Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-04-30
GREATNESS AND MELANCHOLY.

A recently published sketch of Abra-
ham Lincoln illustrates the oft.told tales
of the connection between greatness and
melancholy. Underneath all the humor-,
Gus anecdotes and jokes which Lincoln
loved TO indulge in, there was sub
stratum of selfdepreciation, melan choly
and doubt complete, especially in the
earlier part of his life and until great
activities reused him from il, that it
seems almost wonderful he ever could
have become the man of deeds he after
wards proved himself From the memo
ries of his law partner, Mr. Herndon, q
man he had brought up in his office, it
would seem that he endured an early dis
appointment inlove with Ann Rutledge,
in whose fathers house he boarded, but
who was betrothed to another. She died,
and he became reckless almost TO the ex-
tent Of utter skepticism, perhaps atheism,
at one time Twice, in great crises of
suffering, this unreasoning despair re-
turned, and he lost his moral poise for
years. 1t would seem that his friendship
for Herpdon was the means of drawing
him back to faith in something like this
way Herndon was full of hope, enter
prise and abstract anti islavery tendency.
II cannot see what makes your conyic
tions so decided as regards the future of
slavery, said Lincoln to Herndon, one
day. "what tells you the thing must be
rooted out p "Ifeel it in my bones"
was Herhdoa' answer. This continent
is not broad enough TO endure the con-
test between freedom and slavery" 1t
was in mere paraphrase of these words
that the contest between Lincoln and
Douglas afterwards began. And it was
as he got working at and investigating
abstract principles relating to rights and
duties that his faith grew more real to
him. The eyes whose sadness had
been born of childish pain and lonely |
skepticism took deeper charm from
new consciousness buddiBgin him of the |
relation of a mans private carriage to |
his public walk. He began to regret |
many things, and il was the inward
growth going on in his own soul which
made it easy for him to do in Washing |
ton pure, unselfsh work. 81
1t is hard to see into the inner life of |
any man; but all this seems we'll to il !
lustrate the way in which great men are
made by great exigencies. While life
blooms, and all around is smooth and
sunny, men seldom get gloomy enough
to be very skeptical. With life and hope !
vigorous and boisterous men have few
doubts, never look at anything very
deeply as to frst principles, or what can
be said on an opponents side of any
uues&on. But with depression and mel
ancholy comes introspection, that brings
man down into depths below the fun
damental principles of all antagonists.
And when he has touched bottom and
begins to build up Solidly on some per-
ceived and projecting rock of truth,
frm faith makes HIS actions vigorous,
strong and superhunan in energy, while
his spirits reJound at times, or in the
darkest hours outwardly he builds up
boldly, consistently and solidly. The
process of melancholy is necessary to
true greatness and solidity of action.
The highest faith comes as the rebound
from skepticsl inquiry, and the most
heroic and enduring achievements sue
ceed gloomy doubts and the overcoming
within of fundamental difficulties
In Oliver Cromwell very much of this
is seen. Gloomy, dark aud doubling, he
sought to emigrate from the country he
was born to revolutionize aud rule. Full
of inward conflicts, he was able to pene
trate all the plans Of his enemy and frus
trate them, to anticipate all disguises,
and to make his work solid from the
foundation, and Of hight aud strength
truly wonderful to contemplate. There
is a sort of vicariousness Of suffering in
all true greatness that seems to amount
TO the certainty and regularity Of ldto.
Men suffer in advanced life for the fol-
lies and errors Of early years; there the
appears only as to time
and place. But the true statesman has
to suffer and bleed, feelin his oyn soul
all the errors OF his county and his age,
at times almost to the point Of breaking
his own heart With deep melancholy, be
fore he can fully see the steps through
which alone those be represents can be
TO a Wholesome and q proper
redeemed from their errors
and their faults. One honest, earnest
soul voluntarily engaging in this great Il
work achieves successes often apparently
impossible, and even In losing life hnds
il, and gives il forth sgain in new ener-
gies aud vitality 70 his age, his country,
and all the nations Of the earth and Of
he great future. -Phiid Ledger.
]