Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1868-04-23
Written for the Herald
The President: Mr.. Lincoln--An-
dy Johnson.

The President: Mr.. Lincoln--An-
dy Johnson.
The contrast exhibited between
President Lincoln and the present
temporary incumbent of the Chair,
has never been more painfully illus
trated than by the occurrences OF
the last few weeks The lofty tone,
the familiar dignity, the essential
nobility, reason, intelligence, the
fire-side plainpess, the power to de-
scend to the level of the MASSES
without loss of respect; the break
ing through Of conventional usages
and rank without a suspicion of
vulgar sentiment; the honest man
illness, humanity, penetration, dis
cernment, craftsmanship; the per-
feet unconsciousness Of individual
ity, good humored sagacity of Mr.
Lincoln, all excite in the hearts of
Americans, lasting memories ofthis
man, who, without a spark Of TO
nance, o civilian, awkward, with
out skill in drawing-room techni-
calities, yet q conqueror whose
fame will be perpetuated in memo
ries of grace higher than outward
person, and of gentility far deeper
than mere breeding His opinions,
never presented as "My Policy
were given as those of public opin-
ion, based on the timely recogni-
ton of the force of passing, events
in shaping events to come. He al.
ways addressed himself to the rea-
son; the good sense OF the nation
"Come let US reason together for
good" He never alluded to his
humble origin. In this he thought
that to start from true manhood
was a level high enough to merit
respect, and he always presented
himself TO his fellow men from this .
standpoint, taking into view ever
the fact that they had brains, pos
sessed conscicncies and common
reason. If, in the course of events,
allusion was made to any humilia-
ting position force of circumstances
compelled him to fill, his ready wit
and perfect self command enabled
him to hurl back all insinuations
with such impetus that a repetition
of them left the offender in dis
grace. Thus when the renowned
and lamented Douglas says 81
knew Mr. Lincoln when he was
bar tender" Mr.. Lincoln returns
the compliment by an acknowledge
ment Of his degrading position by
the reply that "while l attended one
side, you, Mr.. Douglas, attended
the other"
Mr.. Lincoln had never studied
oratory, yet in his forgetfulness of
self-in his earnestness and his sim
plicity was an oratOrical force that
reached the hearts of men. The
knotty, homely, hon
est and everyday logic, was emil
nently characteristic of represen- I
tative man.
A little incident occurring,whil
I was in charge of the Prison Hos {
pital at Camp Chase, exhibited the t
force and weight of this great mans '
character with those accidentally s
thrown in his way, A lady who {
arrived at camp was refused an in
terview with her husband, by the G
commanding officer, though bring
inc testimonials from General Bur |
brige, then commanding Kentucky, '
The native State and home Of the l
political prisoner. |
She visited Washington, showed
her papers to Mr.. Lincoln, and re-
turned with an order for the release '
of her husband. When asked her {
opinion of Mr.. Lincoln, she replied t
II 90 home with very different {
opinions from those l have been /
taught to entertain of him. The {
l saw his ugly, honest face
/ knew he was a man who would /
give me justice" This was no ad |
7 l.