The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-02-12

without feeling Of revenge struck death-blow
at rebellion.
LMcoLN's ASSASSINATION.
Where in the history OF nations, had Chief
Magistrate possessed more sources of consola-
ton and 10y than Lincoln9 His countrymen
had shown their love by choosing him to a
second term of service. The raging war that
had divided the country had lulled, and private
grief was hushed by the grandeur of its results
The nation had its new birth of freedom, soon
to be secured forever by an amendment of the
Constitution. His persistent gentleness had con-
quered for him kindlier feeling ou the part of
the South. His scoffers among the grandees of
Europe began to do him honor. The laboring
classes everywhere saw in his advancement their
own. All peoples sent him their benedictions
And at the moment of the height of his fame, to
which his humility and modesty added charms,
he fell by the hand OF the assassin; and the only
triumph awarded him was the march to the
grave.
THE GREATNESS OF MAN.
This is no time to say that human glory is but
dust and ashes, that we mortas are no more
than shadows in pursuit of shadows. How mean
a thing we're man, If there were not that within
him which is higher than himself-if he could
not master the illusions of sense, and discern
the connections of events by superior light
which comes from God! He so shares the di-
vine impulses that he has power to subject
interested passions to love of country and
personal ambition to the ennoblement of
man. Not in vain has Lincoln lived for he
has helped to make this republic an exam pie of
The heroes who led our armies and ships into
battle-Lyon, Mcpherson, Reynolds, Sedgwick,
Wadsworth, Foote, and Ward, with their COM
peers-and fell in the service, did not die in
vain; they and the myrads OF nameless martyrs,
and he, the chief martyr, died willingly "that
government of the people, by the people, and
for the people, shall not perish from the earth.n
THE JUST DIED FOR THE UNJUST
The assassination Of Lincoln, who was SO free
from malice, has by some mysterious influence
ctp prtpE 4hA ,N,rr
instead OF exciting, the passion for revenge. 1t
seems as il the Just had died for the unjust.
When think OF the friends l have lost in TINS
war-and every one who hears me has like N.Y.
self, lost those whom he most loved-there is no
consolation TO be derived from victims on the
scafold, or from anything but the established
union OF the regenerated nation,
CHARACTER OF LINCOLN.
In his character, Lincoln was through and
through an American. He is the first native of
the region west of the Aleghenies to attain to
the highest station; and how happy it is that the
man who was brought forward as the natural ont
growth and first fruits of that region, should have
been OF unblemished purity in private lire, good
son, kind husband a most aHectonate father,
and, as man, so gentle to all. AS to integrity,
Douglas, his rival, said OF him, Lincoln is the
honestest II an | ever knew"
The habits of his mind were those of medita-
ton and inward thought, rather than of action.
He eXcelled in logical statement more than in
6ACCuUlNe dOlllIy. lie TGuSOlCu clearly, MS re-
fective judgment was good and his purposes
were fixed; hut, like the Hamlet" of his only
poet, his will was tardy in action; and for this
reason, and not from humility or tenderness of
feeling, he sometimes deplored that the duty
which devolved on him had not fallen 70 the
lot of another. He was skilul in analysis;
discerned with precision the central idea on
which a question turned, and knew how to dis
engage it and present it by itself in a few
homely, strong old English words that would be
ineligible to all. He delighted to express his
opinions by apothegm, illustrate them by a
parable, or drive them home by story.
Lincoln gained name by discussing questions
which, of all Others most easily lead TO fanati-
cism; but he was never carried away by enthu-
siastic ZEAL never INDUCED in eXtravagant Ian
guage, never hurried TO support extreme mea-
sures, never allowed himself to be controlled by
sudden impulses. During the progress of the
election at which he was chosen President, he
expressed no opinion that went beyond the JEFF
ferson proviso OF 1864. Like Jefferson and
Lafayette. he had faith in the intuitons of the
people, and read those intuitous with rare
sagacity. He knew how to bide his time, and was
less apt be in advance OF public opinion than
to lag behind. He never sought to eectrity the
public by taking an advanced position with a
banner OF opinion; but rather studied to move
forward compactly, exposing no detachment in
front or rear; so that the course of his Admins
tratlon might have been explained as the calcu-
lating policy of shrewd and watchful politi-
clan, had there not been seen behind it fixed
ness of principle which from the first deter
mined his purpose and grew more intense with
every year, consuming his life by its energy.
Yet his sensibilities were not acute, he had no
vividness of imagination to picture to his mind
the horrors of the battlefield or the suferings
in hospitals: his conscience was more tender
than his feelings.
Lincoln was one of the most unassuming of
men. In time of success, he gave credit for it to
those whom he employed, to the people, and TO
the providence of Cod He did not know what
| ostentation is; when he became President he was
| rather saddened than elated aud his conduct
| and manners showed more than ever his belief
| that all men are born equal. He no respecter
| OF persons; and neither rank, nor reputation,
| nor services overawed him. In judging of char
| ac:er he failed in discrimination, and his ap-
| pointments were sometimes bad; but he readily
| deferred TO public opinion, and in appointing the
head Of the armies he followed the manifest pre-
| ference of CONGRESS.
| good President will secure unity to his ad-
| minstration by his own supervision OF the varl-
| Gus departments. Lincoln, who accepted ad'
| vice readily, was never governed by any member
| of his Cabinet and could not be moved from a
| purpose deliberately formed; but his supervision
| of affairs was unsteady and incomplete and
| sometimes, by q sudden interference transcend
ing the usual forms, he rather confused than
| advanced the public business. If he ever failed
| in the scrupulous regard due to the relative
| rights of Congress, it was so evidently without
design that no conhicI could ensue or evil prece-
dent be established. Truth he would receive from
| any one; but when impressed by Others, he did
not use their opinions till, by reflection, he had
made them thoroughly his own.
1t was the nature of Lincoln TO forgive. When
hostilities ceased, he who had always sent forth
n Al .s..E Ill