Lincoln's “Suicide” Poem
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
FFoorr tthhee PPeeooppllee A Newsletter of the Abraham Lincoln Association Volume 6, Number 1 Spring 2004 S p r i n g f i e l d , I l l i n o i s Lincoln’s “Suicide” Poem: Has It Been Found? By Richard Lawrence Miller* Weik about when the poem was pro- the August 25, 1838, Sangamo Journal duced. The spring of 1840 would is a candidate for being the poem in n William Herndon’s Life of remove any connection of the poem question. Lacking, however, a holo- Lincoln, ghostwriter Jesse Weik with Lincoln’s black mood of 1841. graph manuscript or dependable iden- Ihas Herndon say that Abraham Herndon himself once recalled an even tification by contemporaries familiar Lincoln wrote “a few lines under the earlier date: “As to the Lincoln poem with the work, we are left to our own gloomy title of ‘Suicide’” at around the on suicide, I found out from Speed devices in determining whether Lin- time of the depression Lincoln suffered that it was written 1838, and I hunted coln might be the author. in 1841 after breaking his engagement up the Journal and found where the This candidate poem satisfies basic with Mary Todd and learning that his poem was, what day published, etc., requirements. Dating is within proper best friend Joshua Speed was moving etc., but someone had cut it out—sup- perimeters. The subject matter of sui- back to Kentucky. According to the rec- posed to be Lincoln. I could never find cide is extraordinary. The Sangamo ollection attributed to Herndon, the another copy, and so there is an end of Journal and other Illinois newspapers poem was published in the Sangamo that” (see Herndon to Ward Lamon, of that time routinely contained verse Journal, but in the newspaper’s files the Feb. 25, 1870, in Emanuel Hertz, ed., with themes of death or mortality, but poem later had been clipped from the The Hidden Lincoln, from the Letters and not suicide. Lincoln appears to have issue containing it: “I have always sup- Papers of William H. Herndon [New had no competitors dealing with that posed it was done by Lincoln or by York: Blue Ribbon Books, 1940], 67). theme. The title given by Weik, with- some one at his instigation.” Was the poem indeed clipped out out access to the poem itself, may be The piece has been a minor literary from the newspaper file? Herndon imprecise. And typically, poetry in the mystery. Skepticism has even existed does not declare personal recollection Sangamo Journal did not give an about the poem’s existence, on of ever seeing the poem; on the con- author’s name, so lack of attribution grounds that scrapbooks should have trary, he seems to rely on Speed for does not argue against Lincoln’s preserved it, and that Springfield’s knowledge of the item’s existence. authorship. Democratic Illinois Register of the era Searchers examining the standard Aspects of content are consistent would have reprinted anything embar- Sangamo Journal file do encounter an with his authorship. Given the rarity of rassing to Lincoln (see Mary Leighton occasional empty rectangle where an suicide verse in newspapers of the era, Miles, “The Fatal First of January, item once existed, but how did we can easily speculate that Sangamo 1841,” Journal of the Illinois State Herndon know that a particular empty Journal editor Simeon Francis had par- Historical Society 20 [1927–1928]: 16). rectangle had contained a poem he evi- ticular respect for the item’s author, Although Jesse Weik is an outstand- dently did not remember and (given else the submission might have been ing authority, Herndon saw flaws in the dating conflicts) published in a year rejected. Francis is well known for giv- the book. Was the poetry account an he apparently was uncertain of? ing Lincoln open access to the newspa- example of error in detail? Weik dates Perhaps his remarks to Lamon should per’s columns. Although Herndon and the piece from 1841. Herndon’s notes be treated as sincere but casual, a pri- Weik implied that someone thought of a circa June 10, 1865, interview vate comment made to a friend but not Lincoln’s suicide poem contained with Joshua Speed date the poem as intended as a public declaration that thoughts best hidden from posterity, “about 1840.” A September 13, 1866, could be proven. Weik’s prose on the Lincoln was not given to public confes- letter from Speed to Herndon says: subject, attributed to Herndon, was sion of intimate thoughts. Nor would “My recollection is that the Poem on very public but may have had no more his personal and political friend Francis Suicide was written in the Spring of backing than Herndon’s earlier com- be likely to publish a piece raising ques- 1840. or Summer of 