The Great Debate (Conclusion)

Continuing from Alonzo Wheeler Jerome's The Great Debate:

The death of the great Senator, was a serious loss to the Union side. His influence would have gone far towards minimizing the harm done by the "Knights of the Golden Circle" and "Sons of Liberty," who were striving to perpetuate oppression, and his magnetism and fervor would have brought to the Union ranks, many who remained neutral, or went over to the side of the enemy.

Because of his greatness and his steadfastness for the Union, is he fully entitled to the respect and honor shown by placing him conspicuously in the picture, which, the writer ventures to predict, will yet be ranked as one of the world's great works of art.

To the memory of the artist who has so beautifully commemorated the greatest debate in all history,* there should be at least a tablet of bronze placed in the rotunda, in a prominent position, and near his great work. For it is because of the excellence of his work, as well as the history it records, which is not only Illinois', but the Country's also; that we would not exchange our Capitol's dome for Michael Angelo's art embellished crown of St. Peters at Rome. There is no Lincoln there.

*Since the above was written, President McKinley said, in speaking of Lincoln and Douglas, in his address to the citizens of Kankakee, Oct. 15, 1898, "Their famous debate was an education for the young man and for the old men of the country, and has as much to do with shaping and moulding public opinion, as any event I can now recall."

graphic by Jeff Bucchino, "The Wizard of Draws"