The weekly union record., 1865-01-14
An Analysis of Mr.. Llncoln's Character

the Presidential election, the first regular toast
given was:
The President of the United Staies-He
needs no other eulogy than that which has Just
been pronounced BY the American people in
bis triumphant re election.
I Hon. Abrsm Wakeman responded:
/ Mr.. Chairman and Gentlemen II Is usual
on festive occasions to pass the name Of the
+ President with silent respect. | an told and
can well see that on this occasion our voices
should join heartily in congFatulatiou upon the
overwhelming popular majority that has placed
the helm of Sraie in bis steady hands fer four
/ years more. Yet in trying 10 speak TO this
name, | NAV well be embarrassed II mistake
lot, most of the gentlemen around me have
/ spent large portion of their time for al least
/ the last three months in defending and eulogiz
Ing Abraham Lincoln. This Joyous festival
shows that they have been successful euiogies,
and congratulate them one aud all upon the
success of their labors but feel that in an
assembly of those who have defended and
praised him so well, further defence or praise
/ from me would seem useless iDdced. Il may
not be too late, however, for Us. his friends. 10
/ form some clear and calm estimate OF this
/ remarkable and in some respects peculiar man.
/ with whom the fate OF our country is now
i iudissoubly connected. 1t is the peculiarly
/ of great and remarkable men that their charac
I tiers cannot be easily decided or agreed upon
: By the people at large, or ofteo by their friends
aud associates. Great men are original, unique.
/ abnormal-they do not fall in with the ordinary
descriptions of men. They cannot be measured
nor described by the rules by which the com
mon herd are ticketed and disposed Of. Thus,
1 Abraham Lncolu has proved difficult subject
/ to those who think TO solve every man by their
own little theory of life aud men. Like most
great, original, genuine men, be won't lie
straight upon any theory.
Thus it is that the public mod has not been
at rest about him, and censure and eulogy have
been eqnally free in painting his character, life
and aims. His enemies, or rather opponents
for of personal enemies could never learn he
had one-while they disparage feel that there
is more IN him than they thought His friends
have been astonished al the quiet strength of
bis intellect and the perseverng energy of his
will. Yet, generally. among bis well wishers,
there has been an apol0getc tohe, rs though
there was something TO excuse, overlook or
paIliate. ln this they were mistaken. l do
not aver too little 10 saying that many OF the
Presidents friends have not yet learned to
appreciate the real greatness and strength OF
\ abraham Lincons character. Neither Prov
idence nor the American people would have
ever repeatedly committed the regeneration oil
our country TO his hands, If he had not been
qualified, and, as il were, especially raised up,
for this mighty work Bat | do not measure
him by general conclusion. He stands ont
now as the great, strong and truest American
man. A solid, pure, unadnteraied work OF
God and nature. His character is the result
of the geography, history and morals OF the
pioneer West He is almost as much the pro-
duct of the grea, heart of our costinent as are
its mighty praries, rivers and forests. These
were his teachers His friends are often trying
to make allowances for bis want of education.
Their excuses are not needed. Nature and
adversely gave him an education and training
that none but the most powerful minds could
stand; but to such minds the exercises OF
schools and colleges would be trifiing and
childish n comparison. Poverty, suffering and
labor were the fees he paid for this schooling,
and year after year his stout mind and heart
paid them cheeriuliy. Why, in poin. Of edu-
cation, that one trading trip on bis tlatboat to
New Orleans was worth whole college course.
The youth of eighteen, as be passed day after
day down the mighty Father of Waters, saw
its tributaries and thought of the vast continent
IL vi dIucu, UOSeiN Ntu dtlu tOOh vi TIC
currents and shores, conversed aud traded with
It's people, and fought with midnight robbers,
gained an enlargement of soul and intellect,
variety of information, tact and independence
of character that no learned professors could
have impaired He did even the lowest duties
he undertook honestly and well, yet bis ever
expanding mind called him to higher duties of
life. He outgrew and rose up through the
10 of life p1uph q a COLLEGE
boy rises from class to class, always going one
step higher.
What lesson for our youth there is in this
progress Born poor white in a foorless
log cabin in Kentucky without book or hope
of education, he passes Oh from woodchopper to
railspltter, then pioneer to Indiana and Hi
nois, then farmer, next a boatman on the
Mississippi, then storekeeper and miller,
then a captain n the Black Hawk war-the
election to which Office, as be says, gave hlm
more pleasure than any success Of his life. We
next find him surveyor, then 90 able lawyer,
next q politician and Congressman, then
leading statesman and debater of his party
finally, President of the United States by
small plurality vote, and now, in times Of great
national peril, reelected President by major
ity vote, more overwhelming than any since
the time of Washington. Thus. rising step by
step. more astonishing than all, he Is now
modest and unaffected as child, and still able
and willing to learn. Gentlemen, such career
as this is not accidental The cause, under
Providence, is the man himself. Carlyle is the
critic of great men. He tells US they must
have large, clear ntellec;s aud insights, sincere
aud earnest souls, and desire TO grapple with
the duties of life and get them honestly done
Yet he loves TO tell Us that the highest and
richest natures have their minds and purposes
rounded and shaded off by a loving, genial
humor. And lastly, the man must be so honest
that he must not be sefconscous nor proud Of
his own greatness or strength but his genus
must be a secret to blmself-never paraded.
but rather concealed. Such qualities. employed
upon the higher interests of mankind, give Us
what be calls great man. 1t may excite
smile to think that the Grabbed old Scotch
hero worshipper-the haier OF democracy and
ballot boxes-has so accurately described our
self made President. But is it not because be
has these very qualities in so great a degree