Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1862-06-11
PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN THE PRESIDENT


has acquired over the public mind. Within
the last two days question which, if left open
for discussion to be decided by the general
voice of the country, would have awakened the
fercest anmosities and most irreconciiable
fueds, has been settled by simple declaration
OF the President, and all parties acquiesce.
Similar proofs OF confidence have oeen OF
frequent occurrence. When the prosecution
against Mr.. Cameron for alleged ARBITRARY az
rests, there was good deal OF plain speaking
on the subject, until the President avowed the
arrests as his own, when censure and CRITICISM
at once ceased. The neglect 10 give Gen'
Stone a trial caused considerable feeling In
Massachusetts and other parts OF the country
until the President stated lis reasons for the
postponement, since when no more has been
heard on the subject. If Mr.. Seward, or Mr.
Cameron-Mr. Lincoln's strongest rivals in the
Chicago Conventon-were President nobody
suppOses they would inspire the same conf
dence or be treated by the same indulgence.
But here we have man with but a small por-
tion of their public experience, placed in a
most trying position, with no pIecedents to
guide him, who has IN one year gained hold
public confidence which has no parallel
since the days of Washington.
The circumstances under which Mr.. Lincoln
is called to administer the government are far
more embarrassing than those which surround
ed Washington. He entered on his duties
his favor which lifted Washington to the head
of the government without dissenting voice.
Washington entered the Presidency with pre-
vious claims on the trust and gratitude OF the
country to which Mr. Lincoln could make no
pretensions. Washington had been the pole
star of the nations hope during the long and
trying War of Independence. Mr.. Lincoln
had been a mere village lawyer, scarcely known
out OF his own State until his spirited canvass
for the U. 5. SenatorShip against Mr.. Douglas,
IN which, though a stanch partisan, he gained
the reputation of an able, fair- minded, and
candid debater. With this slender stock of
acquired reputation, which he damaged more
than he increased by the infeiicitous
speech making of his circuitous tour from
the place OF residence to Washington, he
has won the public respect to degree which,
considering the circumstances, is without
parallel. Without any advantages of wealth,
birth, education, manners, personal appearan-
ces, personal connections, or experience in
public life, he has taught the country to con-
tide in him with almost implicit trust. This
is the most extraordinary moral phenomenon
OF which we have any recollection. How are
we to account Tor it
Something is due-a great deal is due-to
the active and Jealous patriotism of the loyal
States, which disposes the people to be more
candid and liberal in their judgments than the
great body of them ever in times of ordinary
bearance which the country has been exercis-
ing toward Mr.. Lincoln for the last eight
months, but sincere and hearty approval. He
has so convinced the people OF the rectitude
of his intentions and the probity of his charac-
| ter, that he has completely won their conf
| dence. 1t is purely by his moral qualities
| that he has gained this great ascendancy over
! the public mind. He is living eXemplifica-
| tion of the important truth that of all the ee
| pDtc nf iDHu ic N n r. har
acter. knowledge, to be sure, is power, ac-
cording to the adage so wealth is power, So
| cial position Is power, great capacity for po-
| htlcal intrigue IS power, eloquence and bril-
| liant intellectual gifts are power but it is
| much more emphatically true that character
| is power. Mr.. Lincoln has become so strong
in the esteem of his countrymen, because he
| has given evidence of strong character held
in subordination to high moral principle, or
rather, because his uncommon strength of
| character consists in the robustness of his
| moral nature. 1t was precisely this that con-
| Stituted the greatness OF Washington, a man
| in all other respects except this, and eau
tious, slow, sound judgment, the very anti
thesis of Mr.. Lincoln Except in this com
mon element of their power there were never
two men more unlike the one grave, for
NAL, stately, ceremonious gentleman of the
old school, remarkable for the dignity of his
presence and bearing the other an unganly
| loose -jointed man, of an easy, lovial temper
and uncouth manners, who loves his joke and
has an inveterate habit of telling ludicrous
| stories to illustrate his opinions on the grav-
| est subjects. Providence seems to have pro
duced these two men in the two most remark
able epochS of our history, as if to fix the at
| tention of the country on the superiority OF
the moral qualities to all Others. The educa-
tive influence of the men who conduct the
affairs in those great crises, which can never
| fade out of remembrance, is immense. In
| Washington's time the country was less demo
caatic than now. We have descended from
property qualification to universal suffrage
The control of public affairs has fallen into the
| hands of men who have more sympathy witt
| the personal habits and manners, of Mr.. Lin
coin than with those Of Washington, and Prov
idence adapts its lessons to the altered char
acter of the pupils. But though the vehicle
of instruction is different, the lesson Is the
same. It's still the superiority of moral quail
tiles to mere intellectual gifts in the manage
ment of public affairs and means of per
sonal influence. These characters illustrate
the nature of moral excellence, as well al
prove its superiority. There is nothing il
either OF that shallow impulsiveness which
u runs crazy with philanthropic idea, anC
which is as inconsistent with strength anC
character or moral force (although not as dis
reputable and degrading) as inability to con
troll the lower passions. Moral superiority il
} always master of itself, and of it, own emo
| tions. 1t is self poised, self subsistent, act
ing on all important occasions deliberately ant
from principle, and never from mere fanati
cal or sentimental impulses. Our excitablt
people have particular need of this lesson
We have more moral sentiment than mora
} strength. character like Mr.. Lincoln IS
, which in its best features resembles that o
, Washington, tends to restrain the wayward
} ness of our philanthropy, and, without narrow
ing our sympathies, will make more con
siderate, circumspect, Systematically
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