he knew and recited robert emmitt's speech from the dock. by memory. especially the closing words, "when my country takes her place among the nations of the earth, then, and not til then, let me epitaph be written, i have done." lincoln's favorite ballad was "the lament of the irish emigrant" set to music. many of lincoln's quips as a politician often resourced to irish analogies. oftentimes they were caustic and a bit insulting to make a point. his first recorded jibe about a poor irishman comes from one of his congressional speeches on the need for sensible improvements when he described an irishman who had a pair of new boots. quoting lincoln, "i shall never get 'em on, said patrick, until i wear 'em a day or two and stretch 'em out a bit." late in the war an observer recalled that lincoln said, "there was a cabinet meeting in the afternoon. general grant who had just returned gave a very interesting account of the state of the south and the good feeling manifested by the offices of the confederate army. they all said they were readily to lay down t

he knew and recited robert emmitt's speech from the dock by memory. especially the closing words. when my country takes her place among the nations of the earth, then and not until then, let my epitaph be written -- i have done. his favorite balance lad was helen serena, the poem the lament of the irish immigrant, set to music. many of lincoln's quips also resorted to irish analogies. sometimes they were caustic, and perhaps a bit insulting to make a point. his first reported jibe about a poor irishman comes from one of his congressional speeches on the need for sensible improvements which he described an irishman who had a pair of new boots. quoting lincoln -- i shall never get him on, said patrick, until i wear them a day or two and stretch them out a bit, unquote. late in the quarter, an observer recalled that lincoln said -- there was a cabinet meeting in the afternoon, general grant who had just returned gave a very interesting account of the state of the south, and the good feeling manifested by the offices of the confederate army. they all said they were ready to lay down t

he knew and recited robert emmitt's speech from the dock by memory. especially the closing words. when my country takes her place among the nations of the earth, then and not until then, let my epitaph be written -- i have done. his favorite balance lad was helen