Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-02-12

what ostentation is; when he became President
he was rather saddened than elated, and his
conduct and manners showed more than ever
his belief that all men are born equal. He was
no respecter Of persons; and neither rank. nor
reputation, nor services overawed him In
Judging Of character he failed in discrimination
he readily deferred to public opinion and in
appointing the head Of the armies he followed
the manifest preference Of Congress.
A good President will secure unity to his
administration by his own supervision OF the
various departments. Lincoln, who accepted
advice readily, was never governed by auy
member of his Cabinet, and could not be mo we'd
from a purpose deiioerately formed; but his
supervision OF affairs was unsteady and incom-
plete; and sometimes, by a sudden interference
transcending the usual forms, he rather con :
fused than advanced the public business II
ne ever ialeo IN the scrupulous regard due to
tne relatlve rights OF Congress, it was so evil
IDENTIFY without design that no conflict could
ensue, or evil precedent be established. Truth
ne would receive from any one; but, when
impressed by others, he did not use their opia /.
ions till by reflection he had made them thor
oughly his own.
1t was the character Of Lincoln to forgive
Wnen nostilitles ceased, he who had always
sent forth the flag with every one of its stars in
the field, was eager to receive back his return
ing countrymen, and meditated "some new
announcement to the South" The amend
ment OF the Constitution abolshng slavery had
his most earnest and unwearied support. Du-
ring the rage OF war we get glimpse into his
soul from his privately suggesting to Louisiana
that sin defining the franchise some of the COL
ored people might be let in,' saying: "They
would probably help. in some trying time, to
come to keep the jewel of liberty in the family
OF freedom In IS5Hhe ayowed himself ssnot
in favor Of what he improperly called "ne.
gro citizenship for the Constitution discrimi-
mates between citizens and electors. Three
days before his death he declared his prefer
ence that ''the elective franchise were now
conferred on the very intelligent of the colored
H.. those
cause as soldiers but ne wished il done by the
States themselves, and he never harbored the
tnought OF exactlng IT from new government
as condition OF Its recognition.
The last day of his life beamed with sun
shine, as he sent by the Speaker of this House
his friendly greetings to the men of the Rocky
Mountains and the Pacific slope; as he contem-
plated the return of hundreds of thousands of
soldiers TO fruitful industry; as he welcomed
in advance hundreds Of thousands ofemigrants
from Europe as his eye kindled with enthu-
slhSm AT the coming wealth of the nation. And
so, with these thoughts for his country, he was
removed from the tolls and temptations of this
life. and was at peace.
AS the sum of all, the hand of Lincoln raised
the flag; the American people was the hero OF
the war; and therefore the result is q new era
OF rt publlcanism. The disturbances in the
country grew not out of anything republican,
but out Of slavery, which is a part of the sys-
tenn of hereditary wrong: and the expulsion of
this domestic anomaly opens to the renovated
nation career OF unthought of dignity and
glory HehceloItn our country has moral
unity as the land of free labor. The party for
slavery and the party against slavery are no
more, and are merged in the party of union
and freedom. The States which would have
left us are not brought back as conquered
safes, for then we should hold them only so
long as that conquest could be maintained:
they come 10 their rightful place under the
constitution as original, necessary, and in.
separable members of the State
We build monuments to the dead but no
monuments of victory. We respect the exam.
pie of the Romans, who never, even in con-
quered lands, raised emblems Of triumph. And
our generals are not to be classed in the herd
OF vulgar conquerors, but are of the school of
limoleon and William of Orange and Wash
ington. They have used the sword only to
give peace to their country and restore her to
her place in the great assembly of the nations
begins to live according to the laws of reason,
and republicanism is intrenched IN n CONT.
nent.