The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-04-17

~ Absshso LisooIa is dead II
pure patriot, the farsighsed, clear hsads
statesman, the President Of the Peopl
the pilot in whom tho nation trusted, ii
friend Of freedom, the benefactor OF hu
manity, the emancipator Of slsves, th
savior of the country, is no more. Th
noble heart, with its large affections 90
earnest sympathies. has ceased ito bsa,
ings on earth forever. The ponderou
brain-throne of imperial miud-ths
grsppled the problems of an age, tbs
evolved the policy that insured success
over treason, that teemed with the bul
den of mighty ideas, has ceased its work
ings. The unerring judgment, the in
tuitive perception that led him to do tn
right thing at the right time; the inoor
ruptible honesty. the inasxiblity Of pur
pose, the sublime patriotism of Abraham
Lincoln. have perished with him |! Th,
mortal of him is al that is left to us. Th,
damnable spirit Of treason, the barbarisu
Of slavery, demanded . further victim
Not sppeased by the hosts that have beer
already stricken down. the hand Of shs
assassin takes from Us Abraham Lincoln
" the nobest Roman of them all"
Would that we could be silent in the
presence Of this dread death, or speaking,
that our usterance could give voice
to the popular grief at the terrible
calamity that has como upon
US. As, when in the strong wind that
broke the rocks, and ia the earthQ aake,
and the Ere and the still small voice the
Lord passed before the ancient prophet.
be wrapped his face 10 his mantle and vas
silent, so would we bs hushed as the
shadow of this great sorrow falls upon
the land, aud 10 this national sffl c.ion,
God shows that his ways are no. as ours
Abraham Lincoln was the ruler of the
United States. but God is the ruler Of the
Universe. Though the President. whom
We loved aud in whom we trusted. lies
dead to-day, our faith in Heaven, and our
country wavers not. "There's . Dlvini-
ty that shapes our ends, rough hew them
as We may" The shadow upon the dial
plate of human progress and mans en-
reimbursement shall not go backward even
BY the death Of Abraham Lincoln. Lib
erty shall triumph. Free institutions shall
be established. The rebellion will be
put down-the chains will be broken from
thelimbs of every slave. The nation will be
saved despite his death. Our cause must
succeed. for it is the cause of the couu.
try. of civilization, of human freedom and
mats right to govern himself.
Republican government is not fail
ure; If it we're so, then the records Of his.
torians are false and oil the events in the
worlds history are without significance;
if it were so. then every avenue OF the
human mind BY which man can gain in
tellgence should be closed. God should
never have placed aspirations for freedom
in every heart, the people of all lands
| should stife their longings for iodepend-
ence, and new fetters should be forged
for those who have been emancipated BY
this contest; if it we're so, then liberty
should be buried in the same tomb With
Linc,ln, not only our owl. country bnt oil
the nations should be mourners, nature
should shroud itself in gloom, the ocean
with its dirge of waves should sing the
funeral requium and bloody scepters and
clanking chains should become the sym
bols of the hopeless despotism that would
surely follow.
Rspublicanism will not fail. Defended
by the arms Of heroes and patriots and
eonsecrated by blood so precious. our free
institutions will be preserved.
So while the great heart Of the nation
throbs with tumuls Of passion and Of
grief unksown before. the land mourns
not a. having no hops. "The strong
staff is broken and the beautiful rod,' bu.
God shall give us those equal to the hour.
And il dnty we'll doae, il the love Of the
people and the admiration Of the world ia
life, il to be incurred - never was man
mo urned before in death, il 40 immortali
ty Of good name that shsll brighten q
the ages pass, can make death deairabis,
then Mr.. Lincoln died at m opportune
time. And though We see il not nov, "
& may yet discover large element Of good
II in the erent = nation mourns to-day.
We add naught Of eulogy. He need
II it not. There are names that even Fam,
elings to that she may live. Abrahar
kipcoln is one Of these. Henceforth hi.
ememory ID chieftest among men. Nevel
fell 1t to the lot Of mortal to be 20 neari,
sdsifed BY death. and OF morsals nevsI
Mas there wor.hier Of spotheosis. His liz
asd deeds are his noblest sulogy. On ID,
Aablet of the ages. on The pilIars ofhumal
progress, on the oolumns Of our free GOV
srnment, in the hearts Of redeemed ahs
lisent nthralled people, he wrote for him
ha,f an imperishable uane. 'T;s vr;tta,