American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1865-06-28

10 the unnnlshed work for which they
have given their last full measure of de-
| votion."
And now that Abraham Lincoln has
finished that work, and sealed the record
with his own blood, we can add nothing
to his glory, but let us this day consccrate
ourselves to the unfinished work of oun-
shing treason. The bleeding heart of
the nation calls for the justice of Heaven
on the authors of its misery. See to it,
that you bear not the sword in vain
God has given you the power-wil you
have the moral courage to punish trail
tors? Let those who, in their unholy
ambition, brought forth this rebellion, pay
the penalty due the greatest crime known
to the law. Let us so improve the victory
purchased by the blood of our noble slain
and the power which God has given us.
that traitors and assassins can find neither
life nor living friends in the country they
have cursed.
You weep to see the representative of
the nation thus murdered, but had the
blow fell as designed, had the nation its,
self been murdered, your children's chill
dren might have wept for untold genera
tions. You may all we'll mourn. for he
was friend of all; "With charity to-
wards ALL and malice toward none" His
nodle nature embraced in its affection,
all men, and while in the act of writing
an amnesty to those who sought his life
he was stricken down by their cowardly
accomplce.
But his work was done He had con,
quered our enemies; saved the nation
saved the union and saved our liberties
much as you loved him, you could not re-
ward him for such services, and no soon>
er was it announced that the work was
done, than amid the greatest honors ever
paid to mortal man, he was called home
to reap reward which earth conld not
give. But our work is not done. There
will ever be an irresistible conflict be-
tween good and evil. If you have not
the manly courage to meet it, you must
degenerate.
When Abraham Lincoln declared =
"This country could not exist half slave
and half free" How few thought so !
but he had faith that Fright makes
might, and in that faith he continued to
labor and to wait" and lived to see free
dom triumph The world is the better
for this conflict. We have gained more
in fonr years than in four hundred in past
ages of the world. Alexander fought for
power and dominion Napoleon fought
for the same, but il will ever be the glory
of Abraham Lincoln, that he fought for
his country and the naturat rights gfmaa.
When Alexander died his Kingdom was
| divided among his four Generals, but
Abraham Lincoln died to establish the
principle that this union could never be
| Divided
To free the. serfs of Russia was an hon
or, and to sign the Declaration of our In
dependence, but to.lift up four millions of
a downtrodden race to the sunlight of lib
erty was an act more Godlike than was
ever befr recorded OF our race.
1t was glorious to die at Marathan.
Thermopyla, Bunkerhill or Saratoga, but
to be singled out as the most noble VIC
tim by the blood thirsty conspirators of
the enemies of freedom on earth, was an
honor above all others of this nineteenth
century.
There may be honor in D. d. and L.
l.. ID &c, 'but the carping criticism of
cold rid had given Abraham Lincoln
title before which all others fade away,
and amid the admiring gaze of worlds. he
has passed the sentinels of time, the out
posts Of eternity, and gone down into i'm
mortal history, the greatest work kmanship
Of God-An Honest Nan.
W hen last spike, twas in defence
of Abraham Lincoln. Today, he needs
no defence. The hand that murdered
him is cold in death. The rebellion that
supported that hand is cold in death. The
party that supported that rebellion is
twice dead Tongues that slandered him
are dumb. Eyes that could not admire
him are now suffnsed with grief / tcld
you then Abraham Lincoln thought
perhaps he would die someday, and the
best record he could leave on earth would
be a fjtend cfhuman .freedom." To-day
we write no epitaph, but lay that record
on his grave, and challenge the world to
produce a better. Speak you of the man
Hook at the record Speak you of tho
patriot-look at the record. Speak you
of the christian by their deeds ye shall
| know them" Look ut the record