is character. In
reading a man's books we may forget his character for the time, but in
listening to an orator we have the man himself constantly before us,
and he himself makes or mars his success.

In 1859 Lincoln delivered his second and last long occasional
address--a discussion of agriculture at the Wisconsin State Fair at
Milwaukee. This is the only important non-political speech by Lincoln
that has been preserved and it is interesting as showing his ability to
treat a subject of general interest. Here, as in his discussions of
political questions, Lincoln displayed true statesmanlike insight and
foresight, long before the time when experiment stations and farmers'
institutes began to teach the very principles that he so wisely and
effectively expounded.

In 1860 Lincoln appeared for the first time before a New York audience
and we have his own word for it that he suffered a severe attack of
stage fright on that occasion. The event showed, however, that he had
no reason to fear the judgment of one of the mos