Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1865-05-04
.sThey have Murdered Mercy

Hon. Job f. Stevenson, in his Grafton at
the obsequies of President Lincoln in this
city on Saturday last, said
abraham Lincoln was the personifca-
ton of Mercy. Andrew johnson is the
personiication of Justice. They the rebels
have murdered Mercy and Justice rules
alone and the people, with one voice, pray
Heaven that Justice may be done
The assassination of President Lincoln
was the fonlest of crimes but yet it does
not Justify us in entombng Mercy with the
remains of President Lincoln. Mercy did
not die on Mt. Calvary, when Christ was
crucifed. 1t was further sanctified on that
occasion and made more sacred and ifpossi
BILE rendered more etiicacous Shakespeare,
the immortal bard, has thus fairly drawn
the character OF Mercy, which we commend
to the consideration ofJob:
"rhc quality of Mercy Is not strain'd.
1t droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath: it is twice bless'd:
! It bIesscth him that gives, and him that takes:
.lis mightieSt in the mightiest; it becomes
The throncd monarch better than his crown
! His sccptre shows the force of temporal power,
The attribute to awe ana majesty,
Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of Kings:
Hmut m Mercy is above this scepter'd, sway,
1t is an attribute to God himself;
And earthly power doth then show lilIest Gods
When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Job,
Though justice be thy plea, consider this
That in the course of Justice, none ofus
should see salvation: we do pray for mercy:
And that same praycrdoth teach us all tn render
The deeds of mercy
If, however, it shall he objected that the
| foregoing is not divincly inspired but mere
" the fanciful creation of a poet, it cannot
be claimed that the following extract from
Psalm cxxxvi in which mercy is represented
as perpetual and for the existence Of which
fervent thanks are offered to God, owes its
paternity to an unsancttied mortal
80 GIVE thanks unto the LoRp; for he is good
for his mercy eHdtTcth forever.
o give thanks unto the God of gods: for his
mcrOy eHdttrefh forever
o give thanks to the LORD of lords for his
mercy endlUeth forever
To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his
mercy cniUreh forever
To him that by his wisdom made the heavens
6 fOrhis mercy cHdtVeh forever.
To him thnt stretches out tho earth above the
waters: for his mercy endiUcth forever.
! To him that made great lights for his mercy
The sun to rule by day. for his mercy end,,rctl
forever,
The moon and stars to rule by night: for hi'
mercy cndureth forever"
And the Savior, through his Sermon OF
the Mount, declares:
"Blcsscd are the merclh!h for they shall oh
tain mercy
J Should these authorities on the subjec
of Mercy be considered unworthy Of con
sideration, we append the views of the Al
, bmy n. ~ ErpreSS an earnest lahore
e in the ranks of the Administration party
/, Perhaps its views may deserve oonsdera
ton:
"If there is to be no more mercy, then
is time to pull down our pul pits and to buil'
up platforms for the gaows, to quintupl
our prison houses, to change half of on
assylums and hospitals into jails and dun
geons. "No more mercy I" Then in vail
the Son of God said upon the cross, Faith
er, forgive them, for they know not wha
they do; and in vain God himself declared
, "Nengeance is mine ! will repay" n
more mercy. Then let every offende
! against God, man, and country receive Al
= eye for an eye and tooth for tooth. -
States and courts, judges and parents, prin
:, y ces and masters, on this plea will unsheatl
- - the sword and strike at all who depart nev
}, er so much from the strict law of duty. -
- Thank God this is not the sentiment of
;. Christian, patriotic, humane, or wise pee
u pie. No man could live an hour tried by
:, tribunal where there is no mercy; and S
w" long as Christ's Sermon on the Mour
stands, or the spirit of Christianity lives il
:. the hearts of the people, it will be a livin
- rebuke to those who demand that there sha
!. be mo more mercy.
y 1t may be fashionable, or rather, it ma
! accord with the notions of many of o!
- people to insist that when Abraham I4incol
y died Mercy also died, and that now Justi(
L. !, alone rules at Washington. Ii, howevel
" in our dealings with the Rebels we shall tt
~ tally exclude Mercy from our thoughts, d
- we add to our reputation as a magnanimor
!, and Christian people We have show
y ourselves to be brave, patriotic and pow
=, erful people. The world looks on our poy
~ or with awe and admiration. Would
:, not be we'll therefore, to yet increase th'
10 admiration by tempering Justice with Me
y, cy p Salesman,