In his History of the United States under the Constitution. James Schouler wrote: “The farther we recede from the era of our great civil strife, the more colossal stands out the figure of Abraham Lincoln.” In recent years this recognition in retrospect has been supplemented in periodical literature by anecdotes from Lincolniana. His self-education, his simplicity of manner, his sense of humor, his statesmanship are being revealed more and more to the American reading public. These human traits which are listed as little known facts have popularized Abraham Lincoln in the hearts of the American people. The judgment of his contemporaries, that he was one of the truly great Presidents of the United States, has been confirmed in the course of time. Public opinion, almost a century after his death, can be classified as almost universal affection. This was not true during the period of this particular study. He emerged from near obscurity to become a national controversy. His lowliness of origin, his awkwardness of appearance and partic­ularly his uncompromising stand on the abolition of slavery were ridiculed by many throughout the nation. The secession movement began not after Lincoln’s inauguration but as soon as the news of his election was announced. California was far removed, both by space and time, from the scene of rebellion, but the ancestries of Its citizens determined what the people thought of Abraham Lincoln. His reputation was staked on the success of the Union armies? patriotism was synonymous with loyalty to his administration.
Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations