Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1875-03-26

at the Presbyterian church, on Wednesday
evening, by Hon. Schuyler Colfax, WINS
the elimination Of the success that has at
tended the course under the auspices of
the Free Public Library, the past winter.
Not only was it the greatest success in the
money point of view, netting the treasury
of the Library $40 over all expenses, but
as contribution to more intimate knowl-
edge of the great and good Lincoln, and
a quickener of that profound love and
veneration in which every patriotic man
and woman holds his memory, the lecture
was most gratifying and successful.
No nearer could have failed to perceive
that upon the theme Of Abraham Lincoln's
life and characteristics and great public
services, MI. Colfax-who las himself a
sure place in the esteem and confidence of
his countrymen--was completely at home.
No man had better opportunity to know
Mr.. Lincoln, to study the springs of his
action, to contemplate the secret workings
of that noble, patriotic, self-sacrificing,
tolerant, self-reliant, yet childlike nature,
or to witness the generous sympathy and
plying impulses of his tender heart; and
assuredly no man is better fitted, from as
sociation and sympathy, to feelingly de-
pict the great qualities of the Martyr
President than Mr. Colfax. We cannot
give an extended synopsis of the lecture.
We can only Indicate its general charac-
ter, which was a study of Mr.. Incoln's
prominent characteristics, woven upon a
slender thread of the chief incidents of
his life, and interspersed with intensely
interesting "reminiscences of the lecturers
official and personal relations to him, Mr..
Lincoln was presented in the character of
the statesman, farseeing and intlexible in
principle and conviction; rs the President
and great danger, intensely conscious
of the great responsibilities placed upon
HIM. GlSHttu Will tiC ttlCS VI k1tllC,
often times in the shadow of a sorrow too
profound for expression, yet ever hopeful,
and almost inspired in his sublime faith
in the justice and impregnability of a just
and holy cause; as the orator and writer
whose unstudied utteranccs, brief, direct,
simple, often quaint, had Il power and
eloquence beyond the polished elaboration
of the scholar, and prescience almost
prophetic. 1t was with emotions Of pat
riotism and pride that his audience lis
tened to this recital of the virtues of the
Great President, but Mr.. Colfax more
nearly touched their feelings of love and
gratitude when he dwelt upon the great
heart of Mr. Lincoln, overlooking with
tender, human sympathy, as fresh and
uncalloused as that of a girl, open to every
appeal for pity and forgiveness, which,
wearied and harrasscd with the cares of
State, found refreshment and rebound in
the simple act of signing the pardon of a
poor soldier boy, condemned to be shot
for sleeping on his post; when he told Of
the mothers, wives and daughters who
came on these quests of mercy, and were
rarely unsuccessful going away with
fervent blessings on the head of the rugged
Great Heart, who had found time in the
intervals of business upon which depended
the life of the nation, to cast ray of sun
shine into their lives Necessarily part Of
the lecture was not new, but that which
was familiar was invested with new inter
est by the earnest and impressive manner
OF its presentation by Mr.. ColfaX, while
the narration of facts, incidents, savings,
and doings of Mr.. Lincoln, which came
under Mr.. Colfax's observation, were told
in graphic style, and listened to with alb
sorbed attention. AS a consequence Of
much speaking and slight cold, the
speaker was not in excellent voice which
somewhat marred the effect, though We
have found very few persons who were
not highly pleased with the lecture
By majority vote OF the City Council,
last Monday evening the office of Marshal
l. u = I'll