THE present volume opens with the speeches made by Lincoln, now recognized as a national leader of the Republican party, in a tour of Kansas, late in 1859, and in a tour of New York City and neighboring New England cities early in 1860. In the eastern metropolis, in Cooper Union he delivered the most carefully prepared address of his career, and one that proved to be the most momentous, for it removed the impression, general in the East, that Lincoln was a typical Western "rough and tumble" orator, and gave him equal standing as a serious exponent of his party's principles with Seward, then the leading Republican candidate for the impending nomination for the Presidency.
It is noteworthy that Lincoln delivered only one speech while Presidential nominee, a few modest remarks in his home town. At this time Senator Douglas, the chief of his two opponents for the office, was touring the country, wildly endeavoring to stem by personal appeal the current of popular approval of Lincoln's policies.
The speeches delivered by Lincoln as Presidentelect were very disappointing, since he considered it the part of wisdom to temporize on the issues which were literally tearing the country asunder, until he was firmly established in his office. Accordingly in such speeches as "Nothing