New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-02-07
LINcoLNS PERSONAL CHARACzERISTICS.

HIS LOVE OF RIGHT AND TRUrH-His RELIGIOUS
oPINIoNs-NoT A soCABLE MAN.
The following letter has been received from
a gentleman Of this city from ". H. HerndoD formerly
Mr. Lineolns law partner:
CHISKAPIN, SsDgamOn Co., Jan. 49, 1874
DEAR SIR: You say you desire TO know all possible
things Of good and great dead. have just now a
few moments 20 spare and know how better to
snare them than 20 tell you what Mt Lincoln really
and what he was not Mr.. Lincoln was kind. tender,
and sympathetic feeling deeply in the presence OF
suffering, pain, wrong oppression In any shape he
was the very and substance OF truth was OF
unbounded veracity, had unlimited integrity, always
telling the exact truth. and always doing the honest
thing at all times and under all circumstances. He
Just to men loved the right the good and true with
all his soul was with Mr. Lincoln for about IS years
and can truthfuy.say never knew him to do wrong
thing never knew him 10 do mean thing, never knew
him TO do any little dirty trick He always noble.
In bis nature he felt molly and acted Doby never
knew so true a man, so good one, so just one 40
interrupted and so incorruptible q one He was q
patriot and loved his country WELL and died for it, Mr..
Lincoln expressed his feeling in his thoughts and
his great thoughts in his feelings; he lived in bis
thoughts and thought in his feelings BY these his soul
was elevated and purified for his work His work
the highest and grandest religion, noble duty nobly
done
MT Lincoln was cool and calm under the most trying
circumstances; he had unbounded charity for all
In religion he Theis somewhat after the order OF
Theodore Parker. Mr.. Lincoln was not speculative
minded man. was. like Washington, severely practical;
he in advance OF his and yet always
directing the ideas and feelings of men to purely
practical ends, to something that would end In
good Mr.. Lincoln never shaped his veracity,
integrity or virtue circumstances; he fash
Toned and formed circumstances, far as he
could to virtue, veracty, and to integrity He
scorned meanness everywhere and at all times, and
bold and manly his denunciation OF wrong however
and by whoever done; he not a foxy tricky man;
he was a statesman high above all tricks. How such a
man as Lincoln could walk up TO the highest point OF
human grandeur, from sucn low origin, God only
knows But so it was ordained from the beginning and
50 it's Mr. Lincoln OF great fidelity TO what
he believed was righwas true TO friends desert.
ing them Till they deserted virtue, yeraety. and in
tegrity. MI. Lincoln could and trusted by the
people with almost omnipotent power and he
abused It shook the public faith him. He
true TO his trust 20 his country and true TO the
rights OF man. What a noble and what noble life
he livedl Washington wasl Americas creator; Lincoln
was It's savior Ar Lincoln stands up against the
deep blue sky the grandest figure of the age.
have now stated you Mr. ,Iincolns leading char
acteristcs. and II you like him better for them am well
satisfied with what have told YOU have weighed
every word and sentence aud cant truly say they are
trae 10 Lincoln and Lincoln true to them Mr. Lincoln
was not very social He was,not spontaneous in
rather refectiye-not cold. However take him all in
ALL he was as near perfect man God generslly
makes Yours, truly. W H. HERspoE