Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-04-03
THE MEMORIAL FOR LINCOLN.

The bill has passed the Senate for a
national monument to the memory of
Abraham Lincoln. This is as it should be.
But will the House concur? The political
dominance there never was friendly to
Lincoln. Such part of the majority as
were Union Democrats considered him over
estimated, and were only tolerant of him.
The party that put him into place 50 hon
ored and respected the man, that its po-
litical opponent, though claiming as much
of patriotic aim, naturally revolted. When
he ceased to become merely party man,
and was accepted as a patriot, and the
savior of the Union, man for all the
people and not for party, the Dem
ocracy simply yielded grudging assent to
the obeisance the world did to his heroism
honesty and far-sighted craftsmanship
From those who fought against the Union,
We will hear no uncertain sound. Prob
ably they will favor the bill from the out
set They can do so with the best grace
in the world The ex-Confederates have
given examples of manliness and frankness
and submission to the cast Of war, and
openness in commentator of the nations
heroes in the conflict, that command ad-
miration. So, however much they may
dislike the name Lincoln" the proba-
bilities are that they will hasten to sup
port the bill, as a new means of testifying
to their adhesion to the Union, and their
total absolution from the sin of secession.
Such opposition as will venture to the
front, we may expect, therefore, from the
North, and it will be representative of the
now all but forgotten copperhead kind If
it clothes itself in the garb of economy, in
its opposition, it will not be able to make
Its disguise effective. There should be
opposition to it will amount to confession
of ancient enmity to the Union in whose
cause he laid down his life The current
issue of the Century magazine speaks very
timely OF the true measure of the fame of
Lincoln. 1t believes that his is the only
figure that can possibly come into rivalry
with Grants. 1t concludes a brief eulogy
Of Lincoln by likening him to one who
rules as chosen chief, and not like king
according to his own or his immediate
counselors' idea of right and expediency;
and not like an English minister, accord
ing to the dictates of a parliament merely;
but as the Executive of the Nation at
large in a truer sense than man ever did
before. He ruled with his finger on the
peoples pulse, and his ear at the peoples
heart, feeling thrills and throbs quite i'm
perceptible to others, and he waited pa
tiently until they were perceptible to him
beyond the possibility of mistake, and
then acted with decision and persisted
with tenacitv. This and other high praise
is uttered of him, but nothing too much
has been or will be said. As his figure
recedes in the vista of time it will grow
greater, and its true proportions be the
better developed, just as great architect
ural pile is viewed at its best from dis
lance at which all its parts harmonic and
blend into perfect whole The monu-
ment to Lincoln will be erected, and the
sum for it will be voted. Let those who
propose to stand against it make strong
record, for they will need its fertilization.