The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1865-06-30
ADDRESS.


man language to express the deep emotions
of the soul how inadequate arc words to
portray what tho mind feels and the
heart realizes. The inspiration of the high.
est archapgel is hardly adequate to do jus.
ton to-day. beg your kind indulgence,
therefore, while we attempt to inquire, brief
ly, the lesson we are to learn from the
events of the last four years, written in lot.
ters OF blood on the page OF our nations
history. When We look back over the
bloody record, it seems as though We were
awakening from some fearful dream--as
though some dread nightmare still held
possession Of the senses.
As basis for my remarks on the present
occasion. | have deemed tho following
words OF Paul to the Hebrews, not inappro.
pirate:
'Despise not the Christening of the Lord.
nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him. "
Heb, l2:6.
Nov no Christening for tho present seem.
eth to be joyous but grievous nevertheless,
Of righteousness to them which are exercised
,hereby."-Heb., 1911.
We live in a world of mutation and
change. To-day We are raised to the very
pinnacle of exultation and joy by some good
fortune, some grand announcement; to.
morrow the messenger of sadness comes
with tidngs of some great bcroavemen On land
our homes arc shrouded in the babilimen,s
of mourning. To-day tho mother rejoces
over her new. born babe; it is flesh Of her
Hesh, ifo of her lie, the joy of her soul for.
evermore. From this day houcefortb, a
new light is upon her hearthstone, bright.
or sun eliminates her home, new and holicr
responsibilities consecrate her life, moro de.
vout aspirations fill her soul; as sbe pledges
the nob!est energies of her being to live
worlhily of the new charge committed TO
her care. Tomorrow an angel from over
the river bears ber idolized treasure beyond
the swelling current, and the heart so re
Gently ovciflowing with ecsta,ic joy sinks
10 grief and despair. Thus it is with socie
ty at large. We have our personal joys, as
also our national rjoicings. So. too, sor.
row and mourning come not alone to the
household, but now and then some great ca
Iamity falls upon the State, and the Nation
10 dressed 10 the em5lems of woe.
1t is thus with the American people TO-.
day, as with heavy hearts and sad counte.
RANGES they assemble in their usual places
of worship, and take counsel together, thus
eDdeavoring to learn the lesson this great
event teaches to tho nation and the world.
When The electric current flashed over the
wires the dread intelligence Abraham
LincoIa is dead murdered by the assassin q
hand with what sad emotions our ears
heard the mournful tidiuge, while our senses
refused to credit the report until "assur.
ance was made doubly sure," and "'twero
madness to longer doubt" And then that
the terrible blow should fall upon US while in
the midst of our rejoicings in the prospect
OF a speedy peace-that consummation so
devoutly wished. after four years war,
such as the world has never SCENT was as
when tbunde, bolt from o cloudIess sky
pierces the temple Of the great congrega.
tion, and scatters death and CONSERVATION
along its pathway. Yes, Abraham Lincoln
the untarnisbed patriot, the pure. mnded
statesman, the humane ruler, the honest
man, has gone where envy and malice shall
never reach him more. Be it ours to learn
the great lesson his martyrdom teaches
We are not assembled here to. day to eulo.
gize the dead. but to endeavor to instruct
the living What, then, do the events that
have transpired and are transpiring teach
as the lesson of the hour?
mo cbastening," saith the Apostle, "for
the present seemeth joyous but grievous
nevertheless. afterward it yieldelh the peace.
able fruits of righteousness to them that ore
exercised thereby" The first "frui." OF
this great tragedy has been to unite all
loyal hearts as one man in a determined
purpose that the real author of this damn.
ing deed-not the instrument, Booth, but
the author, SIavery--must die. Whatever
may DO said in extenuatiou OF the guilt OF
Of the unfortunate man who did the deed
howsoever philanthropy may attempt to
palliste the crlme on the ground of an un.
fortunate organization, q false education,
evil associations, pernicious habits ;--or
whs.ever humanity may suggest, on the
ground that he is msu and q brother, q
child of the common Father and an heir of
Immortality yet the united verdict of this