“Well, perhaps more log cabins, but no war record.  Lincoln was never in any war but the Black Hawk.  He was against the Mexican War; and when in Congress voted for resolutions that the war was unconstitutional and improper.  No, he is not old Harrison or old Zach Taylor.  Still the log cabin is in the fight.”

Then Reverdy went on to tell me that Lincoln was a clean man and that the Republicans had no abler man in Illinois; that he had been a good deal in politics after all, though quiet for about ten years.  That while Douglas had been Senator, chairman of the committee on territories, his name on everybody’s tongue, the most prominent man and the most active in the whole country, building railroads, organizing territories, battling with Great Britain, settling California and Oregon, and Kansas and Nebraska, traveling abroad into Russia and Asiatic Europe, and companioning with notables everywhere, making money almost like a millionaire, Lincoln had been over at Springfield practicing law, talking on the street corners, sitting in his office alone in reflection, sometimes reading; but all the while, in a way, resting.

“He’s fresh and Douglas is tired,” said Reverdy.  “He has the advantage of not having committed himself much.  Douglas has spoken freely on everything.  He’s four years older than Douglas, but he’s a younger man.  He’s a temperance man they say; and while I like a drink, I don’t like to see a man drink as much as Douglas does.  They say he’s been pouring it down during this campaign.  But as for Douglas’ stooping to debate with Lincoln, it’s no stoop.  They make the fur fly when they talk.  What I fear is that there’s going to be trouble in this country.  I hate slavery, but I hate this agitation too.  I don’t want to see the North keep on making war on the South.  It will breed trouble sure.  And this is where I stand with Douglas.  He is for non-interference with slavery and his election will be a quieter.”

When we got back to Reverdy’s house I plunged into the newspapers containing the debates.  I read until suppertime, and then late into the night.  I read them all.  I went to bed and analyzed the arguments.

A house divided against itself cannot stand!  This was Seward’s irrepressible conflict clothed in Biblical language.  The religious revival which had swept the country gave these words a compelling acceptance.  But as I read this it came over me that both Jesus and Lincoln were sophists.  For a house divided against itself can stand; and irrepressible conflicts rage forever.  They may change their ground, but they do not cease.  I had seen this in Europe and in Italy, where in the January just past a certain Orsini had attempted the life of Louis Napoleon because he had not acceded to the labors of Cavour and thus hastened the liberty of Italy.  And yet Italy was standing and France.  Houses are divided everywhere and they stand.  Beelzebub is crafty enough to cast out devils here and there