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President Lincoln as a Temperance Man

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 5, 1908

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 85, No. 10.

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President Lincoln as a Temperance Man

LEONARD SWETT tells us that Lincoln told him not more than a year before he was elected president that he had never tasted liquor in his life. “What!” said Swett, “do you mean to say that you never tasted it?” “Yes,” replied Lincoln, “I never tasted it.” When we take into consideration the habits of the times, this is a most remarkable testimony to Lincoln’s principles, the stability of his character, and the iron quality of his will power.
Mr. C. C. Coffin, a most distinguished journalist of the day, who accompanied the notification committee from the Chicago convention to Springfield, at the time of Lincoln’s first nomination for the presidency of the United States, related in his newspaper an incident that occurred on that occasion. He says that after the exchange of formalities Lincoln said:— “Mrs. Lincoln will be pleased to see you, gentlemen. You will find her in the other room. You must be thirsty after your long ride. You will find a pitcher of water in the library.”
The newspaper men crossed the hall and entered the library. There were miscellaneous books on the shelves, two globes, celestial and terrestrial, in the corners of the room, and a plain table, with writing materials upon it, a pitcher of cold water and glasses, but no wines or liquors. There was humor in the invitation to take a glass of water, which was explained to Mr. Coffin by a citizen of Springfield, who said that, when it was known that the committee was coming, several of the citizens called upon Mr. Lincoln and informed him that some entertainment must be provided.
“Yes, that is so. What ought to be done? Just let me know and I will attend to it,” he said.
“O, we will supply the needed liquors!” said his friends.
“Gentlemen,” said Mr. Lincoln, “I thank you for your kind intention, but must respectfully decline your kind offer. I have no liquors in my house, and have never been in the habit of entertaining my friends in that way. I can not permit my friends to do for me what I will not myself do. I shall provide cold water—nothing else.”—Youth’s Temperance Evangel.