The Good Old Days when Politics was Gentlemanly

     

People often think that politics today are too rough, unlike the good old days when it was more gentlemanly and intellectual, as in the days of Abraham Lincoln.

According to Lincoln Day by Day, on this day in 1838 Stephen Douglas and John T. Stuart (Lincoln's law partner at that time) were running against each other for Congress. (Douglas is pictured on the left, above, and Stuart on the right.) 

Douglas used language that was offensive to Stuart. Stuart therefore grabbed Douglas and contemptuously carried him. (Douglas was short.) In retaliation, Douglas bit Stuart's right thumb.

Things may be rough in politics today, but as far as we know no candidate has bit an opponent's thumb this year.