Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1864-03-19
[From the Washington Cd. c. Chronicle, Jan. 10. !
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.


cuss the nomination. and reelection of sue
cessor to Mr.. Lincoln, and in few months we
shall be in the midst of Presidential cam
paign, with all its excitements and RESPONSE
bilitirs. We should b. happy during this
war to abandon all political discussion, to do
nothing but prosecute the war to the end.
But this cnnnot br. The Constitution pro.
vidcs that every four years Chief Magis-
trae shall be elected. The time is at hand,
and we must determine with as much kind
ness and prudence as possible who shall be
the choice of the friends of the Union. The
prevailing sentiment among the people is one
of confidence in Abraham Lincoln and his
been so severely tried. and yet no Chief Mag
strate has administered our Government with
SO much success and popularity. The Amer
lean dwclls with pride and satisfaction upon
the Administrations of Washington and Jack
son; and vet with all our vrneraion for these
men, and our appreciation of the services that
made their country great and their names i'm
mortal, W. can see in Abraham Lincoln the
qualities that will make his name as dear
He has shown the devotion and the pure
minded patriotism of Washington. tho energy
aud honesty of jackson. When he pro-
nounccd Emancipation h" spokeas the former
would have spoken. When he declared in
his last message that he would never abandon
Emancipation he spoke with the spirit of the
statesman who crushed monopoly and nullf-
cation He has becna progressive man. The
Presidency CAME to him as it were by spe-
cial Providence, as though 1n6nite Wisdom
ssw in the plain, ntishbory lawyer of Illinois.
living in his quiet country home, the honesty,
the sagaci'v, the ar-r"aching slrrwdncss, the
rare power of living above the present. and
l'oking d ,wn upon the State with the impair
tial eye of the statesman, who would save the
country. Mr.. Lincoln accepted the high and
awful trust, determined to do whatever was
right and propcr to be bold when boldncss
was necessary, and cautious when caution was
ufillhutu. l his nas Dtctl HIS career. lie
has moved in the right path from the begin.
ming Some have chided him for being too
fast; others for being too slow; but all must
sre that h" has kept pace with the country,
neither rising with its rxultation. nor sinking
with its depression, but steadily, calmly. con-
s'anily directly moving on in the path of pro-
I. l. L. H.
frliciiy-a felicity that we see now when we
make this retrospect, although WE may not
have seen it brfore-to speak the right word
at the right time, just as the country was
ready to say amen. This rare gift, which
God refused to rulers who have left splendid
names, to those who ruined nations bu, found
cd empires, which was refused to Cromwell
and Bonapartc, and given to Washington and
William of Orange, has been bestowed upon
Abraham Lincoln History may speak of
him rs great man, certainly as a just, good,
wise man, but to us he is the Man of the
Hour. Therefore, although in the closing
months of his Administration, he is trusted
with d'gree of unanimity that can scarcely
b. realized. Thore are great differences of
opinion among l"yal men. We differ on every
question. Some of us believe in Immediate
emancipation; others in gradual emancipa-
ton. Some of us believe that secession made
the States Territories, and that the Govern.
mcnt should become strong and centralized
Others think that the supremacy of the State.
can never be tainted nor destroyed by treason,
and that their rights cannot be changed by
war. Thus we difltr-and often with bitter
ness. But notwithstanding this there is one
universal belief in the capacity and prudence
Of President Lincoln, and the general success
of his Administration. As we have said he
is the Man Of the Hour.
1t is impossible that this public sentiment
should not be felt in the beginning of this
Presidential Year. In Indiana and Maine, in
Pennsylvania and New Hampshire, il has al
ready spoken, and it has said that this man
who has done so WELL has earned his right to
reelection. tits not local nor a spasmod-
ic feeling 1t is purely movement Of the
people. 1t comes fiom no political intrigue.
but is the forcing out of the popular wish. 1t
is all honor for which Mr. Lincoln has not la.
bored. No words of appeal to any one has
come from his lips, and those who. know tho
man, know that he labors on in his high place,
content only to do his duty and to serve the
country as long as it needs his services. This
characteristic unselfshness has done much to