National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-02-13

last that OF lts b4ty-sl4In anniversary.
Mr.. Colfsx has not materially changed In ap-
pearance since his form was familiar as the Vice
President albeit he is q tri1e grayer. His voice,
from much speaking and travel, was somewhat
hoarse but he retains all his former earnestness
in manner and his quick nervous style in oratory.
He held his manuscript in one hand, but had no
occasion to refer to 1t during the delivery Of his
eloquent and analytical lecture. 1t opened with
q recital of affairs when the
GLORIOUS CAREER OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN
was brought to an end by the bullet Of an assss-
sin, and there was blood upon the chair OF the
Chief Executive of the nation. The sacrifices re-
quired of life and treasure in the suppression Of
the rebellion, then happily just expiring, were
crowned with that sacrifice of sll-the tragic
death Of the great and good Lincoln. But the
blow came too late to rob the country of his in
estimabIe services or himself of fame imperisha-
Bile laurels. These were already safely won.
Nothing could repay for the debt which the ma
tion owed for the grand results of his life and
though dead, his spotless example would have an
undying influence TOR right with all the genera
lions to come. Like the great men of ancient
times, who speak more impressiyely from their
graves than when they were living, so the name
Of Abraham Lincoln would ages hence be o vital
iZiDg force in Aid Of the principles Of truth and
justice.
Hours would be too short, said the lecturer, to
tell all that could be told Of the ssinted Presl-
dent but IRON this little hilltop Of history they
could cast their eyes and thoughts on the man
who was never appreciated at his full worth
while he lived, out VINO, since his death, has been
enshrned in the national Valhalla alongside
that other great man, the Father Of his Country
Like the heroes Of old, he speaks from his tomb
far more inpressively than when he trod the
earth.
The speaker then pictured the youth of the
destined President, in a
FLOORLESS CABIN IN Kentucky,
on the very verge Of advancing civilization, the
son of parents whom, as he had bluntly said, were
called SCRUBS" because they owned no slaves
and were very, very poor. Here Lincoln first
learned from his mother the principle that led
him to choose the right as his guide through life
and here he learned what a backwoOds school
could teach him. Here, also, his mind become
impregnated with that horror for the institution
Of slavery which, whatever his enemies might
say, was always his impelllng motion. When in
after years he had power, he rarely hesitated as
it; he only waited SO long to strike the more
efectually. In his speech In 1858, when in a po-
litical campaig he rst laid his ak to the root Of
this political upas tree, he declared this Union
could not endure half slave and half free.
Believing that the system OF human bondage
was abhorrent to a Republic he would listen to
10 compromise Entertaining these Convictions
with infexible frmness, he was finally called to
take the helm Of State. The conflict of the re-
public A great responsibility devolved upon the
Executive. Lincoln held that the true physician
would not hesitate to sacrifice limb when, by so
doing, he could save life, and this IL was which
actuated him to strike with his proclamation Of
emancipation at the foundation Of the rebellion,
the grandest act Of the century-one which would
echo down the corridors Of time. The lecturer
gave some very interesting facts concerning the
prOca nation, Mr.. Lincolns feelings regarding It;
his elaboration Of two months after It was first
drafted before deciding upon its oficial promul-
cation: his advice on the subject and the state of
his feelings toward those whom 1t was TO affect.
He did not live to see the full fruitiOn Of his Ia
bOrs, but he planted our country on the eternal
rock Of right, and
CARRIED WITH HIN ON HIGH
the shackles of four million slaves 1t brought
victory to our banners and emancipation to q race
I here n sneak n VOu N IA hirfhdau
OF our martyred President, of one who, more than
any other, was the commanding Agure in the
drama OF the war. / would be glad to state to
you the characters and achievements OF the three
commanders who became heroes in the "times
that tried mems souls"-of Grant, the daring,
Sherman, the dashiDg, and Sheridan, the brave
and fearless-but IN one short hour no human
lips could give adequate justice to these mighty
names.
ANECDOTES OF LINCOLN.
