American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1865-05-10
LINCOLN INSTITUTE,

LINCOLN INSTITUTE,
PnILA., Pa April 26, 1868
Mr.: EbiToB - Believing in the old
saying. the pen is mightier than the
sword" and being unable to WELD the
sword in defence of my country, | resort
to the pen as the only remaining weapon
wherewith [ can battle for the honor,
principles, and freedom of our beloved
land. But | feel myself inadequate to
the performance Of the task which anf
about to undertake. The assassination of
our honored President is the theme which
has filed the hearts Of all true and loyal
people with horror and indignation 1t
is that murder whose fepdishness has no
parallel, which causes a nation to mourn
as it Eever did before and it is .hat crime
which has caused me to raise my feeble
voice and cry for justice. Last Sabbath
morning, with feelings impossible to des-
cribe, | gazed for the last time upon the
honest face of Abraham Lincoln, the
statesman philosopher, and sage-the
man who was all that is noble, just, and
good | gazcd upon the lifeless remains
of Abraham Lincoln, while lying in state,
in Independence Hall, whore he said,
during his life, that he would rather be
assassnated upon The spot, than give up
the principles of freedom. Our noblest
patriot has fallen, but language can not
eulogise his name His noble deeds are
sufficient to render his name immortal.
His name will live as long as time shall
endure, and when the name of Washing
ton shall be buried in oblivion, that of
Abraham Lincoln will be revered. There
is another name which will not be for
gotten, it is that Of j. Wilkes Booth.
who, with all the fendishness of devil
'incarnate, was made the tool of traitors to
accomplish their hellish schemes. But
the assassin is not the only one upon whom
we should pour out our indignation.
There are many Booths in our midst. The
men who are in arms against our govern
ment, those who sympathise with traitors,
and those who did all that was in their
power to embarrass. President Lincoln's
administration, are alike to blame. Du-
ring the last four years of terrible war and
bloodshed, many hearts have been made
sld, many homes desolate by rebel bullets
and rebel cruelty. They have starved
our soldiers in lqathsome prisons, murder
ed them on the battle field while wounded
and helpless, and now, to crown the apex
Of their crimes, which already reach to
the sky, they have murdered our Chief
Magistrate. They would commit crime
of greater magnitude, they would stab
this nation to the heart if they had the
power. They would crush out every
principle of freedom for which our revo-
lutionary sires fought, bled, and died.
Our honor, our Constitution, and our
God demands justice. Rouse, ye Auseri-
cansl rouse, ye who have long been slaves
to Southern atistocraey Have We brave
sons, honored fathers, respected friends ?
Look to see them fall by the hand of the
dagger of the assassin.
In the language of our newly inaugu-
rated President, saw treason must be
punished" The time has arrived when
traitors must be dealt with as traitors,
and not as friends Let us pledge our
selves, by the blood of our slaughtered
brothers, whose bones lie bleaching on a
hundred CORY battle fields, to support An
drew johnson in the punishment Of trail
tors. The rebels have murdered Mr..
Lincoln, and with him they have muir
dered mercy. Our nation mourns her
fallen chieftan. Hung be the Heavens
with black-yield day to night In the
name of Abraham Lincoln, in the name
of freedom, in the name of God, say,
let traitors be punished
FRANK NJ. EASTMAN,
Co. Fl, 102d P. Wv.
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