Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1869-12-10
The Historic Abraham Lincoln.

The verdict of the future, looking up
ON Lincoln must be this: That in q time
of intense excitement, all-prevading, all
arousine, when feeling was passionate,
apprehensions vivid, theemotions ofa con
tinept preternNturally stirred, and when
anger easily turned to malignity, aud
just indignation became a vindictive
thirst for vengeance-he kept his frank
and kindly temper, and in the midst of
all the jealousies and the fierce animosi-
ties raging around him, was to the end
as patient and calm, as ready in sympa-
thy, and as sweet in forgiveness, as if no
war storms vexed the land. That in a
time of immense opportunity for any dis
honest greed and gain, his integrity was
as perfect as the luster in the diamond,
as the blue in the sky that with mil
lions of gold waiting his word for their
secret distribution, he touched no penny
that was not HE, and fell in death as un- |
corrupt as whom he entered on his great |
Office. That in time of prodigious, un-
anticipated movements, without prece-
dent or parallel, when forces as wide as
the country itself, as vehement as its
winds, and as fiery as lightning were
loosened into tremendous collision -
when shrewdest schemes were as power
less for the crisis as bulwarks of paper
against the whirlwind, when all the
foundations seemed out of course, and
only Omniscience could forecast the end
he showed an extraordinary sagacity
and prudence, committing himself to no
peremptory theory, avaiIing himself of
all mems counsel; arguing against his
own convictions, until he had tested their
correctness following patiently the in
dications of events and finally leading
the nation which had trusted him, by
ways untrod until he trode them from
the precipicc to the plain, and out of the
thunderous uproar and gloom to the
dawn of bright prophetic day. That
when lifted to an eminence in the public
confidence, and the popular regard, such
as few before him ever occupied, and ex-
ercising powers over armies and navies,
over generals and peoples, which almost
no statesmen of the world have possess
ed, he was strangely unexcited by such
] sudden and surprising personal distinc
} ton; that, intent upon his country's wei
fare, he thought of himself with a regu
J lar humility; and while his name at tn
end of commission raised the humbl
/ to rank and gave some men comman'
J over thousands Of others, he was as de
void of ostentation or arrogance as if h
had still been Doatman on the river, o
the faithful advocate of n few obscur
, clients. That he never despaired of tn
future of the republic, amid whateve
disasters or fears, but kept through a
! his perfect faith, sublime in its simple
ty, in the government which protecte
the popular rights, in the principles
: incorporated, in the advancing civiliz:
tion which they were to help to build an
g mould, and in the God who, as he b
= lieved, watched over and guarded tha
Il sacred and imperial trust. That he W:
u immensely successful in his work, an
u saw the rebellion, which had reared j
!, naughty front to the sky, which ha
u scofed at his plans, Knocked his powe
= and heaped fierce ridicule on himself,
e thoroughly beaten out Of life as if storm
j. of aerolites had smitten its armies, an
s. mountains had fallen and buried the
J. up; that he saw the nation more th
u roughly one forthe very struggle throue
~ which it had passed, and its place amor
ie the peoples of the world more disti
o. guished than ever, for the blood it hs
ie spilled and the treason it had crushed
'" That he was identified with the wise
iu movement Of popular liberation whi'
'e the world had yet seen, and recognizil
r his opportunity, hearing the solen
10 voices of Providence, not disobeying t
Oh heavenly vision, was permitted and e
a. abled to loosen the shackles from t
he limbs of race, and to lift the millio
er of slaves in the land to wholly nc
IN level of privilege and of right, MAXI
re. the desert bloom before them, setting U
as on the horizon, that had been loweril
nj red, opportunities and hopes which giles
IN on their eyes like gates of pearl.
IT! That he lived to see all this succe
eh and to feel his veins swelling with Il
ne rich Joy which swept like current
lie quickening life throughout the land, a
'fe then died martyr to the cause he b
by champ;oned. selling his service with
ht' sacrifice of his life, leaving the nat
ed' which he had rescued in widest gri
hg throwing the shadow of strange S
Ihe row over lands which he had never Sc
es, and seeking the rest denied him here
led the presence of Him who had raised b
the up. What Burke said of Give, in B
Ign ish India, we NAV, only with greater