Lincoln's last speech in Springfield in the campaign of 1858

In the election of 1858, with its Lincoln-Douglas debates, Lincoln met defeat, but the ordeal that singed the politiician, disclosed the statesman. The last speech of the campaign was given on October 15, 1858. This long forgotten speech marked a turning point in Lincoln's career, that in its brief paragraphs the last echo of Lincoln the politician is lost in the resonance of the clearer note of Lincoln the statesman. ---The Introduction in the Book by Oliver R. Barrett sets the stage -- It is followed by a photograph of the speech, and the speech, itself. ---Then a photograph of the site of the debate, the Square in Springfield, reproduction of a three page news article giving an account of the November 1st rally for Lincoln in Springfield, and lastly, across from an engraving of the State House, a letter from John Morgan, written in 1922, recollecting the speech. - A fascinating piece of Lincolniana