The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-04-17
OUR GREAT NATIONAL CALAMITY
THE DEATH OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN.

Aheavy blow has fallen upon the nationalE
heart-a bolt from an almost clear sky. OneE
week ago to-day the people Of the United StatesE
were jubilant with JOY. Rejoicing filed thef
land rejoicing at the approaching end OF
the Rebellion-that the bow of Peace-aE
Peace likely to be lasting because founoeo ing
eternal justice-sppeared once more to spanE
the heavens. But on Saturday following, ai-k
ter brief period of five short days, deep,E
profound, universal grief settled down upon
the nation, caused by the thrilling intelligenceE
that the President of the United States, whileE
sitting with his wife quietly witnessing pub
lie entertainment, had become the victim of al
dark, bloody and damning assassination. Thel
details Of this fearful tragedy, involving theI
life of the President, if not Of his Prime Min
lister, will be found in another column.
This fearful crime,--eommitted on the anni- /
versary of Sumter's surrender to armed trait
tors, and on the glad day set apart to re-erect-s
ing, with demonstrations of rejoicing, theE
same old flag which was hauled down in that
frst conflict of arms, which has Swallowed theE
nation In gloom, is the legitimate cutgrowthI
and elimination of that diabolical systemI
which for generations has fattened upon the|
unrequited toll OF the down-trodden and de-
spised; which has required the sale, like
cattle In the shambes, of creatures bearing
the image OF God, and which, four years
ago, in order to secure its own footing more
firmly, lifted it's bloody hand against the life
of the nation. 1t is, perhaps, fitting finale
to the death struggle of this gigantic evil; 81
this scourge of humanity and blot upon the
civilization of the nineteenth century.
I've confess we have no heart to write to-
day. We have no words to express the deep
feelings Of our own soul. The friend Of bis
country has fallen by the assassin's hand
The nation mourns, and bows in profound
grief. The great sorrow strikes homssto ev-
cry citizen. Strong men have wept like
children. Every one feels that friend has been
stricken down. The nation has been called
to lay upon the altar its choicest offering; but
IL God in his benefcence will grant that this
great sacrifice may tend to unite our people
more firmly in love Of Liberty and Union, and
in hatred of wrong and oppression; If BE
will grant that through this trial we may as q
people become purified; that through thiI
terrible. shedding Of blood we may find remis
sion Of national sins, it will be well for us, ant
we can kiss the rod that afiicts.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN, the poor mans friend
the whoe-souled, generous-hearted, single
minded friend Of his country, has become in
mortal Not beneath any ether human nam
will his name be inscribed on the roll Of honor
There will be lustre about his memory tina
.A ...a.ar 49,
and more luminous. We doubt II mortal mai
was ever more generally beloved or confde,
in. Asperities OF party were dying out AL
feeling against him, generated in the cauldrol
of political strife, was softening down, an,
nearly all were coming to regard him al
statesman without guile, man Of pro
found foresight and unfinching integrity, an
what Is more than statesman or politician
Gods noblest work, an honest man.
Why the assasnin's weapon should be aimee
at his head ii is hard to see, for with him there
was no tyranny, vengeance, or resentments,
but In his heart was so much of kindness thai
it was the greatest fear with many OF his
friends that he would err on the side OF elem
ency, and thus allow Justice to be defrauded
of her claims.
The terrible wickedness of the tragedy of
Friday night crops out not only in the brutal
assassination Of the President, but in that
other horrible act; the attempted assassina-
ton Of cabinet minister in his bed, where he
was confined by an accident which had WE'LL
nigh proved fatal. The Demon of the Slave
Power found his way to that bedside, and|
plunged his dagger into the weak and suffer-
ing form there resposing, though to reaehI
that bedside he had to cut swaLh of death
The crime is without parallel, and will sol
down to posterity as one Of the darkest, foul
est, bloodiest barbarisms of expiring Ameri-|
can Slavery.
May God in His indnite-mercy and compass
sion be very near to the stricken ones who by|
this terrible blow have been bereft Of hus-
band, father, and friend, and bind up their
wounds and cause them to feel that by thel
purifying agency of their blood our national
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