The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1864-11-18
Serenade to President Lincoln.


Serenade to President Lincoln.
Father Abraham Speaks TO His Children.
Last THURSDAY evening" large deIe@a-
tions from the various Lincoln ana john
son Clubs of Washington aud vicinity
marched in procession with bands of mu-
sic. and banners and tran>parencles. 10
the grounds IN front OF thc White House.
After the ~oul-in>piring airs from the
bands and Il national salute. the President
was loudly called for. when Father Abrsl-
ham appeared before the delighted chil-
dren and addressed them IN the following
noble. christian speech:
Friends and EdiIow- CdicemS Ii has long
been a grave question whether any govern
ment not too strong for the liberties OF IT.
people can he strong emoaJh TO maintain
Its own existence III great emergencies.
On this point the present rebellion brought
our Republic to Il severe test: and a Pre-
idential election, occurring in regular
course during the rebellion. added moi 4
little To the strain.
! If the loyal people anttd were put Il
the utmost OF their strength by the rebel
lion. must they not fail when d'r'dcd. an'
partially paralyzcd by IL political wal
among themselves
But the election WAS Il necessity. W.
cannot have free government without
elections: and il the rebellion could force
H. to lorego or postpone a national elec
ton. it might fairly claim to have ;tlre;Id..
conquered and ruined us. The strife o
the election Is but human nature practl
cally applied 10 the facts OF the case
NoiccS in the crowd. THAT'S >o.'') Wha
has occurred in this case must ever recu
in similar cases. Human nature will no
change In any future great national trl
al compared with the men OF this. W
shall have aS weak and a. strong, ~ ill,
and IL wise. ~ bad and IL good.
Let us. therefore. study the incidents O
this. a> philosophy to learn wisdom from
land none OF them a. wrongs To hc rcvcng
ed.
But the election along with It's inciirl
tai and undesirable strife. has done 600
too. 1t ha~ demonstrated that Il people
government can sustain Il national ciecllO
in the midst OF a great civil war. In
thIsia>tic cheers, Until now, it ha~ no
been known to the world that this WAS
possibility. 1t shows also how sound an
how strong We still are. Ii shows thal
even among candidates of the same party
he who i most devoted to the Union. Al,
most opposed To treason. can Receive mo,
OF the peoples votes, i-on"-conlim"
t applause Ii shows also. 10 the cNtcl
, vet known. that We have more men no
than We had when the w;,r hc.;rm i:oi
i rood in il place, but living, brave. pa
riotic men are better than gold. "
: r!au~c
. iIut the rebellion continues and nn
= that tht election i "rcr IA = not all. l;,'
:. IN" Il common interest. rrmitr III a con
mon effort to save our common country
Cries ct "Ar~'' Good For II
own part. have ~,rivcn. ,imi shall >iri>,
: Ia avoid placin. ANY obstacle. IN tin VA
: )" i"ng IL have l,cn here, have II,
, willingly planted thorn IN any man
bosom.
While am deeply sensible IL the Ei-
= compliment of = reelection. AMI du
1 grateful. a. trust. io Almighty Gioi I,
: having directed my c"umIrvmrn To Il ri.
=. conclusion. IL think. for their own 900
it aId~ nothin. 10 my satisfaction ih
any other man may he disappointed
n panied by the result. Applause.
: MAY ask tho>, who have moi differ,
with me- 10 Join with mc in thi> same >pi
ii towards those who haze,
And now. let me clos, = asking tn,
: hearty cheers for our brave soldiers al
>ramcn, and their gallant and >hiIii
Il commanders.
! The cheers were given with Il will !
the vast crowd assembled. and wrr. h.-
tily repeated After three NOR. chez
Il ior President Lincoln. the crowd retire
1 AMI proceeded 10 ~crcnId, Sees. Scwar
1 Wrllc-. f;~~endcn and Stanton.