The Sun.
London, England, 1865-05-16 00:00:00

PRUSSIA.

THE ASSASSINATION OF MR. LINCOLN.
BERLIN, May 14.

The following is the full text of the reply deli-
vered by Mr. Judd, the American Minister in this
capital, to the address condoling with him upon the
murder of Mr. Lincoln presented by the Chamber
of Deputies :
" Gentlemen,—The address in which you do me
honour to express your sympathy with the great
national misfortune which has overtaken the people
and Government of the United States has filled me

with the deepest emotion. The expression of these
sympathies is all the more precious to the United
States and to me because it proceeds from so large
a number of members, and so highly placed and
distinguished a body as the Prussian Chamber of
Deputies.

" The lamented President Lincoln was cut off in
the bloom of life by a murderous hand, just at the
moment when victorious result crowned, the exer-
tions in the suppression of the mighty rebellion
which the slaveholders had attempted against the
free institutions of the country.
" Four short years ago Lincoln was still un-
known to the statesmen of Europe.
.Now all unite
in acknowledging he possessed rare administrative
talent, a far-reaching statesmanlike gaze, and
patriotism of unselfish devotiOn to the interests of
his country. The first magistrate of a free people,
which has placed in him its whole confidence, is
dead. The nation deplores his death, laments its
own loss, and the entire civilised world shares its
grief. My sorrow at this loss is the greater because
I had been connected for years by the bonds of per-
sonal friendship with the lamented President.

" Long before the people summoned him to the
Government he had been to me a tried and realiable
friend, whose extraordinary talents I was forced to
admire, and whose kind and noble disposition, to-
gether with his simplicity and frankness in all rela-
tions of life, filled me with the warmest affection.
Horror at the crime and curses of the criminal
mingle themselves with my grief.
" The address, gentlemen, speaks with full right
of the great interest the German people have taken
in the victory of the Government of the United
State in its contest against the rebellion. The sym-
pathies I have found here have constantly been to
me a source of great satisfaction, and a well-spring
of true comfort in the time of misfortune, and I
have always considered it an especial privilege to
live, in these anxious times, among a people sympa-
thising with freedom and wishful for its victory.
But the German nation has not only given .its
sympathies, it has also given its sons to the
battle for freedom. They have carried high the
banner of liberty, have stood by it faithfully, and
have sealed with their blood their devotion to free-
dom's cause. Our nation will never forget these
combatants, their friends, or the land of their birth.
" Secretary of State, Mr. Seward, to whose peril
from a similar attack you sympathisingly allude, has
been entrusted during a long life with the most im-
portant affairs of our country, and is honoured by
his compatriots for the splendid capabilities as
orator and statesman he has al ways placed at the
service of freedom. To convey to you his full value
to the nation, I need only call to mind his success-
ful conduct of foreign affairs during the stormy
period of the last four years. Hostile interests and
invidious rivalry, which gained courage to up-
raise their heads because they fancied us the
weaker in this contest, endeavoured to throw
difficulties in the way of relations with foreign
Powers. Our able Premier has succeeded in uphold-
ing the honour of his nation, as well as in maintain-
ing peace with foreign States. lam very happy to
be able to acquaint you that the latest intelligence
conveys the almost certain hope he will survive the
wounds inflicted upon him by the assassin, and will
thus remain preserved to his country.
" Permit me now, gentlemen, to state the con-
viction that, however great the justice with which
we admire Mr. Lincoln, and however great has been
the merit of his administration, we still should not
forget that there is a power by which he has always
been supported—nay, whose influence has con-
stantly accompanied him in all his steps, and that
this power has not perished with him. This power
has assembled numerous armies with marvellous
rapidity, has created a large fleet as by
magic, and has continually filled anew the
treasury of the United States. This power is none
other than the will of a free people, and this power
still exists. Among all the merits of the lamented
President Lincoln, his very greatest merit was that
he constantly endeavoured faithfully to carry out
the will of this people, which has preserved its coun-
try as a land of freedom, and ever will preserve it
as such.

" President Johnson, Lincoln's successor, has
been engaged in the public business of the nation
upwards of 30 years, and has retained its confidence
in the highest positions. He brings to the conduct
of public affairs great talents, long experience, in-
corruptible honesty, and the firm will to complete
the work that Lincoln has begun. That same will
of a free people will also be his support, and for
that reason the cause of freedom will be victorious
under his guidance as it was before.
"Allow me again to thank you, gentlemen, and
through you those whom you represent, for the
sympathy you have expressed to me at this misfor-
tune ' • and permit me once more to assure you that
your kindness and good feeling will never be for-
gotten. I shall hasten to communicate to the Go-
vernment and people of the United States the
address I have just had the honour to receive."