The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-04-26
Tho Funeral OF Abraham Lincoln.

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Tho Funeral OF Abraham Lincoln.
The mournful drama, which has been enacted
in this city for the past ten days, was brought
10 an end yesterday with its grandest and
most imposing act. All the honor which this
metropolis could pay to the mortal remains OF
Abraham Lincoln has been bestowed upon
! them. And what spectacle that funeral pro-
cesson was let those who witnessed 1t recite,
and those who will read the account OF it in
| our columns to-day conjure up in their imagi-
nation. New York is remarkable for its mag
nificent pageants. Great events, and some
times small ones, have developed its capacity
to produce wonderful demonstrations; but never
before was seen such sight as that Of yester-
day, when the whole city and all the adjacent
, towns and villages combined in heartfelt
tribute to our murdered Chief Magistrate.
No city in Europe, upon any occasion, whe-
iher joyful or mournful, could produce any
thing like it, if we regard it either in point OF
numbers or the class of men who participated,
or the universally with which all interests,
5nationalities, creeds, political bodies, trades,
1 professions and ranks united; all animated by
one spirit, and that spirit respect for the dead,
\ which the illustrious departed was 80 honor
4 able an example. The funeral ceremonies of
the first Napoleon, in the streets of Paris, when
' his remains were transferred from st. Helena to
the Invaldes, by Louis Philippe, were regarded
Jas the greatest pageant the world had ever
known, but our pageant of yesterday far ex-
ceeded it. The idol of France received no
more devoted homage than was paid to the F
deceased President of the United States by the :
people Of the metropolis of this republic. The \
4 restoration Of the dead Napoleon to France
brought about the restoration Of the Bonapartel
dynasty. So the circumstances attending the
death of Mr. Lincoln have ushered in q new
& era in the political history Of this country-an
! era of strength unity and answering patri-
< otism. AS France, under the regime inaugu-
Il rated by that event. became great empire, SO
z also will the United States assume, from the
u consequences of the tragedy which has lately
I been enacted, grander position as republic
4 than they hare sfer occupied before, and much
I, more permanent than the French empire.
! II would be task beyond the power
1 of calculation to tell how many followed
and preceded his coffin, although our re-
poriers attempt to do it, appro1mating it
uat seventy-Gve thousand, and it would be
3 idle, indeed, to speculate upon the number
who crowded the streets, the houses and
9 the housetops to witness the cortfge as it
passed through Broadway and Fifth avenue.
9Three-guarters of million would not be too
Z high an estimate for the spectators The fune-
2 raj procession was not formed in driblets, or
! narrow columns, or struggling companies, as
4 we have often seen on other occasions; but
marched in almost solid masses, in lines reach
I ing from curb to curb; and yet it took four
! hours to pass given point
A The news of victory, the anniversary Of some
= national triumph, the natal day of some hero
4 like Washington or Jackson, the visit of some
q distinguished personages with whom the inter
! ests of the nation are supposed to be inter-
e woven--all these events readily extempOrize a
q jubilee; but it is the commemoration of some
s. great national calamity, such as that we mourn
3 over now, that krits mems hearts together, and
q unites their spirits in common bond OF
! patriotism. The display Of yesterday was q
: magnificent attestation of this truth. Who
y would suppose that political distinctions or
4 adverse opinions existed in this city, in view
4 of the spectacle presented on that occasion
b That they do exist, and take practical form at
the proper time, is true; and it is wholesome and
q for the good of the State that they should do
= so; but on this sad occasion they were woven
q into one wreath of irnmorteles, and placed upon
q the bier of Abraham Lincoln.
y The mournful pageantry has passed away.
y The city will despoil itself of its draperies Of
s. grief and return to-day to its ordinary avoca-
i tons, so long suspended; but the memory Of
x President Lincoln will be preserved forever
8 His charity, his love Of justice, his simple
4 honest, iorgiving nature, will leave stamp
upon the policy of the government which sue
i ceeds him, and which every man now should
\ feel il solemn duty 10 sustain, whatever may
!: be his party predictions until the promised
a land, which the Moses of this nation died within
n sight of--the land of peace, union, and re-
y cuperated prosperity-is reached.
81 sad silent, and dark be the that we shed,
IA A. The ngltdow that falls the grass DER his head;
"A But the tear that she'd though In silence II rolls,
VI shall long keep his memory green in our souls
81 New York has paid It's last tribute to our de
~ ceased Chief Magistrate, aud it has been wei
n and sincerely rendered. Other cities have ye
q TO perform their duty before the remains arc
g laid ia the Garth. In the name of The metropo
y lis we exclaim--PeGcc be with the spirit o.
" honest Abraham Lincoln