The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1860-06-04

From the N. y. Eveaing Post.

Much has been enid lately oil representa-
tive mcn--so much indeed, that IN cntcrpri-
sing publisher has put forth book of biog.
raphies, 10 which tbs lives Of All our more
noted politicians are sketched at length, and
the world 10 given to understand that gentle
men who obtain political position are the
high types OF American civilization. But
this is q cardinal mistake; and the book in
question does not contain word OF many
OF the real representative men Of the nation.
Abraham Lincoln's name, for instance, 10
omitted from it, while such nance as Cobb,
Dallas, Orr, Lane, Brown. Bolts and Wise
arc treated With the most elaborate consido-
ration.
Nevertheless, MIR. Lincoln surpasses oil
these as personifcation of the distinctive
genius OF our country and its Institutions
Whatever is peculiar in the history and de-
velopment OF America, whatever is foremost
in it's civilization, whatever is grand in its
social and political structure finds its bcss
expression 10 tho career OF Abraham Linz
coin. Our first and principal task ~ . ma
ton has been to subdue the vast wilderness
which has been given to Us 40 . herisage.---
To expel the savage, to Tell the forest, TO
clear the field, to tame the soil, to construct
the ways on intercourse, and TO convert the
~
tation, has been the work imposed urns -.
and our highest trinmphs CONSIST in the sa.-
cess with which this has been accomplished
Our literature, science and art have az yet
merely made a beginning; our achievements
in war and diplomacy are comparatively in.
significant; but the practical energy which
within few years has Carried the civilisa-
ton OF the nineteenth century, in its highest
forms over an entire continent, commands
and deserves the applause Of the world
This hos been our destiny, and future histo-
~ will write it rs our earliest distinction
and glory.
Now, the pioneers Of tho West have been
the Instruments Of this success men who
have quilted the settled districts OF the sea-
board to reclaim the interior wilderness !;
who have taken their axes upon their should
ers to clear away the woods; who have put
their hands TO the plough TO turn up the soil;
who, freighting Eat. boats with the wares OF
the villages, have carried them into the soli-
tudes to supply the wants of the frontier !;
| and In Abraham Lincoln we behold one of
the most hardy and adventurous Of those
backwoodsmen. A pioneer, wood cutter,
= boatman and farmer, he has, 10 each vo-
cation, typifed one grand and characteristic
mission OF our people, and become repre-
sentative man in the trucst sense OF the term.
Our country IL not, however, distinguished
alone for it's stupendous physical progress,
for those grand triumphs over nature which
have sprinkled the whole continent with cit
les, and connected its remotest parts by rail-
roads and teegraphs. 1t has also worked
out for itself peculiar, social and political
constitution. Placing, for the frst time Ia
the history Of mankind, tho controlling pow.
er OF government in the hands Of the Who'll.
people, ii has constructed = sast fabric oil
society on that new basis. II has said to al
ranks and orders Of men, here you are free
here you are equal in rights TO each other
here the careers Of life are open TO ever,
|, conner; men are thrown upon their own in
trinsic manhood for their reliance, and j
belongs to each one to become the architec
OF bis own fortunes. This unlimited free
dom of action, though il has produced SOM
social evils, has produced much greater good
and we do no. believe that there is o nation
on the globe in which the masses OF the PEG
pie are so prosperous, go intelligent, and 81
contented as they are in this nation. Wha
more striking illustration OF it's effects coui,
we have, than the rise Of Mr.. Lincoln to hi
present importance in the eyes Of the world
Is be not pre- eminently the child OF our fire.
. institptionsp A poor orphan, without edu
! cation or friends, by the labor OF his hands
by the energy OF bis will, by the maniDes
and probity Of his character, he raises him
self TO fortune and fame; q powerful party
, which contains, 10 say the least, as much viz
|. tue and intelligence as any other. sssign
him, without intrigues or efforts OF bis owr
the first place in its regards, making him tb
: bearer Of its standard in a momentous pc
: litical conflict; and in few months NOR
> We may see the once friendless boy the OF
. cupant OF the Presidential chair. Thus tt
: spirit Of our institutions il strikingly embod
= led 10 his career, which is itself an admirs
: BILE commentary on their excellence.
). We have said that the opportunities OF Iii
j. were open TO all men in the country; but
saying 30 We arc not entirely accurate: 10
unfortunately, there 10 class OF enslav,
Africans among US which constitutes o.
exception. Slavery began to exist on tn
continent before We were nation, ar
! though 1t was regarded as temporary nj
~ transitional thing, circumstances in the cor
D mercial history OF the world gave to it gra
70 ually an unexpected and pernicious impo
Is lance. Itgrew with our growth, until tho
70 who were interested in il came to control q
., political destinies OF the country, and to RI
~ course Of rivalry even with our free pc
pie. Giving character to the civilization
the South, it has produced serious confii
between it and the civilization OF the Mort
he The men who labor for themselves conte
e- with the mon who labor through slaves I
to the possession OF the government and /
r. planting Of those immense territories ut /
he West which are tho seats OF future empi,
- But here again Abraham Lincoln appears
ry champion Of the movement OF freedom.
., Though born at the South, be has identiH
nd himself thoroughly with the cause OF free
OF Dor, recommending its practice by his da
ce example, and commencing its principles
sw his vigorous eloqucnoe.
d, Could you have, thcn, better represent
r. tive man than Lincoln?