McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1885-04-23
ANOUrLINE OF LINCOLN,s LIFE.
Memorial Services at Springfield, IH.-T'e
address Of Gen. John n. Logan.

Memorial Services at Springfield, IH.-The
address Of Gen. John n. Logan.
TIL following address was delivered by Gen.
Logan at the memorial services held in honor
of Abraham Lincoln at Springfield, H., on the
18TH
On the 18th day of February, seventy-six
years ago, in the midst of hardy pioneer p TO
pie In Harding county, Kentucky, son called
Abraham was born unto Thomas and Mary
Lincoln. A few years later this son is found
with his parents in Indiana, where he labor, d
at farm work In assisting his father. There
was no opportunity offered him for receiving
an education. Under the guidance of his
mother, however, he was taught TO read and
write. He was of studious habits, and care
fully read all the books he could borrow from
the neighbors. ''All that | am, or hop to
be" he said, 81 owe to my angel mother In
his 21st year ne is located in Illinois, doing
manual labor, though at times when he could
do so ne was always found with took in
hand, storing his mind with useful knowledge.
He was a constant reader of the tible, as well
as Shakespeare's works. and from these he ac-
.Quired better understanding OF human action
aud that which influences the minds of men
than all those who criticised him
as an uneducated man ever had the
capacity to understand. He served in
the Black Hawk war, afterwards several times
in our state legislature, and one term i'll con-
gress, yet until 1858, when he joined in the de-
bate with the lamented Stephen A Douglas,
nothing seemed to afford au opportunity for
him TO prove to the country his great abil tv as
a lawyer, statesman and debater, as well as a
man of thought, research and great power OF
analysis. In that great deba'e he displayed
such wonderful ability as to at once give him a
national reputation. His great mind seemed
to unfold to his auditors, danger after danger
that then menaced our beloved country. He
so held the mirror before the people that they
could plainly see the trouble that must come
in the future if the then policy should be per-
sisted in. He forshadowed the disaster and
suggested the way to avoid it. He exhibited
clearly to the people that if the destruction of
this Union must come We ourselves must be
the author, and finisher. His arguments were
convincing, his deductions and logic were ir-
resistable. In all the speeches his basis was
the right against the wrong. He convinced
all who heard him that he was man of gen
erOus impulses and great kindness of heart.
He seemed to feel the wrongs of all the down
trodden and oppressed humanity as his own.
The impression he left upon his hearers was
that he had dedicated himself to work in their
behalf. When elected president of the Unitei
States he entered upon the duties of that Office
with malice toward none, with charity for all,
and although the circumstances were OF the
most trying character that had ever sur
rounded any man in undertaking
to administer the affairs of a nation, yet he
grasped firm hold On the helm of the ship of
state and moved on calmly and coOly in the
performance of the arduous duties assigned
him. He met each condition of things as pre-
sented to him. His great mind took in the
situation as it was developed. He proved him
self equal to any and all emergencies, and
while our country was passing through the
severest ordeal he kept apace with the advanc-
ing sentiments of the people, neither going
ahead nor tagging behind always taking adj
vantage Of the proper moment to do the right
thing, as was eXemplifed by his proclamation
of emancipation giving freedom to an OPP
pressed race. He met all questions at an op-
perfume moment, and seemed full of hope as
well as confident of the ultimate success and
complete restoration Of the Union. Twenty
years ago to-day, early in his second term as
president, and just as his proud anticipatOns
and fondest hopes were being realized, he fell
at the hand of an assassin, martyr to the
cause of human freedom. As the tallest oak
in the forest falls, causing the earth to trem-
BILE at the shock. so his fall caused the nation
to tremble. Stalwart men cried aloud and
wept, women wrung their hands and appealed
to heaven to know why this great wrong
should have been permitted. Thus people
mourned and would not be cOmfOrted. All
civilized countries were saddened, deep gloom
covered the whole land, and in grief and sorrow
we mourn him still. In life this man
taught a lesson that ought to be
taught the present and future gen
erations which would be of more value
than gold that glistens. Coming from the
lower walks of life, without any of the advan-
tages now within the reach of all, he struggled
through poverty along the rugged pathway OF
life, overcoming all obstacles that opposed, I'M
til he attained the highest position among
men. His great heart and mind we're bent in
sorbed by his thought in favor of struggling
humanity he had no time to devote to the ac
emulation OF wealth. The benefits shOwered
upon oppressed man by his great ability and
kind heart by far outreached those which
could have been accomplished by the riches OF
CrPsus. Wealth revels behind, while pow
erty follows us to the grave; bnt the wealth
that leaves its last NO impre ssiOn upon man
kind is that store of kindness which fills tie
human breast, and the great resources of a
giant, intense thought, and the good works
live on through time. Solicit be with Abraham
Lincoln. He carved his own way up the stcIs
of ambitions rugged heights. He assembled to
the topmost round fame's ladder and from
thence stepped into the mansion on high pre-
pared for the good and true. If we could but
see him as his sainted spirit stands to-day, not
in the blOOd-bcsmeared temple of human bond
age, but radiant with the light of liberty and
tue GLORY of God, " playing around him, with
shattered fetters and broken chains at his feet,
we would behold one of the noblest spirits that
ever passed through the pearly gates of the
New j ruSaem into the presence of the great
white throne of our Heavenly Father.