The contest between Lincoln and Douglas seemed to be, as expressed by Dr. Newton Bateman, “one between sharpness and greatness.”  Lincoln seemed to Dr. Bateman, “a man strongly possessed by a belief to which he was earnestly striving to win the people over; while the aim of Mr. Douglas seemed rather to be simply to defeat Mr. Lincoln.”  Yet, although Lincoln was usually earnest and considerate of his opponent, he could, when occasion required, bring his powers of humor and sarcasm into play in a very effective manner.  A few pointed illustrations may be given.  In his speech at Galesburg, Douglas sneeringly informed the citizens that “Honest Abe” had been a liquor-seller.  Lincoln met this with the candid admission that once in early life he had, under the pressure of poverty, accepted and for a few months held a position in a store where it was necessary for him to retail liquor.  “But the difference between Judge Douglas and myself is just this,” he added, “that while I was behind the bar, he was in front of it.”

At the close of the joint discussion at Alton, Douglas led off with a speech an hour long, in which he showed no little irritability.  The campaign was evidently wearing on him.  Lincoln, on the contrary, was in capital spirits.  “He sat taking in the speech of Douglas with seeming immobility,” says Mr. Jeriah Bonham, who was present, “and when it was ended, he rose to reply.  As in the opening of all his speeches, he spoke slowly, did not rise to his full height, leaning forward in a stooping posture at first, his person showing all the angularities of limb and face.  For the first five or ten minutes he was both awkward and diffident, as in almost monotonous tones he began to untangle the meshes of Douglas’s sophistry.  Proceeding, he gained confidence gradually; his voice rang out strong and clear; his tall form towered to its full height; his face grew radiant with impassioned feeling, as he poured forth an outburst of crushing argument and inspiring eloquence.  The people became wild with enthusiasm, but his voice rang loud above their cheers.  Frequently in his speech he would turn toward Douglas, and say with emphasis, ‘You know these things are so, Mr. Douglas!’ or ’You know these things are not so, Mr. Douglas!’ At one time he bent his long body over his adversary, pouring in his arguments so sharply, that Douglas, chafing under the attack, rose to explain; but Lincoln would not allow it.  ‘Sit down, Mr. Douglas!’ said he peremptorily.  ’I did not interrupt you, and you shall not interrupt me.  You will have opportunity to reply to me—­if you can—­in your closing speech.’”