The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1864-12-15
6bs Ganraster e5a}ttte.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

now living by an immense majorlty OF
tho suffrages of his countrymen, in the
very crisis Of the most bloody and
momentous struggle that this or any
other nation over engaged in, ensures
TO him a prominent place among the
great historic characters Of the world.
1t need ed this to render that character
complete. Had he retired at the end
of one term. he would still have occu-
pied largo place in history among
the good, the great, the true; but now,
with the seal Of the appreciation of
twenty millions Of intelligent i"eemen
onstamped upon him, he stands before
the world as the representative man Of
the Great Republic, and the standard
bearer Of Freedom in the world.
Henceforth his origin, his progress,
his character, and his pecullarities-
his virtues and his foibles, will all be
subjects of interest and. careful re-
search to the philosopher the states
man and the curious inquirer into hu
man character, and his words Of wis.
dom, aud his numerous sayings, his
public documents, his peculiar epistlcs,
his blunt honesty and slow and easy
firmncss, and oven his homely features
and ungainly manners and movements,
will all become subjects OF curious in
vestigation and stndy.
Men will trace him back from the
seat which Washington occupied, and
which Washington did not moro adorn,
to his attorneys Office in a Western
town, thence to the heavy western for
est where, with sharp axe and brawny
muscle, he hcwcd his way forward
thence to the clumsy fiat boat which,
with the giant strcng'h Of early man
hood he guided down the long, silent
current of the Mississippi; thence
back, still farther, TO tho cabin Of a
poor man in Kcntucy, where our great
man Of Natures own producing had
his birth. .....
OF his education all that can be said
Is, that no was at school aH his life
lie read books q little, he read men
much, he read nature more. What
greatness he possesses he owes more
to native genius and marvellous vcr
satility, than to any cXtrancous advan
tagc3 he ever enjoyed.
Abraham Lincoln is n man whom
his countrymcn can and do trust
They love him moro than they admire
him. Ho is a favOrile but not an idol
His character is mosaic--a strange
medley Of beauties and blcmshcs-
and yet about as flutcss as it is com.
monty given to mortal man to be-
lie is not like Cromwell, nor Uamp'
den. nor Franklin, nor Washington
nor Madison, nor Jackson. In wisdom
and sagacity he is not inferior TO any
Of these, nor will bis purity and patri
otism suffer in tho mparison; but he
has 80 peculiar a way of saying and
doing things, that their wisdom is not
Immediately apparent +; yet when those
words and actions are more closely
scanned and considered, even those
who at first severely criticised, are Of.
ten constrained to admit that both
were just right, and said or done at OK.
actly tho right time. Rarely indeed
= is it that men placed in circumstances
30 difficult and trying, have been obi.
ged TO take 80 few retrograde steps
Slow and suro' is an old and homcly
but an expressive phrase, and none
better expresses the general tenor of
Mr., Lincoln's conduct during this pc.
riod of unparalleled agitation. None
blamed his sureness, but thousands of
his more ardont friends scoldcd him
for his slowncss. But had hc not been
slow as he WIS, could he have been so
sure? We think not and very like
ly, when the tempest subsidies, and
men can calm J. review the fearful dra
ma, and sec the beginning, the pro-
gress and the end, they will confess
that he was fast enough.
Mr. Lincoln, ever since he has bcen
in tho exalted and trying place to
which his country called him, has uni
iormly and humbly acknowledged bis
dependence upon tho Supreme Ruler
Of the Universe, ana often, in terms OF
eloquenoe and torvor, has ho called
upon his countrymen to PROSTATE
themselves before Him in humble sup
plication and thanksgiving "Wilh
his blessing success is certain were
his words, when, on taking leave ol
his friends and ncighbors in Spring
field, he begged their prayers in his
behalf. Little did no or they imagine
tho terrible ordeal through which he
was about to pass but his words have
been verified. Tho prayers hc invok
cd were offered and answered, and he
has succeeded.
In word oar present Chief Magis.
trato is just the man for such II crisis
as this; for he is alike incapable of be.
ing popular idol tyrant, or n tool.
Ills are not the shining but the homely
virtues. lie is honost, yet kccnly sa-
gaciousj kind but not weak aslatcs.
man, without protesting or appearing
10 be 80; strong, yet so flexible that he
bends before that which wonld break
more stubborn nature, and really
great without the usual dazzling con
comitants Of greatness. Tho namc OF
brilliant, or Of u more heroic charac.
ter than he, would, if occupying his
place, have gonc down on the record
of fame as the savior Of his country, rs
Washington 10 called its father but
Lincoln will be regarded only as the
Hcavcn.appontcd instrument of it's
nnlrnIinn- Ihnn unriE,.inl. III, lu.ln..