r
ninety-five, still seems to enjoy the best of health, and attends
his store every day.

The present Governor of Illinois, the Hon. Charles S. Deneen,
although a citizen of Chicago, has lived in Springfield for nearly
six years, during his incumbency of office. Governor Deneen has
had a very successful public career. He has creditably filled
every public office which he has held. I have been interested in
him, not only on his own account, but on account of his father,
whom I knew well and whom I respected highly. Years ago I obtained
his appointment in the consular service, in which he served during
the Harrison administration. Governor Deneen has taken a prominent
part in public affairs in Cook County and has held several responsible
positions there. He made a splendid State's Attorney of Cook
County. His honor and integrity were above suspicion. His record
as State's Attorney paved the way to the higher office of Governor
of Illinois. He is a conservative man, and has given the State a
conservative administration. Unfortunately he has had difficulties
with the Legislature, but on the whole I regard his administration
as a successful and creditable one. Governor Deneen and I are the
only two men in the history of the State who have been honored by
its people by being re-elected to succeed themselves as Governor.

CHAPTER V
NOMINATION OF LINCOLN AND DOUGLAS FOR THE PRESIDENCY
1859 and 1860

Returning to the period preceding the Civil War, we observe that
the whole nation was stirred by the conduct of a man whom most people
believed to be crazy, but who in my judgment was not. He was an
enthusiast, fired by an abnormal zeal, perhaps; but he filled a
most important place in the development leading to the Civil War.
I refer to old John Brown.

With a score of followers he seized the arsenal at Harpers Ferry
in October, 1859. The nation was then on the very verge of civil
war. There was tremendous excitement even in far-off Springfield
when the news came over the wires that John Brown had opened war
almost single-handed and alone. Under orders from General-in-Chief
Winfield Scott, Colonel Robert E. Lee with a battalion of soldiers
marched on Harpers Ferry, and, after a series of siege operations,
summoned John Brown to surrender, the demand being borne to the
besieged by J. E. B. Stuart, a young lieutenant, afterwards
distinguished as the foremost cavalry leader of the Confederacy.

The story of J