Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1864-11-30
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

highest position held by any man now liv-
ing by an immense majority OF the sufira-
ges of his couDtrymen, in the very crisis OF
that this or any other nation ever engaged in,
ensures to him prominent place among
the great historic characters of the world.
1t needed this to render that character COM
plete. Had he retired at the end of one term,
he would still have occupied large place in
history among the good, the great, the true;
but now, with the seal of the appreciation of
twenty millions Of intelligent freemen en-
stamped upon him. he stands before the
nations 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 peculiarities-his virtues
and his foibles, will all be subjects of inter-
est and careful research to the philosopher,
the statesman, and the curious inquirer in
to human character and his words of wis
dom and his humorous sayings, his public
documents, his peculiar epistes, his blunt
honesty and slow and easy firmness, and
even his bomely features and ungainly
manners and movement, viii all become
subjects Of curious investigation and study.
Men will trace him back from the seat
which WASHINGTON occupied, and which
WASHINGTON did not more adorn, to his at
torney office in western town; hence to
the heavy western forest where, with sharp
axe and brawny muscle, he hewed his way
forward; thence to the clumsy fiat boat
which, with the giant strength cf early
manhood he guided down the long, silent
current Of the Mississippi; thence back, still
farther, to the cabin of poor man in Ken
tucky, where our great man Of Nature own
producing had his birth
Of his education all that can be said is,
that he was at school all his life. He read
books little, he read men much, he read
nature more. What greatness he possesses
he owes more to native genius and mar
velous versatility, than to any extraneous
advantages he ever enjoyed.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN is man whom his
countrymen can and do trust They love
him more than they admire him. He is
favorite but not an idol His character is
mosaic-a strange medley Of beauties and
blemishes-and yet about as faultless as itis
commonly given to mortal man to be. He is
not like CROMWELL, nor HAMPDEN. nor
FRANKLIN, nor WASHINGTON, nor MADI-
SON, nor JACKSON. In wisdom and sagaci-
ty he is not inferior to any of these, nor will
his purity and patriotism suffer in the com
parison but he has so peculiar way of
saying and doing things, that their wisdom
is not immediatly apparent yet when those
words and actions are more closely scanned
and considered, even those who at first Sc
verely criticised, are often constrained to
admit that both were just right, and said or
done at exactly the right time. Rarely in
deed is it that men placed in circumstances
so difficult and trying, have been obliged to
take so few retrograde steps. Slow and sure
phrase, and none better expresses the gen
eral tenor of Mr. LINCoLN's conduct during
this period of unparalleled agitation. None
blamed his sureness, but thousands of his
more ardent friends scolded him for his slow
ness. But had he not been slow as he was,
could he have been so sure? We think not;
and very likely, when the tempest subsidies,
and men can calmly review the fearful
drama, and see the beginning and the end,
they viii confess that he was fast enough.
Mr. LINCOLN, ever since he was in the
exalted and trying place to which his coun-
try called him, has uniformly and humblv
acknowledged his dependence upon the Su-
preme Ruler Of the Universe, and often, in
terms of eloquence and fervor, has he called
upon his countrymen to prostrate themselves
before Him in humble supplication and
thanksgiving. ''With his blessing success
is certain. were his words, in taking leave
of his friends and neighbors in Springfield.
when he begged their prayers in his behalf
Little did be or they imagine the terrible or
deal through which he was about to pass
but his words have been verified. The
prayers he invoked were answered, and he
has succeeded.
In a word, our present chief magistrate is
just the man for such crisis as this; for
heis alike incapable of being popular idol,a
tyrant, or a tool His are not the shining, but
the homely virtues. Heis honest, yet keen
ly sagacious; kind, but not weak; a states
man, without either protesting or appear
ing to be so strong, yet SO flexible that he
stubborn nature and really great, without