The Pantagraph from Bloomington, Illinois • Page 21

www.pantagraph.com The Pantagraph Sunday, February 6, 2011 C5 Lincoln was newspaper 'junkie' 1 ABRAHAM LINCOLN THE PRESS A Newspapers In Education project brought to you by this nerospaper and the Pf teJT ABfEAHAM L'NcaiN ACCtf Nf WSPHPfB RKOU6XT TO HIM vwuif VHiLf OSfT asp owe a wi, osev the svtfir in rscn i t' rm whit' HOifcjg januakv, Used with permissionLLOYD 0STEND0RFC0LLECTI0N Although this 1987 drawing is an illustration, not a political cartoon, it shows how Abraham Lincoln's image has softened over time. ILLINOIS PRESS ILLIN Abraham Lincoln was what today might be referred to as a "newspaper junkie." He was a voracious reader and a staunch supporter of the free expression of opinion, and his political career was intertwined with newspapers. More than a reader, Lincoln, at times, was a newspaper writer, subscription salesman, editor and even an owner of a newspaper. He relied on reporters, editors and publishers throughout his political journey to help him connect to the voters. His newspaper missives even led to a "duel to the death" challenge, which, as described later, was averted in part due to the pleading of an editor.

Lincoln's love of newspapers was evident throughout his career. As postmaster in New Salem, he would read newspapers from different parts of the country that came to his surprisingly well-educated, even sophisticated, Illinois village. As president, Lincoln sometimes would step outside the White House and ask a startled passerby to send the corner newsboys up the street to his front door. Newspapers served as Lincoln's window to the world. In a lecture to his neighbors in Springfield long before he became nationally known, Lincoln said: "At length printing came.

It gave 10,000 copies of any written matter quite as cheaply as 10 were given before; and consequently a thousand minds were brought into the field where was but one before. This was a great gain and history shows a great change corresponding to it in point of time. I will venture to consider it the true termination of that period called the 'dark Partisan politics Newspapers in Lincoln's day were affiliated with political parties. Newspaper names with words such as "Republican," "Democrat" and "Whig" all pointed toward those affiliations. Because of that partisanship, even small towns frequently had two or more newspapers.

Today, many of those newspapers have been combined and may no longer associate with a political bias, but those old affiliations are often still found in the names of the newspapers. For example, The Quincy Herald -Whig, the Macoupin County Democrat -Enquirer in Carlinville, The Gazette-Democrat in Anna and the Bureau County Republican in Princeton. Lincoln realized that voters could be convinced at that time in only two ways by voice, as in debates or lectures, and by the press. "Public opinion in this country is everything," Lincoln remarked. Because the newspapers were af iliat -ed with political parties, some were pro-Lincoln while others were against Lincoln.

The Chicago Daily Press Tribune and the Sangamo Journal, for instance, were pro-Lincoln. The Chicago Times and the Illinois State Register in Springfield were anti-Lincoln. To this day, the modern Chicago Tribune still competes with what is now called the Chicago Sun-Times. In ASSOCIATION FOUNDATION in partnership with "mm (JvClF ABRAHAM LINCOLN PRK8IDKNTIAL LIBRARY MliSEt'M THE WORLD'S BEST PLACE TO EXPERIENCE LINCOLN'S LIFE LEGACY funded by this nmspaper and the "You will only arrest individuals, and suppress assemblies, or newspapers, when they may be working palpable injury to the Military in your charge, and in no other case will you interfere with the expression of opinion in any form, or allow it to be interfered with violently by others. In this, you have a discretion to exercise with great caution, calmness, and forbearance." Several hundreds of newspapers were temporarily suppressed by the administration, including the Jonesborogh (now Jonesboro) Gazette in Southern Illinois.

Also suspended briefly was the Chicago Times; Lincoln himself rescinded the order and that ended the practice of suspending the press. The most common reason the administration closed newspapers was for interfering with the draft, either by discouraging men from signing up, encouraging resistance or even physically interfering at draft registration sites. The New York World and the Journal of Commerce were shut down because they published a fake proclamation in Lincoln's name. The proclamation called for a draft of 400,000 men into the Army and may have been part of a plot to induce rioting. Lincoln ordered that the newspaper offices be taken by military force.

Next Sunday: Lincoln's newspaper, first endorsements and the duel. Materia! for this commentary was provided by "Family Newspapers," Volume 5, Illinois Press Foundation; "Centennial History of Illinois," Vol. Ill, The Era of the Civil War; James Cornelius, Abraham Lincoln Collection curator, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. Springfield, the Illinois State Journal and the Illinois State Register have long been joined as The State Journal-Register. Because newspapers in Lincoln's day were political organs, their editorials and political cartoons were often harsh on candidates they opposed.