1841,” and “It ment to Lamon. tions about Lincoln’s steadiness; even was published in the Sangamon If we are willing to consider that if such a piece lacked public attribu- Journal soon after it was written.” Herndon possibly erred about the tion, persons closely connected to the Speed appeared less certain than poem’s disappearance, an item from continued on page 6 2 For the People Lincoln and the Cold War By Thomas F. Schwartz Lincoln’s legacy, especially as it per- to say to you here in Springfield, as tained to division of Germany. Recent well as to all the people of America, art of the Lincoln Sesquicenten- Soviet statements of reunifying Berlin how greatly indebted we are to you. I nial observances was the appear- prompted Brandt to seek reassurances have just passed several pleasant and Pance of West Berlin Mayor Willy from the United States that West encouraging days; and they have Brandt in Springfield, Illinois. A crowd Berlin would remain safe from any out- strengthened my conviction that Berlin of fifteen hundred gathered at the side military threats. President Eisen- can rely on its friends and that we shall Illinois State Armory for a steak dinner hower stood firmly behind Brandt and march forward shoulder to shoulder, and an address by the young forty- the people of West Berlin. Brandt used permitting nothing to come between us. four-year-old mayor of the divided city Lincoln’s “House Divided” speech as The history of nations, particularly of Berlin. The evening revelers includ- his point of departure. It is reproduced the nations of Europe, has passed on to ed twenty-four diplomats, including here in its entirety. posterity in ample measure the deeds of Sir Harold Cassia, the British ambassa- those personalities whose fame rests on dor, and Herve’ Alphand, the French Ladies and Gentlemen: the external employment of power. Yet, ambassador. The local newspaper, the We have come together here in it may be rightly said that a greater his- Illinois State Journal Register, noted the Springfield to pay homage to a great torical force has emanated from those last-minute cancellation of Czechoslo- political leader of your country. I have men and women who have helped their vakian charge d’ affaires, Dr. Carl gladly come the long way from Berlin country and their people to attain inner Duda, with the headline, “Reds Snub to Springfield, because I consider it a greatness and strength and who thus Lincoln Fete.” Czechoslovakia was the high honor that I may have a part in became the embodiment of ideas only “Iron Curtain” country that had these ceremonies and that I may speak which have influenced many countries indicated a willingness to participate in to you. and many generations. the celebration. In spite of this small diplomatic incident, the evening was a great suc- cess. The famous singer and actress Etta Moten sang the “National Anthem” while the University of Illinois Symphony Orchestra and Varsity Men’s Glee Club provided addi- tional music, including a performance of Aaron Copeland’s “A Lincoln Portrait.” Springfield Mayor Nelson O. Howarth, Governor William Stratton, and Senator Everett M. Dirksen were among the elected official representing Illinois. In recognition of Brandt’s efforts, he was presented a gavel “made from a block of black walnut taken from a tree that grew in the yard of the Sangamon County Courthouse where Lincoln gave his “House Divided” speech.” Brandt was also given book- ends fashioned after Daniel Chester West Berlin’s Mayor Willy Brandt French’s seated Lincoln that was and Illinois First Lady Shirley Stratton inscribed: “Presented to Mayor Willy Brandt by the people of Springfield, My fellow-Berliners are filled with In my city of Berlin, during those Ill., Feb. 12, 1959.” the same sense of gratitude; and I most difficult years after the war, we Brandt used the occasion of bring to all of you and to your many had such a personality at our head, a Lincoln’s 175th birthday to discuss guests their heartfelt greetings. I wish continued on page 4 For the People 3 THE ABRAHAM LINCOLN ASSOCIATION ROGER D. BRIDGES Member News and President MOLLY M. BECKER Announcements RICHARD E. HART RICHARD MILLS Vice-Presidents pringfield attorney Joseph E. accepted a position with the history THOMAS F. S CHWARTZ McMenamin serves in the Illinois department at Gettysburg College Secretary SNational Guard. He and his unit beginning in the fall. ROBERT A. STUART JR. have been deployed to Afghanistan for James M. McPherson is writing a Treasurer one year. Our thoughts and prayers are biography on Abraham Lincoln. ROBERT S. ECKLEY with him and all the men and women Catherine Clinton, author of Immediate Past-President serving in the military.