New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-04-24
yvIglT rEE ED NOT SAY.

WELT FEE ED NOT SAY.
The earthly remains OF our late President will
this morning reach our City on their way TO
their final rest, and will remain with Us till to-
morrow afternoon. 1t seems, then, q fiji
moment for recalling attention TO the wisdom
and patriotism evinced by our loved and lost
leader in his reserve and slencc-in what he took
care not to say or do during his occupancy Of
he Presidential chair For many fool has the
'crcdit of clever or smart sayings-perhaps
Justly: but to refrain from folics that are cur
rent and popular stcadiastly refusing to lend
them any countcnance whatever, oyinces pro-
found and inyincible sagacily rare among even
Tie abest of public men.
/. Mr.. Lincoln, throughout bis arduous term
'of service Of President-in fact, throughout BIZ
|cntirc public caroer-utteTly, stubbOmly re-
fused TO utter a word calculated to embroil us
in contest with any foreign power. zone
WAR Alta TIME the words with which be-
decided the Trent case--werc the keynote Of
his entire official career ilo never proposed
he idea, once 50 popular, Of getting out Of our
domestic struggle by plunging into one with q
European power. None of the bogus "Monroe
doctrine" bIavado, which 50 tickcs the ears Of
Imost grounding, ever escaped his lips. He
was of course ANNOYED and embarrassed by the
French invasion OF Mexico, ard he never con-
cealed his dislike 10 that Napolconic blunder;
but be felt that it i'll became the chief Of a
great nation to indulge in warnings and menaces
which he was VIGOROUSLY unable, during our
Civil War, 20 back by material pcrsuasons. II
would have been easy and popular to plunge ;he
Ioountry into a great foreign war; but that
would have been to ensure It's permanent disrup-
ton and overthrow. Mr. Lincoln saw Tie right
from tho outset, and had the courage and patriot
sm to pursue it.
II. lie mover talked vindictivOly, nor threat
,ened to hang or shoot men who were not
IN his power. He probably had as clear and
keen q perception Of the wickedne,s OF the
shareholders Rebellion as any other man
could have; but hc said little about il, aud never
tarked at those who were not within reach OF
his bite. Mrs. GLASS; initial direction for hare
cooking" Iint, catch your hare'--he was
neycr tempted to violate. And If wrath and
bitterness, with a fearful lookiug-for Of jule-,
ment, now pervade tie Rebel breast, it was not
melted by anything ever uttered 10y President
Lincoln.
III. lie always kept Us clear as might be oil
the taugle of premature Reconstruction.
lie instmctiyely saw from the start, in this Gs in
other respects, the folly Of quarrelng over the
disposition Of the fox > skin while the fox was still
uucaught First, break The back Of the Rebel
lion before You undertake 70 pass sentence Oh
The Rebel chiefs; yanquish and dispcr,e The
Rebel armies before you quarrel about the term
Of readm.tting TO our coupsels States not yeti
ready TO come back on any terms. To setllei
questions as they seyeraly arise, and not tol
divide tie loyal strength on topics not yet in
order, were among the maxims by which Prcs-
dent LncoM's course was steadily guided. WhcnI
&" Reconstruction" became practical, he wasl
ready 10 act on it, and not before. His refusal
TO approve tho Wadc-Dayis bill Of last year was
based ayowedly on this principle. And his sue
ccssor viii find his task lighter in consequence.
Orr country has had greater statesmen. ADLER
speakers or writers, more efficient admins
traitors, than Abraham Lincoln but which of,
them ever cyinced such a talent for slencoI
where speech was perilous and the events Of to-
morrow very likely to oyeret the wi5est judg-
ment Of to-day While his wise and noble acts
are duly honored, let not his equally benefcent'
hesitations and reticences be forgotten.