The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1875-04-17
Abraham Lincoln.

Wednesday Of this week was the anniversary
of the assassination of that great and good man,
the first martyr President, Abraham Lincoln
Ten years ago on the fourteenth of this month ].
Wilkes Booth speed the assassn's bullet to the
brain of the nations benefaetor whom the people
aad learned to love because of the goodness of his
heart and the simple honesty of his purpose
The rebellion had just collapsed. Richmond had
fallen Its capture had been celebrated within
its ewn domain. Sherman had marched down
to the sea- Sheridan had sent Early whirling
up the valley. Five Forks had been fought and
won. Gen. Grant had pressed Gen Lee until the
latter was obliged to surrender his forces and de-
liver his sword at Appomattox. The country
was in whirl Of wild enthusiasm and jubilatien
over these results. From one end Of the land to
the other-north of the Potomac and the Ohio
Examinations, benfres, jelli6cation meetings,
grand rejoicings were being held or preparations
therefor were being made. The Union had been
preserved" The Republic stood forth redeem
ed, disenthralled, regenerated. American patri-
OTIS everywhere were rejoicing in the grand CEN
summation. The MONDAY of the peoples joy at
the nation's salvation was turned, in the twink
ling Of an eye, to the midnight of mourning
On the early morning, when men learned what
tragic performance had marked the history of the
previous night, they scarce knew how to credit
the story Old men were bowed with grief
Strong men wept as at the loss of parent Maid
and matron Joined in the plant. Sobs and sigh
ing went up from every patriotic heart. The
grief was past analysis. Every vissage betrayed
the anguish of the heart. The land was clothed
in sackcloth and ashes The transition from joy
to sorrow was so sudden, so unlocked for, so
overwhelming in its sadness that humanity stag
gered under the shock and looked only to the
Great Ruler of the universe for relief. The re-
joicing at the triumphant success of the national
cause knew no bounds. 1t did not need this to
intensity sorrow that was too profound for ut
terance and too intense to be assuaged. No one
can forget the gloom that marked every counte-
nance 1t needed no extraneous promptings 1t
was spontaneous.
Honest in heart and of firm, industrious, per-
s0fSlluS PuA POSC W w AlShI tnOsO 0tSAAnS qHoi-
tiles lifted Abraham Lincoln from the humblest
to the highest station ia life. He was reared as
pioneer in the back woods of the West. He
grubbed all day, burned brush at night, and read
law by the light of the blaze. He was elevated
to the Chief Magstracy of the American Republic
and proved himself competent to fill that exalted
station in the most trying period of its existence
His name will be handed down to posterity as
one of those associated with the grandest achieve
ments of modern times. His firm purpose, his
comprehensive grasp and solution of events and
political problems that vexed the profoundest
statesmen that had guided the helm before him,
his tender sympathies for those that had gone
astray, his nhexible devotion to the salvation of
the nation and to the emancipation of the slave
consistent with national unity were the elements
Of character that filled the requirements of the
times. Always cheerful, always con6ding, al
ways ready to receive advice, always endeavor-
ing to learn the best means of ending the dread
full strife and at the same time save the national
honor untarnished, always ready to receive prope-
stions for settlementfrom the other SIDE thorough
ly conservative in his nature yet always ready to
move forward when he was sure of carrying the
loyal sentiment with him. Such were the char
acteristics of the man whose undying name shall
gather lustre as the ages roll away.