Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1870-06-01
Douglas and Lincoln.

Douglas and Lincoln.
The treatment which the two great party |
leaders, Douglas and Lincoln, have re-
ceived since their death, from the opposite
party, shows the moral difference Of the
two parties. When Douglas died the
whole people united to do him honor. All
the partisan bitterness which a great lead
or had evoked during his long service of
the Democratic party, was assuaged by his
death, and many of the most generous tri-
butes to his memory were from the tongues
and pens of his lifelong adversaries
On the other hand how has it been with
Mr.. Lincoln? Did partisan bitterness abate
one jot at his death? Have not all those
who so virulently abused him during his
administration kept ii up with the same
hot breath of ferocity? Have not all the
dogs of party confined to howl at Lincoln
dead with the same snarling fury with
which they pursued him when alive?
It may be said that the circumstances
under which Douglas died were calculated
to inspire his old party adversaries with
respect and even with veneration. His last
public utterancc concerning traitors and
treason was most encouraging to the party
that had defeated him, and of course the
! leaders would applaud his general character
| for the sake of enforcing upon his party
respect for his patriotic sentiment.
1t is true that Douglass though he had
! lived like partisan, died like n man and
a patriot. 1t is true that his last and, of
course, his honest utterances, were calcu-
! lated 10 inspire the hearts of his enemies
with confidence in the general rectitude of
his motives and respect for the integrity of
4 his ambition. ~ .-
But were not the circumstances under
which Lincoln died equally impressive
| When Douglas died, terrific rebellion
1 threatened disastrous civil war That re-
bellion was by those who had been his for
| mer supporters, and were still Of the great
party to which he belonged. Yet he
| placed the Union above party, and the
fealty of every citizen to the Republic
! above his obligations to party; therefore,
there could henceforth, as long as the
struggle should continue, BIO but two par
ties-patriots and traitors.
When Lincoln died the civil conflict, the
bloodiest ever waged, had just closed. The
patriots had gloriously triumphed, and
treason produced a typical character ia
wreak the concentrated vengeance of trail
tors upon the head of him under whose
chief direction the country had been pre-
served. The shocking manner ofhis death
should have been sufficient to eradicate
all bitterness, and to insure at least the re-
spectful remembrance of every generous
heart
Moreover. Mr.. Lincoln did not die, even
1
according to the method of the most cor
; rupt or the most barbarous period in the
history of nations, without having uttered
, such words IA should have eXtorted the
admiration of every right-minded person
of all parties and the world over. Will
. charity for all, with malice toward none,
was as lofty a sentiment as that of his grea
competitor, the patriotic Douglas. Thu
t great Democratic chief announced thu
highest rule of action for the crisis theI
$ impending.
3 The still great Union chief rose to
highermoral altituded because the events o
= four years required it. The sentiment o
: Douglas conquered the rebellion-that o
: Lincoln coming down from the elevation
It of Christian charity and implored the peo
| ME to Danish malice and cultivate mutua
!. | rood will Was ever this sentiment NOR
= needed on earth ? Were ever the passion
: of men more terribly excited than they ha
1t been during that unparalleled conflict {
Il the harsher elements of human nature
= What words were ever so appropriate
~ those of Mr.. Lincoln in his second inaug
~ ural? Could inspiration itself have pre-
D scribed purer rule of action, or one NOR
d needed by the American people at tina
lie time? All wisdom and all goodness WEI
ut concentrated in those heavenly words
n which should have not only extorted IN
10 admiration of every one of the conquerin
"a partv, but delighted the heart of ever
ic man, woman and child of the unfortunal
NJ opposition. And yet he wns nssassinated
ne And still the leaders OF the Democrat
" party seek to render his memory odious
pit all whom they can influence.
"a They all unite, from the well-dressC
Is editor that affects gcntlemanly propriel
n down TO the lowest exhibition of moral d
bauchery that has access to Democrat
., journalism, in uniformly speaking OF Nj
-, Lincoln with contempt and in tern
~ prompted by indispensable malice.
at seems as If he cast his pearls before SWIM
be and had all the American people been
ot that description. his golden words wou
,r- have violated the command of the Mastt
&c Such IL the difference with which two
u the most celebrated characters of the la
epoch are treated after their death, and Il
N difference describes the character of u
70 two PARTIES ;--one holding everythiI
- subordinate to party, and the other holdii
Nv party subordinate to patriotism, truth al
charity Cincinnati 7Jmes.
n