as the same sort of young men to-day print essays on cubism, or examples of free verse read to poetry societies.  Just what views he expressed on things in general among the young men and others; how far he aired his acquaintance with the skeptics, is imperfectly known.(11) However, a rumor got abroad that he was an “unbeliever,” which was the easy label for any one who disagreed in religion with the person who applied it.  The rumor was based in part on a passage in an address on temperance.  In 1842, Lincoln, who had always been abstemious, joined that Washington Society which aimed at a reformation in the use of alcohol.  His address was delivered at the request of the society.  It contained this passage, very illuminating in its light upon the generosity, the real humility of the speaker, but scarcely tactful, considering the religious susceptibility of the hour:  “If they (the Christians) believe as they profess, that Omnipotence condescended to take on himself the form of sinful man, and as such die an ignominious death, surely they will not refuse submission to the infinitely lesser condescension for the temporal and perhaps eternal salvation of a large, erring and unfortunate class of their fellow creatures!  Nor is the condescension very great.  In my judgment such of us as have never fallen victims have been spared more from the absence of appetite than from any mental or moral superiority over those who have.  Indeed, I believe, if we take habitual drunkards as a class, their heads and their hearts will bear an advantageous comparison with those of any other class."(12) How like that remark attributed to another great genius, one whom Lincoln in some respects resembled, the founder of Methodism, when he said of a passing drunkard:  “There goes John Wesley, except for the Grace of God.”  But the frontier zealots of the ’forties were not of the Wesley type.  The stories of Lincoln’s skeptical interests, the insinuations which were promptly read into this temperance address, the fact that he was not a church-member, all these were seized upon by a good but very narrow man, a devoted, illiterate evangelist, Peter Cartwright.

In 1846, this religious issue became a political issue.  The Whigs nominated Lincoln for Congress.  It was another instance of personal politics.  The local Whig leaders had made some sort of private agreement, the details of which appear to be lost, but according to which Lincoln now became the inevitable candidate.(13) He was nominated without opposition.  The Democrats nominated Cartwright.

Two charges were brought against Lincoln:  that he was an infidel, and that he was—­of all things in the world!—­an aristocrat.  On these charges the campaign was fought.  The small matter of what he would do at Washington, or would not do, was brushed aside.  Personal politics with a vengeance!  The second charge Lincoln humorously and abundantly disproved; the first, he met with silence.