During 1862 1 was walking down PENNSYLVANIA
avenue, In company with two or three Congress-
men, when we were met by gentleman who was
on his way to inform the President of slight re-
verse the cause had sustained in the suburbs by
a skIrmish, in which our side lost one oficer and
twelve mules. We all went into the executive
room, and when the President had heard the de-
tails, he remarked: This is sad, gentlemen; the
othcer can replace, but the mules cost sl5O
apiece.
to him. on one occasion, he astOnished every one,
by saying, with hearty shake Of the hand, 81
shall the more readily remember your name, my
ueaT marquis, from the TACT LlaL harrington
rhymes so we'll with our Partington." On one oc-
casiOn q poor woman, whose son had been SEN
fenced to DEATH came to him, and begged IS only
a mother can, the executive clemeucy. Thaddeus
Stevens was present. Mr.. Lincoln, after hearing
her story, said, "Now, my good woman, If you
were President, in such q case, how would you
here is your pardOnS The woman took It, and,
turning to 60, she exclaimed to Mr.. Stevens,
There, knew it was a Iie!"
what ~ said Mr.. Stevens
"Wby, that the President is an ugly man. He
is the handsomest man / ever saw"
Even SO 1t was when Mr.. Lincoln did q human
act like this, his features beamed with Kindness
Mr.. Stanton often told him that he was not 1T
to exercise the pardoning power. Judge Bates
easiness Of his disposition in matters Of this ma
ture, and Mr.. Lincoln would listen very meekly
to their eensure, having first, however, signed the
fused to sign pardon where a soldier had been
sentenced to be shot for sleeping his post. His
mercy was unbounded; he was as tender as q
woman.
Mr.. Lincoln was often criticised for his lack of
dignity; but he often said that he had never had
as know, he more than once shocked the calm
presence of Mr.. Chase, at q Cabinet meeting, by
placing MS long leg upon The table and telling
we'll known that he was not regarded as q man
fitted by nature to rule nor did he administer his
Office profoundly in the sense that Mr.. Seward or
Mr.. Chase would have administered 1t. But
Mr.. Stewards statesmanship was as power
fully. felt in the disposition Of affairs
tive capacity. This is his lasting tribute. The
career Of great men and good men are the true
i1 Dd Of cGGnt progress thsr deeds
Universal history is the history Of great men.
The popular sentiment Of the age is the product
Of their creations. Ralph Waldo Emerson ~
sists that every great man is the epItome Of some
age that has passed away.
Mr. LINooLN's MENTAL POWERS.
Mr.. Lincoln's mental powers were dWelt upon
a. some length, and several anecdotes relative 10
daRT, . md ha Eaa ais
sis with which he treated the subjects OF weight
lest moment which came up for his consideration
tjcian, but it was as patriot and phiianthropIst
that he won the most enduring fame, He held
no national question could be safely settled or
surely settled except It be settled upon the i'm.
mutable principles Of right. One OF many mem
orable utterances was HLet us have faith that
right makes might and in that faith let us to the
end dare to do our duty" 1t was his plan Of life
TO accomplish the greatest possible good at the
expense OF the least possible evil.
Sneered at for his lack of dignity and awkward
ness, these we're at last forgotten and swallowed
up by the general verdict that he was one of the
first rulers Of his eyentful time. He was often
his plans iBto execution, while II is now clear 20 all
that his was the better Judgment; that he waited
0hS Until S tne qsy S 1P PREPARED are to keep step
iety the President suffered when armies were in
the field, and how sadly he would lament the ter
mate friends he would reveal his depression OF
mind, while to the outside world he would pre-
serve q guise OF cheertulness which he was far
from feeling. Stories Of sorrow distress always
found with him q willing and sympathetic lis
tener. 1.-The erred It was on the side Of mercy.
HE HAD no REVERENCE
for birth or position and stood as little awe OF
the titled dignitaries Of foreign countries with
whom he met in Governmental relations as he
would OF one Of the plain farmers OF his home
State, Illinois. He would use in intercourse with
them, indeed quite Is little ceremOniousness.
His nature was without grain Of ill-Will for any
one. His life exemplifed the words, with malice
towards none, with charity for ALL" His nearest
associates never heard him use harshness in char
acteriZation even Of those who most abusiYely
ytlihed and slandered him, and no word ever fell
from his lips Of eXultation over q defeated politl-
cal opponent. As the Chief Executive he was
ever master Of the situation, and was President
in fact as we'll as in title He Lad no parallel in
the marked features Of his character, the speaker
affirmed, since the day Of Washington, and his
figure grows more and more grand as It recedes
and rises into history. "Forgiving all things per-
sonal he hated only wrong TO man." No dross
or Stag came to the surface Of his mental cruci-
BILE, and although not a member Of any Church,
he was, as Mr.. Colfax showed by numerous
quotations from his speeches and sayings, de-
won't believer in the bible and the goodness and
mercy Of God.
ALI OVER THE REPUBLIC,
during his last hours, was heard the glad SC
claim Of peace, and only the day before his assas-