The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1875-08-25
WEDNESDAY. AUGUST ., 1873,
Noble sentiment Of mr. Lincoln.

The following extract from a letter
written by President Lincoln, August
PC, 1868, will be read with interest.
1t brings wildly before the mind the
many Obstacles which were placed in
the way Of those whU were devoted
To the Union. Mr.. Lincoln could do
nothing To strengthen the army, or
encourage the country. without draw
ing upon himself the fire OF Demo-
cratic criticism. The patience with
which he endured it, the hopeful
spirit which lifted him above its
range, are all shown in the language
which follows:
You say you will not fight to free
negroes. Some of them seem willing
To fight for you but no matter.
Fight you then, exclusively, TO save
the Union. Whenever you shall
have conquered all resistance to the
Union, il shall urge you to continue
lighting, il Will be an apt time then
for you To declare you will not fight
to free negroes. ! thought that in
your struggle for the Union, to what
ever extent ;he negroes should CEASE
helping the enemy, to that extent
IL weakened the enemy in his resist
auce t. you. Do you think different
ly? i thought whatever negroes
can he got To do as soldiers, leaves
Just so much less for white soldiers to
do in saving the Union. Does it ap-
pear otherwise To you? But negroes,
like other people, act upon motives.
Why should they dD anything for Us
il we will do nothing for them? If
they stake their lives for us, they
must be prompted by the strongest
motives, wen the prUmiseO of freedom.
And the promise being made must be
kept.
The signs look better. The Father
OF Waters again goes unveXed to the
sea. Thanks To the great north west
for il nor yet wholly to them. Three
hundred miles up they met New
England, Empire, Keystone and Jer-
sey, hewing their way right and left
The Sunny South, too in more colors
than one, also lent IA helping hand.
On the spot, their part of the history
VAS iotted down in black and white.
The job was n great national one
and let nome be sighted who bore Gn
honorable part in it. Aud while
those who have cleared the great
river may well he proud, even that IL
not all. 1t is hard TO say that any
thing has been more hravely and well
done than at Antietun, MurfreeS-
boro, Gettysburg, and on many fields
of less note. Nor must Uncle Sans
web feet be forgotten. AT all the
watery margins they have been pres
ent, not only on the deep sea, the
broad bay, and the rapid river, but
also up the marrow, muddy bayou,
and wherever the ground was a little
damp they have been and made their
tracks. Thanks to all. For the Re
public-for the principle it lives by
and keeps alive-fOr mans vast future
thanks to all.
Peace does not appear so distant ms
it did. | hope 1t will come soon and
come to stay aud so come as to be
worth the Keeping in all future time,
1t will then have been proved hat
among freemen there can be no sue
cessful appeal from the ballot to the
bullet, and that they who take such
appeal are sure to lose their case
and pay the cost. There will be
some black men who can remember
that with silent tongue and clinched
teeth, and steady eye, and well poised
bayonet, they have helped mankind
on to this great contamination, while
L fear there will be some white mes
unable to forget that with malignant
Heart and deceitfuI speech they have
to hinder it.
Still let us not be over sanguine Of
a speedy, final triumph. Let us be
quite sober. Let us diligently apply
the means, never doubling that a just
GOD, in his own good time, will give
the rightfLl result"