The Illinois State Register called Lincoln "the ineffable despot, who, by some inscrutable dispensation of providence, presides over the destinies of this vast republic." The Journal responded by calling the Register's editor "the agent of Jeff Davis who presides over the Copperhead sheet in this city." (A "sheet" is another name for a newspaper. Jefferson Davis was secretary of war for the United States and later elected president of the Confederate States of America. Copperhead was a nickname given to Northern Democrats who opposed the Civil War.) Because of contrasting political affiliations, newspapers covered Lincoln and his famed debates with Stephen Douglas in vastly different ways. In an effort to make sure his views were represented accurately, Lincoln sent many "confidential" communications to newspaper editors. The Chicago Times defended itself by saying "Lincoln cannot speak five grammatical sentences in succession." Suppressing the press Lincoln tolerated differences of opinion but drew the line at what he considered to be treasonous acts.

He explained his attitude toward such attacks in a communication in the middle of the Civil War, when victory was not at all certain, to Gen. John M. Schofield: ana rang CHICAGO SPECIAL THANKS to James Cornelius, Abraham Lincoln Collection Curator Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Museum Main article Excerpted from Abraham Lincoln: A Press Portrait by Herbert Mitgang 2000 Fordham University Press. Used with permission. Steve Raymond, President, Illinois Press Association Jerry Reppert President, Illinois Press Foundation Dennis DeRossett, Executive Director Barry Locher, Director of Foundation Member Services David Porter, Editor www.illinoispress.org www.illinois-nie.com Teachers guide Questions for your students HtsociATpf-l Eh SECURITY 4 1.

What is an issue that divides Americans today? Can you draw political cartoons showing both perspectives? 2. Find a news story and an editorial on the same topic? Can you explain the differences? 3. How does the treatment of the president by the press today compare to Abraham Lincoln's day? 4. Could a president today have the military close down newspapers by claiming they were engaged in treasonous acts? Davis Mansion part of world record attempt How your lawmakers voted Voted Voted yes no Ss A. n0t O-Did vote For the week ending Feb.

4 Illinois Tallv W4W By Voterama in Congress Lasers targeting aircraft: Senators voted, 96-1, to make it a federal crime to point lasers at aircraft, an attack that can temporarily blind pilots. The Federal Aviation Administration says there were 2,836 reported incidents in 2010. A yes vote supported the amendment to S223. Health-law repeal: Senators rejected, 47-51, a bid to repeal the health law enacted last March. Repeal was backed by all 47 Republican senators and opposed by all members of the Democratic caucus who voted.

A yes vote was to advance a House-passed repeal measure. (S223) More details on the event are available at http:extras.sj-r.eomrdepot. A live webcast will be available on a link on that website or the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum website, www.presidentlincoln.org. As he prepared to leave, Lincoln stood on the top of the steps on the rear passenger car, removed his stovepipe hat and gave the following speech: My friends, no one, not in my situation, can appreciate my feeling of sadness at this parting. To this place, and the kindness of these people, I owe every thing.

Here I have lived a quarter of a century and have passed from a young to an old man. Here my children have been born and one is buried. I now leave, not knowing when, or whether ever, I may return, with a task before me greater than that which rested upon Washington. Without the assistance of that Divine Being, who ever attended him, I cannot succeed. With that assistance I cannot fail.

Trusting in Him, who can go with me, and remain with you and be every where for good, let us confidently hope that all will yet be well. To His care commending you, as I hope in your prayers you will commend me I bid you an affectionate farewell. The David Davis Mansion and Northpoint Elementary School in Bloomington and at Illinois State University's Bone Student Center are among more than 50 places throughout Illinois, eight other states and Washington, D.C., that will be attempting to set a Guinness World Record on Friday to kick off the national observance of the Civil War Sesquicentennial. On Feb. 11, 1861, Abraham Lincoln addressed well-wishers at the Great Western Depot before leaving Springfield for Washington, D.C., to be sworn in as the 16th president.

On Feb. 11, 2011, organizers are inviting people from around the world to join in and simultaneously read Lincoln's Farewell Address through a variety of live media links. Also taking part in the 11 a.m. event are the Lincoln College Museum and Central Elementary School, Lincoln, Museum of the Grand Prairie, Mahomet; Olympia West Elementary School, Minier, and the Metamora Courthouse State Historic Site, Metamora. The current officially recognized record was set Dec.

13, 2006, by Walden Media, with 223,363 participants in 909 venues. An Abraham Lincoln re -enactor will read the speech at the same location where Lincoln did 150 years ago at the depot at 903 Monroe Springfield. IRS Form 1099: Senators removed, 81-17, a disputed rule from the new health law. The vote hastened what is expected to be the eventual repeal of a requirement that companies issue an IRS Form 1099 to vendors to whom they pay $600 or more. A yes vote was to kill the rule during debate on 223.

Davis-Bacon wages: Senators voted, 55-42, to uphold Davis-Bacon wage rules for construction contracts awarded under 223 (above). Those rules essentially require federally funded projects to pay union-scale wages for the particular region. A yes vote was to affirm the 1931 Davis-Bacon Act. 20U Thomas Voting Reports Inc. www.rollcallvotes.com THIS WEEK I Budget cuts, FAA: The House will take up fiscal 2011 budget cuts, while the Senate will continue to debate a Federal Aviation Administration bill..