Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1885-04-23
GEN. LOGAN ON LINCOLN.
Eulogy Of the Martyrsd President.

His Life and Character Shining Example
to Young Men.
The following address was deliver ed
by General John A Logan at the memo
rial services held in honor OF Abraham
Lincoln at Spring field, ILL.,, April 18th.
ION February II, seventy.six years
ago, in the midst Of hardy pioneer peo-
pis in Harding county Ky,a son called
Abraham was born unto Thomas and
Nancy Lincoln, few years later this
son is found with his parents in Indiana
where hs labOred at farm work in assist
ing his father. There was no Oppertu-
nifty offered him for receiving an sduea-
ton. Under the guidance of his mother
however he was taught to read and
write. He was of stndi0us habits and
carefully read all the books he could
borrow from the neighbOrs. All that
am or hope to be- he said 1 own to my
angel mother
I'm his twsnty-first year he is located
in Illinois, doing manual labor, though
at spare times he was always found
with book in hand storing his mind
with useful knowledge. He was con-
slant reader of the Bible, as we'll as or
Shakespeare's works, and from these he
acquired better understanding OF hu-
man action and that which Influences
the minds of men, than all those who
criticised him as an unedueated man
ever had capacity to understand. He
served in the Black Hawk War, after
ward several terms in our State Legisla-
turs and one term in Congress. Yet, I'M
til 1858, when he Joined in debate with
the lamsnted Stephen A. Douglass, moth
ing seemed TO afford the opportunity for
him to prove to the country his great
ability az lawyer, statesman and de-
batOr, az we'll as man of thought, re-
search and great power OF ANALYSIS:
I'm that great debate ne displayed
such wonderful ability as at once to give
him National reputation, His great
mind seemed to unfold to his auditors
danger after daRges that then menaced
our beloved country. He so held the
mirror before the people that they could
plaNlly see the trouble which must come
in the future If the then policy should
be persisted in. He forsshad0Wsd disas-
ter and suggested the way 10 AVOID ~.
He exhibited clearly to the people that
If the destruction of this Union must
come, we ourselves must be the authors
and finishers. His arguments were con-
vincing, his deductions and logic ire
sistable, In all his speeches his basis
was right against wrong. He convinced
all who heard hlm that he was man Of
generous impulses and great kindness
Of heart. He seemed to feel the wrongs
of all dOwn-troddsn and oppressed hu-
manity as his own. The Impression
left upon his hearers was that he had
dedicated himself to work in their be-
half.
"When elected President of the United
States he entered npOn the duties OF that
Office with malice toward none, with
charity for ALL and though the cirsum-
stances were of the most trying eharac-
ter that had ever surrounded any man
in undertaking to administer to the at
fairs of a Nation, yet he grasped a hrm
hold on the helm Of the ship Of State
and moved on calmly and coolly In the
performance of the ardu0us duties as
signed him; he met each condition OF
things as presented to him; his great
mind took ia every situation as 1t was
developed. He proved himself equal to
any and all emergencies, and while eur
country was passing through the sever
est ordeal he kept apacs with the adyan-
cling sentiments of the people, neither
going ahead nor tagging behind, always
taking advantage OF the proper moment
by his proclamation Of emancipation,
giving freedom to an oppressed race. He
met all questions at an Opp0rtune mo-
ment and seemed ever full of hope as
well as confident of tho ultimate restO-
ration of the Union.
Twenty years age to-day, early in his
second term az President, and Just a.
his proud antisipations and fOndest
hopes were being realized, no fell at the
hands OF an assassin, q martyr to the
cause of human freedom. As the tallest
oak in the forest falls. causing the earth
to tremble at the shock, so his fall eaus-
cd the nation to trembls. Stalwart men
cried aloud and wept women wrunE
their hands and appealed to Heaven to
know why this great wrong should have
been permitted. The people mOurned
and would not he comf0rtsd; all civilized
countries were saddsned; a deep gloom
covered the whele land, and In grief and
sorrow we mourn him still.
I'm the life of this man there IL les
son that ought to be taught the present
and future generations which would DC
of more value than the geld that glis-
tens. Coming frsm the lower walks OF
life, without any Of the advantages now
within the reach Of all, he struggled
tnTOuRn pOV0rty' aiohS oho iukk.u paw
way of life, overcoming all obstacles
that opposed until he attained the high
est position among men. His great
heart and mind were directed on the
line of doing good to his fellow men.
Entirely absorbed by this thought In IA
vor OF struggling humanity, he had no
time to devote to the accumulation or
wealth. The benefits shOwered upon
opnrassed mankind by his great ability
and kind heart bv far Outrsachsd those
which could have been accomplished by
the riches Of a Cr9sus.
"If we could but see him as his saint
ed spirit stands to-day. not in the blood