Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1864-12-16
Faithful to his vows.


ga" Faithful to his Vows. Jf.l 90 ~
Notwithstanding the malignant and
foul-mouthed libels uttered by an un-
scrupulous and desperate opposition,
the pen that shall in the long hereafter
write the history of American Presi-
dents will ascribe to Abraham Lincoln
not only rare virtues, but an unselfish
patriotism and self-sacrificing love of
country that, shall make his name as
referred, and his public life as pure and
noble as the Father of his Country. "a
Those miserable political charlatans,
who upon the stump and in chairs edit
orial, invented the silliest falsehoods,
clothed them in the lowest billingsgate,
to effect popular election, ought to
blush for very shame, if any they have,
and hide their diminished heads over
the verdict of the American people. .r-z
The man whom they sought to injure
stands to-day above all the hungry,
howlingpack, unharmed and unmoved.
Oft and time again has he been de-
nounced as "trampler upon the Con-
stitution, "a violator of law, v" usur-
ping tyrant, who, destitute of love of
country, and seduced by the blandish-
ments of power, sought only the down.
fall of the Republic. Meantime Mr..
Lincoln has devoted all his energies to
the restoration of the Union, turning
neither to the right or the left from his
own councils, but striving in consci-
entious manner to so discharge his du-
ties, as might be for the greatest good of
the greatest number. In so doing he
has but been faithful to the vows he
made, when first he entered the walks
of public life. ;ys,a-
We are indebted to the Hon. II. G..
Henderson, of Marshall county, one of
our Presidential electors, for the follow
ing reminiscence of President Lincoln's
early life, being an extract from speech
delivered in the winter of 1889, in the
hall of the House of Representatives at
Springfield, Ill. Mr. Lincoln was Il
Whig member of the House, and was
selected to close very able debate upon
Federal Relations. We invite attention
to the earnest words then uttered as fol-
lows: ..s.-.-.,. -.s -
eff ever l fee! the soul within me ele-
vate and expand to those dimensions
not wholly unworthy OF its Almighty
Architect, it is when l contemplate my
country, deserted by all the world be-
side, and 1, standing up boldly and
alone, hurting defiance at her victorious
oppressors
the face of the world, SWEAR FIDELITY
TO THE LAND OF AY LIFE, my liberty,
and my love. Who that thinks with
me will not fearlessly adopt the oath
now take? Let none falter who thinks
he is right, and we may succeed; but ii
we fail, he it so. We shall still have the
proud consolation Of saying to our con-
sciences and to the departed shades OF
our country's freedom, that the cause
approved of our judgments, and adored
of our hearts, in disaster, in chains, in
torture, in death we never faltered in
defending"
We point with pride to his subsequent
record, especially to the four memorable
years of civilinsurrection, during which
he has SO skillfully managed the ship OF
state, and ask if Abra ham Lincoln has
not been "faithful to the land Of his
life, his liberty and his love-" In
what word, what act, has he exhibited
a lack of answering fidelity? When
has he been recreant to his du ty, either
as an humble American citiz en-, or as
the most exalted of the nation: The
heart of that man who doubts tt TAT Mr..
Lincoln has not consecrated him self to
che work of preserving the nation, and
is not conscientiously, patriotically and
honorably conducting us through the
stormy sea, to a haven of enduring
peace, is made of wrong MATERIAL
Long life and prosperity TO the Presi-
dent, who remains faithful to his vows
of fidelity to his native land. May he
live to rule and govern us according to
his inflexible principles of truth and
justice, 10! these many years! s
neH- We have been at some pains to
ascertain what instrument of the many
now soliciting the public favor combines
the greatest amount of real excellence.
We have prosecuted this inquiry entire
ly Independently of aid or direction
r. - \