Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-04-13
AUG u - II a /,
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

war the Southern Confederacy was crushed
out. The thrill ofioy which went through
the loyal States at the announcement OF
the complete victory of the Union armies
will never be forgotten by those who eA-
perienced it. As the struggle had been
fierce and exacting SO was the gratifica-
ton at the glorious result supreme and
overmastering. The right lad triumphed.
The Union was preserved. The national
banner waved in undisputed supremacy
over the whole land. Peace was won-not
the craven peace that was advocated III
northern democratic conventions, the cost
of which would have been discovered
country, but such peace as left the Union
unbroken, the government sustained, slav'
erv extin guished the flag more endeared to
the people of the United States and more
respected among the nations.
Five days after Lees surrender the JOY
of the nation upon its deliyerance from the
rebellion was suddenly turned to the
deepest mourning by the assassination OF
Abraham Lincoln. Ten years ago to-mor-
row the assassin's bullet did its work up
on the man more loved and respected by
his countrymen than any other President
since Washington. Every loyal house
hold felt as if one of its own members had
been stricken down. Emblems of mourn
ing were everywhere from the Atlantic TO
the Pacific. Grief was not confined TO
color or condition. Rich and poor, black
and white, republican and democrat, all
went under the black pail that overspread
the country, and mingled their lamenta-
tons for the nations calamity.
Abraham Lincoln was born of poor pa
rents in an humble cabin in Hardin coun :
IT,, Kentucky. His mother could read, but
not write, and his father could do neither.
He was sent to school with an old spell
ing-book, and all the education he had was
picked up under the greatest difficulties
and was limited. At eight years OF age
his father took his family and all his pos
sessions on raft to the Indiana shore,
where the boy grew up in log cabin in
the solitude. labors, trials and disadyan-
tages of new settlement. At nineteen he
went as hand on Mississippi tiat-boat,
receiving ten dollars month for his
wages. At twenty-one he drove his
fathers cattle, as the family migrated to
Illinois. and split rails to fence in the new
homestead in the wild. At twenty three
he was a captain of volunteers in the Black
Hank war. After this he kept store
and at twenty-five was elected to the Hi
nois legislature, where he served eight
years. At twenty-seven he was admitted
10 the bar, and soon after made his home
at Springfield where he had his residence
when called to the Presidency. There ht
became q successful lawyer, and served
one term in Congress as a member OF the
House. But it was not until 1853, wher
he stumped the State against Douglas fo
a.seat in the United States Senate that hi
ability was known outside of his State
That campaign brought him forward prom
fncntlv as candidate for President, ant
in 1860 he was nominated by the republi
can national convention, and in Novem
Der following elected by the people ovel
Douglas, Breckenridge and Bell, receiv-
ing $50 of the 1903 electoral votes cast fol-
President. aeE
The state of the country at the time Mr..
Lincoln went to Washington to enter up
on the duties of the Presidency is well
known He was obliged to travel in dis
guise to the Capital to avoid assassination.
The administration OF the government I'M
der Mr.. Buchanan was under the control
of the secessionists. Seven days after Mr..
Lincoln was inaugurated a convention OF
the Confederate States unanimously adopt
ed constitution of their own, and it was
authoritatively announced that Slavery was
the chief corner stone of the new govern.
inent. Here was rebellion at once, but
Mr.. Lincoln was prudent and conciliatory,
uttering no harsh language, and taking no
steps that were calculated to aggravate
the evil spirit which existed. On the 18th
OF April, however, Fort Sumpter was fired
upon by the Contederates, the overt act
was committed by the South, and then
came the call OF the President for troops
TO defend the government against its as
sailants. The patriotism Of the North was
equal to the occasion. The people rose
up almost as one man to support the gov
eminent Money and men were furnished
in abundance. Before the war was over
twenty-seven and a halt hundred millions
OF dollars had been contributedto the pop
ular loans, and the revenue of the coun-
try from taxation was increased seven
fold. The navy was doubled in eight
months Two million of men were put in
to the field for various terms Of enlistment
making nine OF every twenty aD,e-bodiec
men in the free States and Territories tha
took some part in the war; and at one
time ayery fifth If their able lO1ipC