The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Man of the People, by Thomas Dixon

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Title: A Man of the People
A Drama of Abraham Lincoln

Author: Thomas Dixon

Release Date: June 16, 2008 [EBook #25814]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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[Bookplate: EX LIBRIS

The books, and your capacity
for understanding them, are just
the same in all places.

A. Lincoln]

WILLIAM H. TOWNSEND

A MAN OF THE PEOPLE

A DRAMA OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN

BY

THOMAS DIXON

AUTHOR OF "THE BIRTH OF A NATION," "THE CLANSMAN,"
"THE LEOPARD'S SPOTS," ETC.

D. APPLETON AND COMPANY
NEW YORK LONDON
MCMXX

COPYRIGHT, 1920, BY
THOMAS DIXON

PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

TO

WILLIAM HARRIS, JR.

WHOSE COURAGE AND HIGH IDEALS AS A
PRODUCER GAVE TO THE AMERICAN
STAGE THE EPOCH-MAKING PLAY

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

HISTORICAL NOTE

While the popular conception of Lincoln as the Liberator of the Slave
is true historically, there is a deeper view of his life and character.
He was the savior, if not the real creator, of the American Union of
free Democratic States. His proclamation of emancipation was purely an
incident of war. The first policy of his administration was to save the
Union. To this fact we owe a united Nation to-day. It is this truth of
history which I try to make a living reality in my play.

The scenes relating to the issues of our National life have been drawn
from authentic records. The plot of the action is based on the letter
of Colonel John Nicolay to Major Hay, dated August 25, 1864, in which
the following opening paragraph is found:

"Hell is to pay. The New York politicians have got a stampede on
that is about to swamp everything. Raymond and the National
Committee are here to-day. R. thinks a Commission to Richmond is
about the only salt to save us; while the President sees and says
it would be utter ruination