Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1865-04-20
FUNERAL GRAFTON, "
Delivered April 19th, 1855, In ca
Hill, en- the Death Of President Lii
eOIn, By Hen. b. q. Whitman.

FUNhhAh UNA AuVNS M
Delivered April 19th, 1885, In GU
Hill, On the Death Of President LII
eOln, BY Hon. b. q. Whitman.
A servant OF the living God is dead. His
GRAND has been we'll and early done, and
early hath be gone to his reward.
FslIop- Citisaas-Fiiends SO speak,
for the common sorrow Of a great grief
makes even strangers friends, thus drawn
together by this bond. We meet on this
most mournful Of occasions, our hearts beat
ing in unison with kindred hearts throughout
our Union-throughou the world.
Wherever the lightning can convey the
hideous tale, there will be found fearful eyes
and swelling bosoms, all agonized within,
striving by the solemnity Of outward show,
and the poor expression of feeble words, to
give some slight Indication Of the pain and
sorrow which is too great for utterance-in-
expressible in its magnitude-unbearable in
its crushing weight.
Truly, most truly, tive know not what
day may bring FORTH" One short week
since, every loyal heart within our country'S
border beat high with joy Unreasonable.
Each eye sparkled forth the brightness Of the
soul within each ear was erect " catch the
fast coming tidings, which told Of rebellion
crushed, truth nghted, a nation saved, and
beautiful Peace once more returned, to gather
a united people under her protecting and
Distinguishing wings. Cannon strained
their iron throats with roaring, music filled
the air, and our starry banner Aaunted proudly
in the gale. We had fought fierce, terrible
and bloody fight. We had fought because
we believed, because we knew we were right
in attempting the maintenance Of principles
inestimable in their value to ourselves, our
posterity, and the world. Thinking, no doubt
too boastfully, that we had done our whole
duty, we accepted not as gracious favor,
but as our need and due, the glorious con-
clusion which God had v0uchsafed to the
wager Of battle. We needed rebuke, but
how could mortal mind eonceive-how could
human thought comprehend-a chastisement
so utterly Stupenduus, overwhelming aud
crushing? Had the slightest premonition
been given-could the faintest suspicion Of
the awful tragedy about to be perpetrated
have been whispered to the passing breeze,
that it might have warned US in its blowing
could scintilla OF the foreknowledEe Of the
Creator have been transmitted to the crea.
ture-from millions in their gres. agony
from nation in its bittermost feelings-from
voices innumerable-from the closet and the
multiplication women aud from chill
dren-from men Of every degree and station
in one united prayer TO the Throne of Grace
there would have assembled the supplication
as Of one great PROSTATE heart, covering itself
with the ashes Of humiliation and the sack
cloth Of repentance, saying, 30, my Father,
il it be posSible, let this cup pass from me-"
In the providence Of God, though to Him
"all things are possible" It was not possible
but that this bitter, bitter cup should be
drained to It's very dregs. ...-s. % ...
In moment, in the twinkling Of an eye
from the giddy height and summit Of our ma
tional exaltation, hope, joy and pride-in the
midst OF revelry and tumultuous expression
OF intensest happiness-no handwriting on
the wall to forewarn-al unexpectant and
unsuspecting-ue were crushed in one fell
moment, down, down to the very dust
hurled from the gorgeous and glitterinR halls
Of human satisfaction down to the pit and
dungeon OF despair. Our friend, our brother,
our father, our guide, our ruler, chief
and MISUNDERSTANDING LINcoLN-w as
dead And a. II this were not enough-as IL
an added edge must be given to the keen
stroke, and intensest woe be still more in.
tensiHed-he, the pure, the noble ruler, the
kind, genial and loving man, fell, not upon
|, the battlefield amid the storm Of cannon and
the rush OF serried hosts, as patriots might
wish to die; not 1t the close Of weighing
years, when the "grasshopper had becnme q
burden" and death would not have been
dreaded a. the destroyer, but wooed a. the
relieyer; not with days Of usefulness passed
and gone, when but the form and fiction OF
what had been Jagged superHuous on the
stage" but in the midst Of busy work, in the
execution Of momentous history, the centre
OF trusting, eyprctant, almost worshipping
people, thus, thus he stood. when the bloody
hand Of the assassin smote him doWn-and
snatched all this greatness, all this goodness
from the world! Denied the last embrace Of
fond wife, the farewell Of dutiful child, the
goodbye Of attached friends-summoned in
one instant-Abraham Lincoln stood before
his God aud We are len to mourn. Rebel.
ious, II We MEASURE BY the little logic oil
finite minds, but fearfuliy conscious Of the
utter helplessnens Of man resigned to say:
"oh! Father, not our will but thine Be
DONE" .
1 It is fitting ON this occasion 10 glance brief.
~ at the life-record Of the departed. While
no complete biography Of that existence
which is familiar as household words " ID
necessary, it il but proper to recall for oul
admonition and our example, as we'll as oul
consolation, the. republican plainness, sim.
plicity, ruth, honesty, and earnestness, in
the pursuit Of his life-work, which In &C
MARRIED manner characterized Abraham
Lincoln-,he man. Born IN an humble
sphere Of life, Is the world reckons station,
by his own unaided efforts be acquired an
education, cultivated his mind, secured Z
modest competence, and, better than all these
riahtfuliy Obtained the respect, trust and es'
teem Of al who game 10 contact with him
With q hatred Of deceit. and love Of truth
and justice ~ the moving principles Of biz
nature, be moved amid the busy scenes o.
active lie, and the numerous yexations and
sntiesmenss Of businsss and professional
career, ~ one above rather than OF them,
Shunning no duty, avoiding no care, the
ecmmouest acts Of life Wtrs 30 performed a
70 show tn all that directness Of purpose,
purity e intention, and truthfaluts. Of 20;