The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1865-05-13
~. Last Word aud Deed OF Abra'
ham Lincoln.
BY REV. GILBERT HAVEN.

,.st inaugural was the word, the entry into
richmond the deed. The word is the most
trnthful, penitential and christian that
ruler ever addressed to his people. IneEe
Eli. the humblest prostration before His
attended, goodness, the amplest confessions
of the righteousness of his punishments,
sha largest benefcence to our malicious
foes, How sadly 1t prophecies his own fate.
H,s. too. must be Of the blood which God
demands for that draw by the lash for two
hundred years upon the quivering flesh of
The innocent children Of God.
That dying speech from the National
throne viii be read with wet eyes by our
children's children. As the farewell adj
dress of Washington is still cherished by
tine nation, much more will this pathetic
confession of national sin and resolute pur-
no,e 10 labor FOR its extinction be admirihg-
~ perused by our latest generations. 1t
lscSs no element OF perfection. So short
that he that runs may read ii I; so simple
that the most childish caN understand il =
an s,a;esmanlike in its enuuciation ofprin-
ciples that the rulers OF Ia. world can prof
imbly understand il; 50 religious ,hat the
most pious hearts can find il ii the hottest
nutriinen;; so phiian,hropic that largest
souls may grow larger in its inspiring air:
40 clement that the hardest hear, cannot
hut melt in its perusai 1t is the CONSUME
mate flower of executive oratlOEs. Jere.
miah could not write 1t more penitential,
Ezekiel more resolu.e, John more affection
ate. The London Spectator truly says-"1n
il we can detect no longer the rude and IL
literate mold Ola village lawyers thought,
but find il replaced by grasp of principle.
n dignity Of manner, and u sOlemnity oi
purpose which would have been unworthy
nei,her OF Hampden ner OF Cromwell,
while his gentleness and generosity ofteel-
ing toward his foes are almost greater
Skr,Y f1.1.>,,
1t was worthy requiem. Only once
again did tie speak, ana then to a midnight
gathering on special topic, not on IL gem
eral, certainly not on so general theme
He sang then his swans song, sad, sacred,
solemn, sweet. The voice OF ihe ages, from
David, through Christ, went wailing lhro'
the strain. 1t will yet be, AS it should be,
the most popular and powerful word OF
America.
But ii the las. inaugural was his litany,
the advent into Richmond was his jubilaie.
No picture of the war will be SO frequueut-
~ and SO tittingly painted. 1t was in ex-
traOrdinary agreement with his whole life
and character. in extraordinary. disagree
ment with that of every other eminent
ruler.
Here more than emperor, who, for four
years, had waged seve1est war with a pOr-
ton of his own people, who had made this
their capital. Under many generals had
ne eeS0yoU ltS capture. 01OCu udu uOWeO
around it like water. Yet it had still proud
lyresis.ed the whole strength of his ar
mics. AT length, after blocdiest encoun-
tefs and almost u year of siege, it had fall
en- into his hands. How should he take
possession of mis- prize? How have all con-
querors exulted over such a conquest =
When Charles the Bold captured Liege, he
compelled the citizens to batter down a
new entrance in their walls, through which
he marches in triumphant pomp and scorn.
When Louis the Greats and David's gem
erals reduced rebellious city, they sent
for their masters TO take stately possession.
Our grand monarch is near by when his
great general, as great as their greatest, has
won for him the long. coveted prize. The
whole land is af1ame with joy. Does be
enter it in royal state? He sends grand
deputation to take formal possession ofres-
cued Sumter. He himself walks up the
central stree. Of the capital Of the rebel
lion, attended by twelve marines, half-a-
dozen officers and friends, without music,
or banners, or military or civic pomp.-
Thousands Of unshackled slaves dance
around him IN uncomfortable ecstacy ofde-
light. They look upon the face of their
liberator. To them it shines like that OF
Moses as ne descended from the mount
Like the lame man unclaimed of his life
long letters Of iniirmity. they precede aud
follow this, to them, chief of Gods apos-
ties, walking, and learing, and praispg
God" They, too, have been unclaimed oil
lifelong letters. that have made them sit q:
the beautiful gate of the temple Of know
ledge and liberty, powe-less 10 move, hope
less Of salvation.
Their sneering masters and mistresses.
thank Sod, 10 longer >cowl from their
windows Upon him and his tumultuous IS.
cort Of beggared blacks, as Sauls daugh-
ter upon David. despising him in their
hearts. They do not mar his calm content,
.>c a. stNnx,
guide their ruler and their masters to the
residepce Of the fed usurper.
He only regards the wonderful work, OF
which he has been the chosen instrument,
but which Jesus OF Nazareth has alone ell
fected.
AS Christ entered into Jerusalem. the
city that above all others, hated, rejected,
and should even stay him, attended by
crowds whom he had cured OF lameness.
deafness. paralysis, blindness, and the pow.
er OF devils so did this his servant enter
the city that above all others hated and re-
jected him, and would soon be the real, il
not intentional, cause of his death. At
moment. ii not miraculously cured of far
worse Affections than those that not only
Z infected the body, from whom legions OF
devils that had possessed them Tor ages
were suddenly and forever expelled; who
had been changed from slavery to free
dom from darkness to light, from life 70
death, by his divinely aided and appointed
hasd. "Behold thy King cometh, meek :"
Z most beautifully true here and now.
The naughty tyrant !. gone, the loving
hearts dance for joy. Well may the air
ring to the jubilent hallelujahs. Well may
their paternal President feel the comfort
and strength of the hour. The blessing
Of those that were ready to perish IL come
upon him. The Union is saved, the rebel:
lion suhdued, the slave ret free. He could
we'll cay: Lord, now lettest thou thy ser.
want depar, in peace; for mine eyes have
seen thy salvation ard the glory of thy
people Israel. His work is drawing to 9
close. How near is that end. This is bis
palm Sunday. Ten days elapse and bis
= GOOD Friday comes. He follows his d.
vine Master through like bloody hands to
like glorious eternity.
Thus did our king enter his strong city.
; Ieus did he triumph over his Philistia.
The story will be wrought in song and on
canvas. 1t will 90 over the world and
oown the ages-the most beautiful and
Al. -