The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1886-04-17

Iii ouSliolt lilC lotili. by DOtll nOTtn
i, and south alike the awful news was re-
ceived with a shudder and momen-
tary spasm of unbelief. Then followed
one of the most remarkable spectacles
in the history of the human race, for
there is nothing else at all like it on
record. Bells had tolled before at the
death of loved ruler, but never did
all bells toll SO mourntully as they did
that day. Business ceased. Men
came together in public meetings as if
by common impulse, and lines and
sectional hatreds seemed to be oblit-
Grated"
The assassination took place on
Friday evening. and on the following
Sunday funeral services were held in
all the churches in the land, and every
church was draped in mourning
Mr.. linColn's body was embalmed,
and on the following Wednesday fun
eral services were held in the East
room OF the White House. From
thence the body was taken to the ro-
tunda OF the Capitol, where it was
viewed by thousands of sorrowing peo-
pie. On the 2Ist CT the month the
sombre funeral tram left Washington,
going first to Philadelphia and New
York, and then moved westward, FOL-
lowed by the lamentations OF stricken
nation. "The mournful pageant of its
reception by the people surpasses all
power of words for its description.
Slowly the train proceeded, from city
to city, between almost continuous
lines OF sorrowing multitudes doing
last honors to their beloved chief magis-
trate, whose hold upon their hearts
they had not known till they had lost
him." The train reached Springfield,
Ills, on the morning of the sd of May,
and on the following day the body of
Lincoln, the martyr, was shut from tine
sight Of man forever, in the grave.
As the funeral cortege passed through
New York it was reverently gazed upon
by mass Of humanity impossible to
enumerate. No ovation could be so
eloquent as the spectacle Of the vast
population, hushed and bareheaded,
under the bright spring sky gazing upon
his coffin. I.nColn's own words over
the dead at Gettysburg came to many
as the stately car went by: "The world
will little note nor long remember what
we say here, but it cau never forget
what we did here
1t was remembered, too, that on the
2ad of February, 1861, as he raised
the American flag over Independence
Hall, in Philadelphia, lie spoke of the
sentiment in the Declaration of indie
pendence which gave liberty not only
to this country but, Il hope" he said,
''to the world for all future time. But
if this country cannot be saved without
giving up that principle, was about to
say | would rather be assassinated upon
this spot than surrender it."
When he died the veil that hid his
greatness was torn aside, and the coun-
try then knew what it had possessed
and lost in him. A New York paper of
April %, 1865, said: "No one who
personally knew him but will now feel
that the deep, furrowed sadness of his
face seemed to forecast his fate. The
genial gentleness of his manner, his
homely simplicity, tie cheerful humor
that never failed are now seen to have
been but the tender light that played
around the rugged heights OF his strong
and noble nature 1t is small consola-
ton that he dies at the moment of the
war when he could best be spared for
no nation is ever ready for the loss Of
such friend But it is something to
remember that he lived to see the slow
day breaking. Like Moses, he had
marche! with us through the wilder
ness. From the height of patriotic
vision he beheld the golden fields of
the future waving in peace and plenty
out of sight. He beheld and blessed
God, but was not to enter IN.
In a discourse delivered on Lincoln
on the Esd of that month, Rev. Henry
Ward Beecher said
"And now the martyr is moving in
triumphal march, mightier than when
alive. The nation rises up at ever stage
Of his coming. Cities and State are
his pail bearers, and the cannon speaks
the hours with solemn progression.
Dead, dead, he yet speaketh. Is Wash
ington deado Is Hampden dead? Is
any man that was ever fit to live dead?
Disseminated Of flesh, risen to the I'M
INSTRUCTED sphere where passion never
comes, he begins his illimtable work.
His life is now grated upon the infinite,
and will be fruitful, as no earthly life
can be. Pass on, thou that hast over
come Ye people, behold the martyr
whose blood, as so many artlculate
words, pleads for fidelity, for law, for
liberty"
1t was soon known that the murder
of Lincoln was one result of a conspi-
racy which had for its victims Secretary
Seward, and, probably, Vice President
Johnson, Secretary Stanton, Gen. Grant
and perhaps others. Booth had left a
card on Mr.. Johnson the day before,
possibly with the intention of killing
him. Mr.. Seward received wounds
from which he soon recovered. Grant,
who was to have accompanied Lincoln
to the theatre on the night of the assas-