Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1865-05-19

coLN.-The following eulogy on the life anC
public services of Abraham Lincoln delivered
| by Col. Stover, Of the ls4th Regiment, Pa
Vols, was reported by Adit VIM. H. Fl
Ralston, Of South Woodberry township, thil
county There is company Of Bedford
county boys in this Regiment, We commend
the eulogy to the perusal ofour many readers
Eulogy on the death Of Abraham Lincoln.
Late President Of the United States, de-
| tirered to the 184th Pa. Tols., April tht
10Th, the day Of his funeral, BY Col John
II. StoUer
| This day is our land stricken with sadness,
and the people who so lately reioieed over the
triumph of our arms are mourning like chill
dren mourning the death of their parent.
Houses lately Illuminated now wear the black
shroud of mourning. Strong men weep, and
all bow in humiliation and sorrow. Gloom,
ike the thick mists of the morning, hangs
over the whole country for i'Know ye not
there is a prince and great man fallen this
day in Israel ~ All that is earthly, all that
is mortal of Abraham Lincoln, late our be-
loved President, viii this day be consigned to
the tomb. Struck by the assassin's hand on
Friday the 14th inst, he fingered until Satur-
day when his soul took its fight to the God
that gave it. It is just and meet that on this
day of our national calamity the plough should
stand idle in the furrow-the anvil should
not resound to the busy stroke of industry
and the musket should remain untouched on
the stack-while all pause to think of him
that has fallen, and drop tear OF tribute to
his memory.
Death in household is a severe affiiction
The great enemy of time always sails over
seas of tears, and his Path is strewn with
sorrows, troubles and broken hearts But
what are individual Affections compared with
National calamites 1t is true wife is
widowed and children are made orphans, but
the soldier has lost his best friend, the peo-
pie have lost their chief ruler, and the coun-
try its main hope. The life as well as the
death of Abraham Lincoln is fruitful theme
for thought Born of humble and obscure
parents, with scarcely morethan the rudiments
of an education, his approach to manhood
found him engaged in the humble though hon
est capacity of manual labor. Tempest-tos-
sed on the sea of time, he nobly battled
against the elements, until fortune relaxed
her iron grasp, and he arose in position and
esteem. If he had not the advantages Of
classical care, he was well versed in the great
book of human nature, and what was lost in
the theoretical was fully supplied in the prac-
tical. In his early years little did he dream
what mighty influence he was destined to
bear on the history of his country. How
strange are fate's DEGREES. The youth whose
chief ambition was to address a jury of his
neighbors, in later years spoke to the nations
of the earth, and one of his last acts was
proclamation that viii startle old Europe.
As citizen he was honest, charitable and up
right. But how shallwe rank him as states
man ? His simplicity was almost childlike,
amiable and conciiatory in department, his
frmness was that of everlasting hills; courting
no favors, honor sought him not ambitious
in power, he shrunk from no responsibility.
One of the people, he was identified with their
interests. They placed him in position and
they retained him there. As legislator, he
foreshadowed events which in his own days
almost amounted to prophecy. As ruler,
lemency was coupled with frmness, justice
was tempered with forgiveness but the in
terests of his country were always uppermost
in his heart
How many of us who differed with him
four years ago, now uphold the doctrines
which he then advocated? Ifhe had honest
enemies it was because his ideas were years
in advance of his age. Those loved him most
who knew him best. As President the peo-
pie testified their appreciation Of his course
by his triumphant reelection. So enshrined
had he become in their hearts, that if ma
tons tears were pearls, this day monument
of jewels would rise over his grave to the
very heavens. Assuming the reins of Gov
ernment when strong mems lips quivered,
cheeks were blanched, and men looked into
each others eyes only to read distrust, he
gave form to chaos, and brought order out of
confusion. His practical common sense grasp
ed shattered truths, and like the lightning
flash they assumed shape. Believing that all
men should be free, he made them free and
the day is not far distant when emancipation
shall be considered the erowning act of Amer
lean legislation. We waged war to construct,
not to subiugate. The repentant rebels al
ways found pardon at his hands. He inau-
gurated anew system in American politics, as
a ruler his type was essentially his own; careful
study and anxious thought marked his every
public act Convinced that startling changes
must be made, he did not spring them sud
denly upon the people, but as if by silken
cord he led the public masses to think his own
thoughts. Nor did he claim infalhbility in
anything. His language when submitting a
certain great act was, "This is my plan, 1 do
not know that it is best, and shall certainly
change it when better one is submitted"
But who of us, who of all the land, can i'm
prove his public policy Peaceful relations
were sustained with foreign powers, when
they but wished for an opportunity to declare
war An exhausted treasury was replenished
and while a most desperate war was waged in
suppression of rebellion, agriculture was
sustained, industry was stimulated, andthe re-
sources of our country were more fully deyel-
oped. Manufactures fourished and the sails
of our commerce yet whiten every sea.
Though unskillful Generals lost battles, the
public did not lose confidence The ship of