The Portland daily press., 1865-06-03
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The services in iris church, Fast Day. we're
very interesting. Rev. Mr.. Dalton gave an
of hand discourse upon the character OF our
late lamented President, and upon the results
OF the war in relation to the iuIuro VI oui
country. We have noticed for long 'inie
that writers aud public speakers are prone 70
play around Mr.. Liucolns neaIt anu COINS nor
near his head. Now, it is true tnat our ia'e
President possessed most excellent heart
which oavs him much IL faence over the mass
~, our eulogists seem to overlook his in
49, in their admiration oil his high-toned
moral qualities.
Like many others, Rev. Mr.. Dalton spoke
of him as person OF not remarkable intellec
tual powers, OF little claims to eloquence or
TO tact aud tile It as debater. He also al
luded to his awk ward manners and his want
of those graces and aesthetic qualities which
characterize the gentleman and the scholar.
The speaker in portraying the character OF
oar late President, followed the beaten path'
and took for granted what many Others have
said OF him; aud all this for me purpose Oh
giving greater prominence,to 'nose moral
qualities that make "an honest man the no
blest work Of God."
Mr.. Lincoln was an honest man in the best
sonse of that term, but he was also man of
extraordinary intellectual powers. As de-
batter he had but few equals and no superiors.
Mr.. Douglas often repeated that Mr.. Lincoln
was the most able man Is debate he ever
had occasion to meet, whether in court before
a jury or on the stump as a political debater.
His mind had peculiar logical force, and his
power of condensation was truly remarkable.
He was selected by his political friends as
the most able man Of the West to meet Mr..
Douglas, who occupied the foremost rank as a
debater.
We 60 further, aud say Mr.. Lincoln possess
ed genius of no ordinary character, and q
literary taste which far exceeded that of many
bookworms who spend their lives among Ii
braries. Whatever others may think or say,
we have ever admired Mr.. Liucoln's style OF
writing and speaking. There is Shakespeare
an simplicity about it which challenges our
admiration. His style was his own and not
derived from books, and 1t is all the better for
that But we have not space to do justice to
this view of Mr.. Lincoln's character. The
editors OF European journals already begin to
see and speak in praise of Mr.. Lincola's in
tellectual powers and the peculiar force Of his
dictlon. Justice will be done him. We could
say much ia relation to his aesthetic qualities
which are now overlooked by the masses, but
we forbear.
Rev. Mr.. Dalton gave an excellent charac-
ter to the deceased from his stand point, but
we venture the opinion that he has something
yet to learn of the intellectual and ae Aetic
powers of him whom our nation so deeply
mourns. 1t was not his good heart alone that
made him great man whose true history 10
yet to be written. n@
After Rev. Mr.. Dalton closed his remarks.
Rev. DR.. Pratt, former pastor of this church.
made very spirited and eloquent address
DIR. Pratt has devoted much time to the study
OF our war, and enjoyed the means of acquir-
ing much valuable information on thesubject.
He has passed much time among our soldiers
aud also among the rebel soldiers. He assur-
ed his hearers that the Union feeling in the
South was much stronger than we have been
taught to believe. he ionnd among the rebel
soldiers strong desire for peace, and re-
spectfor the stars and stripes. We were glad
to hear such Information from SO reliable
source. The speaker cautioned his hearers
not to indulge vindictive feelings towards the
rebels now that the rebellion is over. He was
earnest and his remarks were Stoned to with
great attention. On the whole the services
on this occasion were interesting, and the
choir discoursed excellent music.