The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1875-06-10
0Neeklp Iimes
THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 1875.
Tae Lincoln Sorrow.

Colonel John Hay, formerly private sec
rotary Of Abraham Lincoln, Is member OF
the New York Tribune editorial staff,
which probably gives rise TO the supposi-
ton that the following, TJjbime editorial,
concerning the great sorrow OF the Lincolns,
especially those OF Mrs. Lincoln, Is from
the pen OF that gentleman
"The sympathy OF the nation, which has
been too grudgingly given to the widow of
Abraham Lincoln, will certainly be no
longer withheld now that a court Of JUS
tice has declared her bereft Of reason. 1t
has long been known TO those nearest TO her
that her mind never entirely recovered
from the shock Of the Presidents assassina-
ton. IL would have been brain OF eI-
traordiEary force which could have with
stood that night OF horrors Her husband,
to whom, in spite OF all gossip TO the
contrary, she was deyoutly attached
was shot down at her side in perfect
health and strength. Her dress was stained
with his blood. She passed the long hours
Of I.is agony at his bedside, refusing to be-
licve the sentence Of surgeons, and in the
morning, when all was over, she confronted
a loss sgch AS has been experienced by but
few women. For the next week il was
doubtful If she would ever emerge from the
shadow OF death in which she Law. Bu;
everything she said or did in the delirium OF
despair was wickedly and shamefully used
against her afterward
at was the duty Of the country, out Of re-
gard for its own honor and dignity, 10 pro-
vide for her future. This Congress for years
refused 10 do. Not cent was
raised for the purpose by pub
lie subscription When at last Mr..
Sumner forced bill through Congress Civ
ing her the pitiful pension of $4,000, it only
passed after malicious and scurrilous oppo-
sitiOn, in the course of which h, enemies
quoted her utterances and acts which had
proceeded, after troubles, from her disorder
ed brain. She was entitled TO the gentIest
and most tender consideration from every
decent man but she was attacked by Con-
gressmen and vilified by a portion Of the
press as If she had been an able-bodied pol
ItlcIan, counting votes and criticism There
l. no doubt that this treatment had its eli
iect IN preventing her recovery from the
great shock which had shattered her life
he death oil her young boy, whom she idol
lied, filed up the measure of her sorrows.
and finished the wreck Of her intellectual
faculties. As long as 1t was possible, her son,
the worthy inheritor of his fathers charac-
ter, bore with a touching patience and de-
votIon the consequences oi this misfortune
We deem 1t not intrusive TO say, also, that
Mr.. Lincoln deserves, in this calamity, the
respect and consideration OF every one He
has borne himself always with irreproacha-
bic dignity and decorum. He has asked
nothing from the country which was so
deeply indebted to his father. He has
gained anenviable position in his profess
zion and in society by his own merit and
industry. He is not a man 10 give way to
Misfortune, however sorely tried. But he
ought not be left to mee> this last affection
without the assurance Of respect and good
will which his character, no less than his
name, deserves"