Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1864-01-15
SEE FOURTH PAGE.
For President. Abraham Lincoln.

For President. Abraham Lincoln.
= - Joyously we fling our banner to the
s..... breeze Proudly, defantly, with full as
surance of victory, we shall battle be-
meath its folds Our honest President
has been tried in the furnace, and comes
out pure gold. Approaching the ster-
ling value of his services through the
stormy scenes of the past three years,
We recognize in them guarantee, not
only that the rebellion will be crushed
but that, if he be retained in his position
another term, the Union will be restored
to more than its former magnifcencs
and glory-the United States of Ameri-
ca will stand before the world redeemed,
regenerated and disenthrslled.
Yet, in placing the name of Abraham
Lincoln at the head of our columns as
the Union candidate for President we
do not anticipate or lead public
sentiment; we only give it expression
We are but the hands on the dial, moved
by the great weights of popular desire
and judgment; and while Indicating the
man, are in no degree to be credited
with superior sagacity in thus bringing
him forward.
When Abraham Lincoln took hold
of the helm of our Ship of State,
she was madly driving before a furious
storm, with breakers ahead-breakers on
either side. He to whose care she had
been entrusted for the four years previ-
GUS to Mr.. Lincoln's inauguration, had
basely abandoned his trust, and igno-
miniously deserted his post. The vessel
was at the mercy of the waves and the
storm. Her charts had been stolen, her
Ne compass destroyed-there was no means
Of. ascertaining her latitude and longi-
tude. Her perilous situation was known
only By the roar of the breakers around
her, and the mutiRous, treacherous, in
subordinate conduct of her crew. Worse
than all, not solitary star threw glim-
mer of light athwart the blackness of the
night. Our readers remember the
gloomy time, when the shadow of despair
was deepening on every face; when no
man dared to say to his neighbor, 1--WE
have country"
But new pilot stepped upon the deck.
With no great reputation for anything
but honesty of purpose and frmness of
character, he assumed command of the
~, abandoned vessel With a firm hand he
grasped the helm. With large expe-
rienee in plotting "broadhorns" down
the intricate channels ofour western riv-
ers, he was not unprepared for the dan
gerous position in which he found the
? Ship of State. Steadily he turned the
head of the noble vessel to the gale.
With firm, yet concihatory, language he
addressed the discordant crew. Who
does not remember the thrill of ioy
that shot through the great public
heart, when the Inaugural Address
flashed through the land! Confidence
was restored. The immortal ship, with
her freight of eternal interests might be
saved, and a miraculous unanimity of
~ response greeted the appeals of the new
and untried commander.
For three years the storm has ragged Its
fury is not yet abated The clouds have
rained blood, the tornado has left des-
olation in its track But the noble old
ship, how proudly now she rides the wavesl
Her watchful commander upon the quar-
deck; an enthusiastic crew at their re.
flaae spective posts; compass. and charts in
place; latitude and longitude daily reck-
oned and clearly understood. Every rope
sound, not a spar misplaced; sails nicely
furled and ready to spread before the
d = prosperous breeze when once the storm
F4a has ceased. The glorious flag floats at
her masthead, and other national vessels
dip their flags in respect and admiration
-i when she passes. Not passenger on
board doubts her staunchness-all are
confident she will make the harbor.
But this is no time to change com
manders The skillful pilot that steer
ed US through the breakers of '6I INNS.
not be dismissed until the vessel is safe
mOored in peaceful harbor. Tbere-
fore, we say again, joyously we fling our