The Smoky Hill and Republican union. [volume] (Junction City, Kan.) 1861-1864, 1864-04-23
Democracy and Aristocracy-ChaIactes Of Pres
ident Lincoln and JEFF. Davis Connasted.

u ident Lincoln and JEFF. Davis contraSted.
! In the course of lecture delivered at
the Academy of Music, In Philadelphia,
recently, Henry Ward Beecher drew the
following contrast between President Lin
colo and JEFF. Davis:
"Democracy breeds societies of men
strong throughout in their civil and organic
relations, not strong in leadership. Aris-
tocracy is the quickest; has the earliest
advantages but Democracy is tenacious,
enduring, and will win by stamina, BY pa
tient continuance in hard knocks. Laugh
ter 1t will win in the end. The earlier
period of this conflict gave advantages to
the South the latter periods of this con-
fict show that, after all, in the long run,
Democrats have the advantage. They have
more wind and bottom. Laughter and
applause The Chief Magistrates of these
two great sections of country are represen-
tatives Of the two corresponding principles.
Davis was formed by aristocratic institu-
,ions. All his ideas of society and of Gov
ernment are aristocratic, for the South was
but uominally republican. himself man
Of experience in public affairs, Of great ad-
ministrative talent, with quick eye aud
6rm hand, with great will power, self
power, with nothing subtracted from it to
the credit of conscience sake, Tlaughter] be
has just that kind Of ability which is called
sharp, keen. lie is an adroit man. He is
cunning statesman. Now, at the begin
ming, almost everi one admired and envied
him. We granted that the best side had
only dull, honest man, and the worst side
such keen, shrewd manager; and it was
often said in the FIRST year, Let US have
their President, and give them ours, and
wen whip them in three months But,
think, no man has heard that said within
the last year. Laughter and applause.
Who believes now in Davis sa5acity. in
bis craftsmanship His cunning has ruin
ed him. Men laugh at the outcoming of
those very projects which they admired in
their conception. There was never in civil
annals SO gigantic blunder as Southern
Statesmen have made. They have IRE.
trievably ruined themselves by their moves
and inflicted vast evil on their countrymen
and unreasonable damage on their States,
and this is what they have to show for
cunning statesmanship-cunning and no,
wise. Mr.. Lincoln is man of the people
He was formed by Democracy into Dem
ocrat. He believed in it with q child
simplicity of faith, rs if he did not know
there was anything else in the word. He
came to the Presidency by one of those
strange happenings which men call chance, |
and Christians providence, without one sim
gle gift which poetry and aristocracy asso
cia.e with snpreme ruler of a nation.
Ungainly in form, without beauty Of fea-
lures, with a manner uncultivated even to
that degree that is common to American
farmers, not a point was there for ro
nance. With natural shrewdness, with |
some experience in the administration of
public affairs, not skil!ful, however, in dis
eerning or selecting men, and then TOO kind
always to put down tool which by mistake
he had taken up. he has been for three
years learning to govern, and though some
what dull he has stuck to his lessons night
and day with such diligence, that now, at
least, jeff Davis could teach him nothing,
Iapplause,1 while on the other hnud Presi
dent Lincoln could teach Davis great
many things [applsuse]; among others, that
honest principles, bravely adhered TO, are
better craftsmanship always. than tricky
expedients. lApplause.] Mr.. Lincoln is
the bomely President of a homely people
He is honest, conscientious, single minded,
disinterestedly seeking the welfare Of the
nation first, the party next, and Of himself
not at all. [Applause. He has been
faithful to the great political truths of our
American system, and he has shown the
world that successful government is not the
mystery, not the thing so rare that only
privileged few can enact it, but that the
good administration of government re.
quires only good common sense and uncom-
mon honesty. [Applause.] This is
lesson for Europe to ponder over. Now,
that it is SO, We would not have our Presi-
dent any other If be had been an accom-
plished scholar, and learned by travel and
experience; if he had had every conceiva-
bic gift that could dazzle the Imagination
or touch the heart, men would say good
leadership gave US the victory; but now
men can say the peoples power, through
the President, gave the victory. Applause
Our President has neen made the butt of
ridicule of our newspapers, and Of derision
among those exalted officials and elegant
masters of court ceremonies abroad; for l
confess that Mr.. Lincoln would cut but
poor figure 10 the courts of Europe ,
[Laughter.] But it is ouiI pride, however,
to show these people that We have carriccas /,
through this terrific struggle. the like Of ,
which Europe never knew, not BY the skill 4
Of any extraordinary genius. They took ,
man from among themselves, real nan of a
l.. Il lx,x..olxx |