Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-04-20

and sodded over beyond resurrection. !
fApplause. But while we enforce law and
mete out punishment to treason and trail
tors, it will be we'll for the nation 20 per-
form its duty in charity and to be inspired
with the kindly and forgiving spirit of
Abraham Lincoln.
Hon. R. C. Parsons was the next speaker.
REMARKS OF NR. PARSONS.
Perhsps, Mr.. Parse II commenced by say
ing, greater change has nevsr come over
any people than that which We have pass
ed through during the last few days. But
yesterday the nation was busted in rejoic
ing over peace and a restored Union, and
well-nigh forgot that the sword of justice
had more work to do. All this is changed.
This last deed of the rebels has shown them
in all their naked wickedness, and they
are now held up for all time for the univer-
sal execration of mankind. Beaten at ev-
cry point, bankrupt in hope, in resources,
in character, in power, the conspirators
struck their last blow, and the nation cries
out bitterly in its sharp and unexpected
bereavement. But one death could thus
unnerve the popular hesrt-that of our be-
loved President, who loved us so wisely and
so well, falling by the assassin's dagger.
Treason hath done its work
"Aft T life f ful fIvsr, he sleeps we'll"
But the blow which struck Abraham
Lincoln dead, reused to its fullest life the
American people. We shed tears over the
noblest hero ofthem all, but as we assemble
in this solemn place we renew cur solemn
pledges to make no compromises with trea-
son, but to press on, resolved to destroy
the rebellion and TO mete out condign pun
ishment to its wicked authors and sbettors.
Until that is done we are unfit to breathe
the sir of freedom.
II, A..-k kaa,, ,7r Nrru uaNA
for any notice of the life and public SER
vices of Abraham Lincoln. Nor shall ut
ter any sulogy on the deceased. When he
was asked TO furnish some incidents of his
early life, he replied, with modesty and
dignity, that it might ell be comprised in
that line from Gray's Elegy:
"Ihe short and simple anna's Of the poor
Thespeaker proceeded in very appropri- /
ate terms to speak of the personal sorrow
with which all mourned'for the President,
and to show how false the phrase "Sic sem
per tyrannis" was when applied to Lincoln,
relating several anecdotes of Lincoln's |
clemency which moved the audience to |
tears. He spoke of Lincoln as the great |
Emancipator, and alluded to the love with |
which the freedmen followed hin, and the |
grief with which they now mourn him. |
He closed with an eloquent reference to the |
power and grandeur of the Nation and the |
impossibility of staying its triumphsl prog |
ress by the hand of the assassin.
Mr.. E, Z. Perkins was the next speaker. |
He delivered very fuely prepared and |
discriminating eulogy of the President, in |
the course of which he referred most hap
PLY to the crownipg of Petrsrch, declaring |
hat the grandest coronation of all the |
world is that when history shall crown |
Abraham Lincoln the emancipator of the |
oppressed. The assassin aimed not so |
much at the President as the cause of popu-
lar liberty. The deed was part and parcel |
ofthe policy of the rebellion. Tho speaker
spoke briefly but with great forcs and i'm
pressiveness.
A very appropriate and feeling prayer
was offered by the Rev. T. H. Hawks.
The doxology was then sung, the bene-
dic!ion pronounced by the Rev. W. H.
Goodrich, and the sad asssmblage quietly
moved out of the black -draper:ed house of
mourning.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.
No sooner had the church and FIRE bells
of the city ceased toiling, yesterday noon,
than a solemn audience filed this church
to its utmost capacity. The aisles were
filed with benches and chairs, and many
people were compelled to stand about the
doors, sll eager to hear what might be
said on the sad, mournful occasion.
After the invocation and doxology, an
appropriate passage of Scripture was read
BY the Pastor of the Scotch Presbyterian
Church. Rev. VIM. Monteith offered an
impressive prayer, after which a suitable
hymn was snng.
Hon. R. P. spalding presided, and after
the very interesting preliminary exercises
had been concluded, delivered the follow
ing eloquent address:
ADDRESS OF Mr.. sPALDINe.
FELLOW CITIZENS In executing the sys-
tenn of public mourning prescribed for this
occasion, the duty is devOlve1 upon me to
lead your thoughts, very briefly, to the ma
ture and extent of the great calamity which
has SO deeply affected the sensibiIities of
the nation. Il is at all times painful to feel
and know that constant and tried friend
has been taken from US by the hand of
death. The sorrow is more poignant if that
friend be a great public benefactor. Butas
call men are appointed once to die" we are
commonly consoled by the reflection that
the inrosds OF disease, or the infrmities of
age, have triumphPd over the best exerted
skill of the Physician,or the tenderest ASST
duties of the nurse.
It's far otherwise, however, where, as in
the present case, the cherished Chief
Magistrate of the natiOn-the father of his
people-the friend of the human race, is in
in the meridian; of his manhood,
Gin the midst of his years and his
usefulness" suddenly cut down by the
hand Of the assassin! Words are made
9uste TO convey just conception of the
misery of broken-hearted nation. But
"the Almighty has his own purposes - so
said President Lincoln in his address to
the American people on the 4th day of
March last; and in close connection there
with he said: "Fondly do we hope, fer
vently do we pray, that this mighty scourge
of war may soon pass away. Yet if God
wills that it continue until all the wealth,
acquired by the bondman's two hundred
and fifty years Of unrequited toll, shall be
sunk, and until every drop of blood, drawn
with the lash, shall be paid with another
drawn with the sword, as was said three
thousand years ago, so still it must be said,
'The judgments of the Lord are true and
righteous altogether"
In June 1858, Mr.. Li1cOln had made the
celebrated declaration, l believe this
government csnno permap etlY endure HALF
SLAVE AND HALF FREE" In November 1860
he was chosen President Of the United
States. On the LIST day of January 1868, ne
issued his famous Proclamation of Emanci-
patton. On the 4th day of March 1865,
being then inaugursted President for a
second term, he made the address to which
l have alluded, and on the I4th day of
April thereafter he was most foully mur-
dered while enjoying a slight relaxation
from the care aud anxieties of office in the
company Of his wife and two or three
friends