Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1884-05-03
bly, associated with the true glory of
his country.
LINCoLN,s sREATEsr TRAITs.

| htso SO4uat y
LINCOLN,S GREATEST TRAITS.
Mr.. Lincoln united firmness and
gentleness in a singular degree. He
rarely spoke a harsh word. Ready
to hear argument and always open
to conviction, he adhered tenacious
ly to the conclusions which he had
finally reached. Altogether modest,
he had confidence in himself, trust
ed to the reasoning of his own mind,
believed in the correctness of his
own judgment. Many of the pop
ular conceptions of him are errone-
Gus. No man was further than he
from the easy, familiar, jocose char
acter in which he is often painted.
While he paid little attention to
form or ceremony he was nota man
with whom liberties could be taken.
There was but one person in Illinois
outside of his own household who
ventured to address him by his first
name. There was no one in WASH
ington who ever attempted it. APP
preciating wit and humOr, he rel
ished good story, especially il it
illustrated a truth or strengthened
an argument, and he had vast
fund of illustrative anecdote which
he used with happiest effect. But
the long list of vulgar, saliciOus sto-
ries, attributed to him were related
only by those who never enjoyed
the privilege of exchanging word
with him. His life was altogether
a serious one-inspired by the no.
blest spirit, devoted to the highest
aims. HumOr was but an incident
with him, a partial relief to the
melancholy which tinged all his
years.
He presented an extraordinary
combination of mental and moral
qualities. AS statesman he had
the loftiest ideal, and it fell to his
lot to inaugurate measures which
changed the fate of millions of liv-
ing men, of tens of millions yet to
be born. AS manager of political
issues, and master of the art of pre-
senting them, he has had no rival
i'm this country unless one be found
in Jefferson. The complete dis
comfiture of his most formidable as
sailants In 1863, especially of those
who sought to prejudice him before |
the people on account of the arrest |
of ,Valiandighim, cannot easily be |
paralleled for shrewdness of treat. |
ment and for keen appreciation OF
the reactiOnary influence which are
certain to control public opinion.
Mr.. Nan Buren, stands without ri |
val in the use of partisan tactics. |
He operated altogether on men,
and believed in self-interest as the
handspring of human action. Mr..
Lincoln's ability was OF far higher
and broader character. There was
never the slightest lack of candOr or
fairness in his methods. He sought |
to control men through their reason
and their conscience. The only art
he employed was that of present
ing his views so convincingly as TO
force conviction on the minds of his
hearers and his readers.
There has been discussion as to
Mr.. Lincoln's religious belief. He
was silent as to his own preference
among creeds. Prejudice against
any particular denomination he did
not entertain. Allied all his life
with Protestant Christianity, ne
thankfully availed himself Of the
services of an eminent Catholic pre-
Hughes, of New
York-in personal mission to
England, of great importance, at a
crisis when the relations between
the two countries were disturbed
and threatening. Throughout the
whole period of the war he constant
lly directed the attention of the ma
,tion to dependence on God. 1t may
Indeed be Doubtful whether he
omitted this in single State paper.
In every message to Congress, in
every proclamation to the people,
he made it prominent. In July,
1863, after the battle of Gettysburg,
he called upon the people TO give
mighty God 10 hearken to the sup
plications and prayers OF an afflicted II
people and to vouchsafe signal and
effective victories TO the army and
navy of the United States" and he
asked the people "to render homage
to the Divine Majesty and to invoke
the influence of His Holy Spirit to
subdue the anger which has pro-
duced and so long sustained need
less and cruel rebellion" On an
other occasion, recounting the bless
ings which had come to the Union
he said: mo human counsel hath
nor hath any mortal hand
worked out, these great things.
They are the gracious gifts of the
Most High God, who, while deal
ing with us in anger for our sins,
hath nevertheless remembered mer-
cy." Throughout his entire official :
career attended at all times with
duty and painful RESPONSE /
bility-he never forgot his own de-
or the dependence of the
people, upon a higher power. In [
his last public address, delivered to ,
an immense crowd at the White ,
House on the 11th of April, to con-
gratulate him upon the victories of
the Union, the President, standing {
as he unconsciously was in the very |
shadow of death, said reverently to |
his hearers: :. "In the midst of your :
Joyous expression, He from whom
all blessings flow must first be re- |