these very frankly, and in his turn asked Douglas four questions,
the second of which was whether, in Douglas's opinion, the people
of any Territory could, in any lawful way, against the wish of
any citizen of the United States, bar out slavery before that
Territory became a State. Mr. Lincoln had long and carefully
studied the meaning and effect of this question. If Douglas said,
"No," he would please Buchanan and the administration Democrats,
but at the cost of denying his own words. If he said, "Yes," he
would make enemies of every Democrat in the South. Lincoln's
friends all advised against asking the question. They felt sure
that Douglas would answer, "Yes," and that this would win him his
election. "If you ask it, you can never be senator," they told
Lincoln. "Gentlemen," he replied, "I am killing larger game. If
Douglas answers he can never be President, and the battle of 1860
is worth a hundred of this."

Both prophecies were fulfilled. Douglas answered as was expected;
and though, in actual numbers, the Republicans of Illinois cast
more votes than the Democrats, a legislature was chosen that
rejected him to the Senate. Two years later, Lincoln, who in 1858
had not the remotest dream of such a thing, found himself the
successful candidate of the Republican party for President of the
United States.

To see how little Lincoln expected such an outcome it is only
necessary to glance at the letters he wrote to friends at the end
of his campaign against Douglas. Referring to the election to be
held two years later, he said, "In that day I shall fight in the
ranks, but I shall be in no one's way for any of the places." To
another correspondent he expressed himself even more frankly: "Of