Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1865-04-21

How can we write the cruel WORDS
Lincoln-our great and good President
is dead Fallen by the hand of COW.
ardly traitor and assassin Stricken down
in the very hour of the peoples enthusi.
astic JOY over country preserved and
purified through his courage, prudence,
faith and wisdom! Martyred in the very
arms Of those who loved him The par
ticulars are narrowing. We cannot re-
peat them. The mournful dispatches tell
their own dreadful story. and have already
drowned nation in griS. But yesterday
full of strength, and studying to temper a
nations justice with mercy; to-day-a
slaughtered victim to treason's spite-lost
to the hope and heart of his age and coun.
try! Kings and Emperors have been as.
sassinated before now-some OF them good
rulers--by desperate and fanatical wretcheS
who obeyed only their own secret impulse;
but to slay the beloved head Of free peo-
ple-himsef one of the people and the
chosen executor of their will-the man
who had Just saved the grand experiment
of popular government and nd q CONT
nent Of a monstrous fraud upon human
rights-this is a crime unmatched in the
annals Of the race. Its the great tragedy
of history. If anything was lacking to
complete the damnable eternal infamy Of
the sIaveholders' rebellion, this caps the
climax Of infamy. For whether the as
sassin's accomplIces were few or many, or
whether he was alone in the terrible crime,
it was the legitimate emanation of the fell
spirit that cheated four millions Of human
beings in their humanity, that originated
this bloody civil war. that tortured help!
less prisoners with every circumstance of
cruelty and starved them BY thousands,
that exhausted the language for words to
vilify the brave people who were true to
their country. and that taught murder was
duty and assassination virtue. Wher
Lincoln fell under the dastaIdly blow in
spired by the spirit of treason, he was
studying how he might pour oil on the
wounds of desolated section. His big.
tender heart was offered as shield be-
tween the insurgents and vengence; and
they have drawn itslife-drops! He would
have saved them, and they have killed him.
This, will turn the current of popular feel
ing to demand for the sternest Justice
not againstthe deluded citizens of the re.
bellion but against its arch instigators and
the relentless leaders who, amid their peo-
pies humiliation and agony still demand
more blood. 2 lfL. d" 'i.'" a'4'- s'.'t
But Lincoln may not be the only vict
tim. Secretary Seward. whose eloquen-
logic aroused the Republic to sense Of the
moral enormity of the evil that was sap
ping It's vitality-who, by his consummate
diplomacy and calm adherence TO the
strict principles of international law
averted the great peril of foreign interview
tion-he, too. was murderously attacked.
while lying sick and helpless in his bed,
He also was studying to ameliorate the
condition of the insurgents, and to win
them back with kindness to their duty to
a restored Union Weakened by previ-
Gus wounds, it is scarcely possible that he
will recover from the assassin's bl1ws.
Doubly precious has his life become to
the Republic since Lincoln is gone, and
there will be universal prayers for its pre-.
servation. The imagination 10 appalled,
as it contemplatss the circumstances Of the
enormous crime which sought the life OF
two such men--the widest and, kindest OF
our rulers, Of whom complaint was never
made by any rational creature, except they
were too kinds--S. F.. BElletta. aa.-rafa~