Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-04-22
KuLoer

accustomed 10 assemble az the tomb OF Leonidas,
TO render honor 70 the shade OF Their i.lustrous
dead; and TO draw inspiration from The memory
OF the heroic acts OF sacrifice which the king aid
his immortal band offered at the deadly strait Ia
defense Of their native land. We, however, are
standing too near TO the strange and terrible events
of the last iOUT years. TO be able TO torn that
ust estimate OF the men, their merils their plaIs
aud acts. which The calm judgment Of history
will place upon them. This Al least is Certain,
that OF the many names which the muse Of his
tory will not lie, die. OF the distinguished patriots
to whom will be allotted each bis own niche in
the temple OF fame, there must stand as the cen
tral figure thst OF Abraham Lincoln. OF all the
notable men who have filled the exrlted Office
which he held; OF all the orators and statesmen
who have graced the councils OF the nation, be
stands forth personally and officially to be Judged
Absolutely and not relatively, by himseli and OF
oy comparison with others. | say personally
because. probably with the exception OF one vi
the greatest Of them, all his predecessors had had
the advantages Of better early education, and
larger discipline than lie in public affairs Off
cially, because be Was summoned to the helm at
a time wheu the tempest Of war unprecedented
in its suddenness, causciessnes and ferocity, vac
lust bursting with iesrlufviolence against the
vessel be was TO steer The great business Of bic
predecessors had been mainly 10 devise the me ans
for the greatest prosperity 20 be derived from
systems and measures OF internal policy, hen all
gas Ia a state OF quiet and peaceful contentment
His great business wss 20 devise means for quell
ng and crushing thc most gigantic rebellion in
records Of hisgoTJ. for hAFuOnizing the dissen-
sions ard conflicting interests OF hostile sections;
aud for restoring fraterns relations amongst the
severed members OF the upion. II would be
unjust 10 him and unfair 10 them to draw a
parallel bet seen Dir Lincoln aud those VINO went
before him. His conduct and scrs have there
fore 10 be looked al in their Own light, snd not
IRON sDy rejecting becsuse il would be strong
relrsciinz Medium In The circumstances in
which be began his administration. when foul
revolt existed At the ve'y door; when men s
hearts were failing them tor fear; when every.
body-man and wOman-had bis own plan, snd
tbey who know neither the alphabet OF political
-ervce. and hardly the outlines OF the history Of
nations were speaking aud writing with all the
dOgmstic assurance Ot tie most exc, kuow &c
and prOioundss- craftsmanship; this man OF the
people. depending on 10 prscedents nor moved
from has one purpose of maintaining the union OF
the states, went forth TO the performance of the
HerculeAn task with a persistent purpose sBd
iLhexsble determin ation.
This. spprebend is the true reason why this
day the whole people unite IN giving no stinted
need OF praise to our foully murdered president
No matter what difference of opinion or OF SEN
timens may have existed az TO The special
measures he adopted for the securing of this end
no right thinking, no true speaking man, ever
doubted or this day doubts that every instinct
of Mr. Lincoln's heart. every desire of his soul,
every thought and act we're for the untaruished
glory. the undyipg honor, and the best interests
of the whole republic
Neither ny habits OF thought and STUDY. nor
nv defective means OF Northumberland sun
81 laff - .fafo
not all who hear me-would warran, me to pro
sounce either indiscriminate praise or sweeping
ceDsure upon him as statesman. He stood AZ
the centre Of ten thousand sentient cords, and
felt the vibrations of each. To make all vibraie
tremendously wac the task he had 10 accomplish
we standing 1t the circumference-one here
another there, could catch but separate notes
And although some might imsgine that there
vas discord in the sounds, vet all know that his
honor and integrity and well being OF the federal
union was the key note ever struck BY the pr esi-
dents hand
Among the unmisssksble traits which charac-
terze great men. is 4 well defined individuality
"a sharp. clear cut personality that marks the
man from his fellows. By this standard NJ.
Lincoln will occupy no mean plsce among illus
trious men Elevated 20 he highest pla' among
the people, he assumed none OF the sIif formal
mannerism that many imagine TO be inseparable
from exalted position. The genial. kind heart
ed Abraham Lincoln. Of Springfield. Illinois
was the same unAssumiBg. alfabe President Lin
coin in the nations capital at Washington His
pungent. curt, ofr,imes unpublished and inelegant
style Of writing showed his unmstak .ble individ
uality and his willingness TO be known by the
world iuss as ne VS.. 0f what meanness OF
little minds--vanity--no msn could be more
free than he II this respect be Was q great man
and a notable instance OF that which ought TO be
Characteristic Of great free self reliant people
themselves he sovereign rulers OF 4 repablic.u
government
Another point in his character. and probably
the one which gave him so much Influence, and
gained him so much confidence among his
friends. vas tie qGckDess, clesrness ana gener
Al accuracy OF hi Judgment have been told
by several persons Who have had business inter
courae with Mr. Lincoln. that they always leil
him with the impression that 70 this respect ne
vas remarkable man
The same honorable toll snd pstient industry
which raised hin fFom the loves, IL the highest
sphere. vsr- carried with him 70 the pinnacle OF
power No mar has ever charged Presden,
Lincoln With any neglect of his one-ous dutits
through a desire sof esse aud self indus ence.
The hardes; worked man in America. he never
shrunk from snv OF the varied lsbors that gather
ei around him. Performing with patient indus
~ tasks that sere enough 70 snstter The nerves
ana overpo~er the brain OF sny COMMON man,
he never failed to discharged with simple dignity
and modest courtesy sll TIC social demands incl
dec, 10 hi. high Office
HIS pure moral character stands out in distint
prominence among the ez &c men OF the world
dis bilteFess opponents hare never 80 f,r -
know vsaiured 10 impGsu hi- morsl purity. No
man has fallen into the mCshes Of vice. 10 mn
has sunk inio the sofss - druRkenpess-has
made TIE gambler hell place Of familiar resort
has polluted his hps with TIE crime OF bl.s-
phenv. or opened his care 10 the s,ren cong OF
sensual pleasures ov sny II nuence or eIsmple
~hch has come forth from the " hite House
during President Lincolas iIcumbency
This nation. am very cons .ent, will never
Know how much L has been iuGso,ed during the
last four wears Of war and intense internal cnm
motion 70 the kind, element. and forgiving heart
OF him whose mOornful death We this dsv con-
memorate History in her thousand pages tells
Us now men OF Z fersGt characters in tim Of trou-
BILE have Without reIn0rse. sud even Nth greed
ne-. or the slightest rretences shed the blood OF
their o~n country men Supposed necessity.
10 ims gined pTOvocslieB ever moved Mr.. Lincoln
10 sign any mans dealh warrant ! once heard
a man alege tbs az = mark OF has coEsroce
Cosardice, 7, ~, the very opposite Tbey