The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1865-06-15


z meted out to convicted traitors under Mr.
] Johnson's administration, than would have
D been under Mr.. Lincolns. In this circum
t stance, aoe may rejoice, while the traitors
/ may tremble. We can only say then that
, his removal from the Executive chair is, Sc
far as it relates to the Interests of the nation
and to the great questions now coming up
: for settlement, an event which must always
relnain doubtful in all finite minds But
i Mr. Lincoln has a reputation, fame; and
: | think we may assert it as thing not
doubtful, that no other time aud no otht r
manner Of death, could have been SO oppoI-
J tune aud fortunate for the spiendor and per-
r Lmanence Of his fame as that particular
time, aud that particular manner of death.
tie was permitted to live long enough for
all the purposes of his own renown.i He
had passed through his first term of office.
aud had carried forward with wonderful
energy and success. that task which he
foresaH and foretold would be greater than
that which devolved upon Washington. -
And although he was assaulted, all through
that first term, with bitterness of nlaiig-
nifty unparalleled in the history of any Other
administration, yet so conspicuous before
thenation were the integrity, the wisdomand
the efficiency of his craftsmanship, that the
great mass Of the people decided that he
must be a candidate for re election. This
decision was in itself hazardous There
had been for many years growing senti-
meut among the people against the Chief
Magistrate of the nation holding his office
more than a single term .r.
Thirty years had passed since president
had been reelected. Efforts had been made
to incorporate the one term policy into the
platforms of the leading political parties and
far seeing politicians had expressed their de
cided conviction, that the time had gone by
when President could be elected for a sec
ond term. In the face of all this, Mr.. Lin
coin was nominated; and although every pos
sible means ofoppositition fair and foul, was
employed, and money in unknown sums was
expended in the canvass against him. yet he
was elected by majority which was almost
equivalent to unanimous vote. In that
| election, the fate Of the rebellion was sealed.
Thenceforward, disaster in war, and the hell
isll plots Of the ''secret service" have been
its only history. .''...
Mr. Lincoln well knew the bitterness and
corruption with which the canvass had been
| conducted against him, but at his second in
auguration he announced his principles Of &C
ton, malice toward none, charity for all,
and hrmness in the right as God should give
him to see the right" From the day of his
last election, he could hardly be said to pros
ecute the war: he did little more than to- wit.
ness the capitulation, one after another, of
the chief strongholds of the rebeIlion; and
during the forty days between his .aaugura-
ton and. the fatal Good Friday, g eviden-
ces thronged in upon him that the war was
substantially ended, and the final collapse of
the confederacy near. With the end of the
contederacy aud the war, he knew, and eve
rybody knew, that there must be the end of
slavery. In four years and forty days the
task greater than devolved Oh Washington
had by him been accomplished: the indie 1
structible vitality OF IA true Republican Gov
ernment had, under his leadership, been de
monstrated; the greatest stigma Of Chris !
tian nation and age had, by his proclamation
been swept away; and by that Immortal act
four millions of human beings had been re
Invested with the rights originally given
the.+-by their Creator; the flag OF his-eo
try, struck down with insult, from the walls
OF Fort Snmter four years before had, upon
the last day OF his life, been raised again up
OH those same walls of Sumter, with it's honor
more than vindicated. If ever a man hid
rlstn to a point of human gre ,tness and re
noMn, where he could afford to die, Mr.. Lin
coin had now reached that position Had
he died one day sonner he would have left
his countrys flag still, constructvely at least,
III dlshonor: had he lived longer we can
scarcely conceive that single additional raw
could have been added to the lustre of his
fame Just at that acme of all that com
mendable ambition could aspire to, the das-
tardly assassin was permitted to steal upon
him with the weapon of death. Without
one disturbing thought of danger, without
one moment OF conscious pain, he left his
great work, now almost done, and his fame
already complete to his country and the
world. The time and the manner of his
death could not have been more opportune
for the Immortality of his renown.
There are, surely, connected with Mr. Lin
coins death, many circumstances, in view of
which his loyal countrymen may reasonably
rejoice. His own ambition could not have
been more completely gratitied. But it is not
with that view OF the subject at all, that |
have mentioned these circumstances 1t is |
very small thing that any mans personal !
ambition Is gratitied; but that priceless leg |
acy has been left to the nation is not IA sulaII |
matter We rejoice, not that Mr.. Lincoln's |
aspirations were so successful but that an |
other glorious rallying word has been writ
ten on our country's sky. Great and good |
names are WORTH more to q nation
than armies and navi.s For what would
we barter the name of Washington? Wei
would almost as soon see our country's flag. |
now doubly honored, tranpled down in ev |
erlastng disgrace; We would almost as soon
see our national constitution, now more than
indicated. torn in shreds and scattered tn
the four winds, as to be robbed of the mighty /
Influence and inspiration of that greatest pa |
trlot name. God has given such worth to the |
names OF the good and great. Abraham and |
Moses and David, were watchwords of DOW
among his chosen people. And in every ma. |
ton that has an honorable place. among ma |
tons, the most incorruptible treasures are the
names and memories of its heroes and sages. |
1t is yet, perhaps, too soon to estimate cor |
rectly the value of treasure this nation has
nov Inherited in the name of Abraham Lin |
coin. We have no hesitation however, in |
saying that his fame will be above that of
every other American statesman Washing
ton alone excepted. What rank, precisely.
compared with that Of Washington, history
will assign bini, We cannot yet decides but
have been struck with the strange fact that
the characters of those two men should he so
singuarly alike. and yet SO radically unlike.
In clearness of intellectual perception aud
soundness of Judgment, in honesty of pur
pose, integrity of motive, purity of patriot
ism; in firlnness for the right, as God gave
them to See the right; in sincerity and ardor
OF love for their country, and in self forget
ting devotion to the service of their country,
We cannot place either of them above the
other In all these respects they must ever
stand side by side; aud III nome of these re-
spects have we any fear that their fame will
ever he eclipsed Ivy any statesman that may
hereafter arise III this land or any other