Abraham Lincoln addressed the people of McDonough County on this spot on October 26, 1858, and the words associated with his public leadership there include appeals to faith that right makes might, to daring to do duty as it is understood, to a new birth of freedom for a nation under God, to government of the people, by the people, for the people, and to striving with malice toward none, charity for all, and firmness in the right to finish the work at hand.