The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1865-05-03
The Late President.

Il IS 4 vain undertaking for any writer
however talented, 10 attempt 10 draw, at
present, such a portrait OF Mr.. Lincoln as
will be recognized by succeeding genera
tons as perfect in every particular. TLey
vii! have data for touching and altering
points and making them more exact, which
we have not Still it is natural for all
when an eminent man has passed away, 70
express their convictions respecting bis
leading traits Of character.
The New York Tribune remarks con
corning the social relations Of Mr.. Lin
coin:
"A king without his crown and purple
robes is. 10 the vulgar apprehensiod, sole
cism. an impossibility. A cOarseiy clad
trayel-staned, barefoot Jesus, could get no
hearing in our fashionable synagOgues.
though his every discourse were 4 sermon
On the Mount. And Mr.. Lincoln was so Is
senually. unchangcaDiy cOmmOner
among ambassadors and graudees in tile
bite House. the identical odd Abe that
many Of Us had shaken uy both hands al
Western barbacue- j. hOmely, pungent
anecdotes 80 like those we had heard ham
relate from political stumps anu Oy log
cabin iiresldes-tAat the ulasses thought Ol
him bat as one wiki whom they bad been
splitting rails Oil a pleasant spring day, or
making - perOu- O}age down the Mis-
sissippi Oh an Illinois lai-DJat, and had
found him downright good fellow We
have had Presidents before him spring up
from the lOins OF poverty aud Obscurty.
but never one who remained 10 the last 80
simply, absolutely, alike in heart and man
uer. one Of the People.
NO one who approached him, whether
as minister Or messenger. ielt lmpelled ell
tuer 10 stOOp or 10 strut in his presence.
lie was neither awed By assumption or dis
gusied by vulgarity. He WAS never con-
strained nor uneasy ln whatever presence,
aud be imposed 10 cOustraiut nor ceremony
on others. Every one found him easy OF
access. vet no one irit encouraged 10 take
undue liberties Mr Everett. one OF the
best bred most refined and fastidiOus Of
our cOunirymen. afler observing bis bearing
among The cabinet and foreign ministers,
the governors senators, generals. and 9TH
cr notabie-, collected al the Gettysburg
celebration, pronounced him the peer IN de-
pertinent OF any one present. Presenting
that 10 be the fact, II j. probably due 70 the
circumstance that be alone never thought
81 MANNERS. nor how he or any one else
was appearing 10 other:. His mind was
intent On matters of wider and more endu-
rug consequence.
OF his general policy, Greeley says:
i have not assumed 10 control events,
even have controlled me- said Mr. Lin
coin, in answer 10 Kentucky complaint
that he was more radical in ls64-5 than he
had been ia lsGl-2. That was the simple
truth. naivey and terseIy expressed; and
ia that truth Is exhibited both the weakness
and the strength OF the utterer lie was
not the man OF transcendeut genius Of rare
insight, OF resistless force OF character who
bends everything 10 hls will On The con 7
trary be was one OF those who have await .
ed opportunity. and thought long and pa
-eAtly, before yenturlug on an important /
step. hearkening intently for that 'volce Of +
the people which was 10 Eim i'm most ca
scs, the voice OF God
lie hGsitated 10 put down his foot. feel
ng The ground carefully, deliberately; but
once down, it was hard 10 make him take
L up again. A striking and honored ex-
smplar OF some of the best points in our
National character, be sleeps the sleep Of
he hOnOred and Just, and there are few
graves which will be more extensively per
visited, or believed with the tears
IF peoples prouder, tonder affection than
hat Of Abraham Lincoln.
The President was steadily rising in pub
ic estimation, even with his enemies, to
he day Of his death; and on that day the
\ y TT..,Lg ,,.r.t. - HIN.
lie Is a most remarkable man. He may
eem 90 be tie most credulOus, dOcile and
,liable of backwOodsmen, and yet, when
le puts his foot down he puts it down
lrmly, and cannot be budged. He has
proved himself IN his quiet way the keen
81 OF politicians, and more than match
or his widest antagonists in the arts of di-
'lomacy. Heupsets, without an effort. the ,
most formidable obstacles OF caucusCs and .
Ongresses, and seems 10 enjoy rs a huge
ike the astOnlshment of his friends and E
nemies. Plain common sense. a kindly I
a straightforward purpose, and I
shrewd perception of the ms and outs Of
DOR weak human nature. have enabled
i'm TO master difficulties w. ch would have
almost any other man. Thus to- Z
ay. with the most cheering prospects be {
)re him, this extraordinary rail-Splittcr
nters upon his second term the unQues-
Oned master OF the situation in reference
} the American affairs AZ home or abroad. " q
Mr.. Lincoln in common with all men who
Sc to distinction. had a remarkable 3
-rength Of will although il did not show
self. aS in Gen. Jackson. by great oaths =
nd violent and outrageous bursts OF pas
ON. lie was slow in moving. hut was per- y
stent and uninching in making progress -
)wlrls the great ultimate results he hal l
1 view He sometimes turned 90 the right &
and aud then again tO the lef,. but il WAS {
My for short time and for the sole pur- q
ose Of finding better or shorter road to- c
ards the object on which his eve was fixed q
1 the distance 50 IN the choice OF his O
GENERALS, while he showed readiness 10
lange amounting 10 seeming weakness
9 never lost sight OF the emancipation fea- a
ire Of the war on which he had deter "
lined. but chung "a it more closely each II
lcceedin@ year. The historian, while he "
limits the changeableness and. perhaps. u
eakness Of the President in the manner Of q
.rrying ont his objects, will praise that
nacious pertinacity which never changed "
the smallest degree in striving for the o
tainment of the objects themselves.
As to the Intellectual powers Of Mr.. Lin =
In. We are Of opinion that posterity will
ink more highly Of them than his cotem-
'rarieS. No man could possibly have
Used himself from so low beginning 10 -
ich high consideration with his country =
en- against SO many competitors, unless {!
l,,v,,l with s,-,,,,. ,,,,,,,oi ,,,,.o- =; 80, a