The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-04-14
ESs Y.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
IN ME NJ q r. I A NJ Z.

ONE year has passed since the nation was
appalled, by the intelligence OF the assassina-
ton OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN. The crushing
gnei-terror almost-of the first moments in
which that horrible crime stood revealed be-
fore us, has passed away; but what true
patriot will say that the loss to our country,
in the death of that great and good man, was
even then overestimated? In great Gala
nifty the first impulse OF the mind is to
exsggerate. The mental retina is. for the
moment, blinded by the sudden flash of mis-
fortune. Time passes, and we see that things
are not so bad as we at first thought them to
be; compensating advantages reveal them
selves and take of the keen edge of regret;
we adapt ourselves to the new circumstances
in which we are placed, and forget our griefs
amid the cares OF life.
Not so. however, in this case. AS we look
back at that great man-so simple, so wise,
so benevolent, so consderate, so conscien-
tious, so charitable, so faithful TO the eternal
verities, so full Of confidence in the onward
and upward progress Of the human race. so
patient with the impetuous and unreasonable,
and yet so sympathetic with the poor and the
oppressed-in word, as we look back at
ABRAHAM LINCOLN, as his character is more
and more clearly revealing itself to the gaze
OF the world, and as we look around upon
the present condition of our country, can we
feel less deep and poignant grief than we
did one year ago at his sudden and tragic
removal from our midst? On the contrary,
did we then, in any just sense, comprehend
the calamity that had befallen US? Where,
as we look about us, can we behold any COM
pensating advantages that have accrued to us
from his death? Do we see them in the ex-
asperated condition Of our poliJics--in the
hostile collisions between great coordinate
branches of the Government-in the pas
siouate discussions of momentous public
~~~~-~N~~~-
questions, or in the gloom and uncertainty
which gather about the future?
The re was one element in ABRAHAM LIN
CoLN's character which becomes more promi-
nent as the facts of his life are more fully re-
yealed and that was his conscientious devo-
tion to principle. He was tolerant Of methods
for reaching desired end. BE had no pride
of opinion. He readily discarded plan when
he found that it did not work well. He left
himself wise choice of means. He often
hesitated long and painfully before he was
able to decide with himself what he ought TO
do. But when once he had made up his
mind that right and Justice and principle lay
in certain direction, he immedia ely set his
face Nonward, and there was after that no
looking behind. BE took no backward steps.
He did not enunciate a principle to-day co
discard it tomorrow. He raised no false
hopes. The word of promise with him was
like the "sure word of ofprophecy," which could
not be broken. Hence it was that the moral
power of his character came to take such a
hold upon the people-they trusted in him.
Time alone enables us to do Justice to a
great character. At the first our point of
view is too close. We are absorbed in details
and get no impression of the whole. But as
time passes, and our mental vision gets q
perspective, details sink into their proper
subOrdinalion; the greater traits fall into
natural harmony, and the complete character
in its full and grand proportions stands before
u.s. So will it be with our martyred Chic
Magistrate We are still too near to his
times to do him justice or to fully appreciate
his greatness. But we may be sure that az
years and ages and even centuries roll on
history will unfold few nobler or more attrac
tive characters than that of the simple wise
great, and good ABRAHAM LINCOLN.