The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-02-13
SPOKE PRAISE OF ABRAHAM. LINCOLN
Tho Lincoln Club Does Honor to Its
Godfather.
An Eloquent Address by His Honor
Mayor Melcher.
interesting Remarks by Judge sy-
monds and Others.

--~N- 1850 AoAh1nA ooClhA KhLucrluk at LQ6iE
rooms In the new Brown building in Monu-
ment square last evening 1t was a most
successful affair. and a very ausplcious
opening OF the club. A very large attend
ance, toothsome viands. fine music and good
speeches characterized the evening, The
club has now been organized about two
months, and enjoys already membership OF
$50.
President Carroll w. Morrill, sat at the
head Of the table occupied by the invited
guests. Seated around him were Mayor Fl.
s. Meicher, Hon. Henry B. Cleayes. Hon.
Charles J. Chapman. Hon. J. w. Symonds,
Marshal William III. Green, Joseph A. King.
Esq. L. b. bennett, l. l. Elder. Hon. John
j. Perry, Wilford g. Chapman, William
Westwood, Charles A. Cummings. Thomas
Pennell. William Fl. Tarner. James Gun
ningham. Z. P. Chase. Hon. George NJ. Sell
ders, and Hon. George r. Gould.
Over 200 gentlemen were gathered around
the tables. A short speech welcomed the
company, and introduced as the first speaker
of the evening Mayor Melcher. His Homer
thanked the club for their invitation and en-
tertainment. he congratulated the club up
on its name. and It's phenomenal growth. 1t
was pleasure to him to speak a few words
and give few memories OF the martyred
President. He referred In feeling terms to
the illness Of Lincoln's great lieutenant,
General Sherman. Continuing. the Mayor
said:
Mr.. Lincoln felt that the foundation OF se-
cession and the stay Of the Rebellion was
slavery, and that II must Do removed before
peace could return. he made repeated prop
ositions to remunerate the slave owners II
some plan OF freedom TO the slaves could be
agreed on, but the opposition was so strong
and the obstacles TO be removed so great, that
nothing was accomplished. Yet 1t was al
ways governing principal ever present with
him that the freedom OF the slaves must be
In midsummer OF 1867 ne called his cabi-
net together. not to ask their advice, but TO
lay before them the draft Of his emancipa-
tion proclamation. which he had made with
his own hand and announced his Intention
OF Issuing 1t. The cabinet were astOunded,
and led by Secretary Seward, urged post
ponement. This was before Pope was driv-
On back on Washington from second Bull
Run.
After the battle Of Antietam he again as
sembled his Cabinet and announced that he
should now issue the Proclamation OF Eman-
cipatlon. Public opinion. he thought would
sustain IL, many Of his warmest friends and
supporters demanded 1t. and said he: 81
made solemn VOW before God that IL Gen.
Lee should be driven back from Pennsylva-
MIA would crown the result by the declara-
zion Of freedom to the slaves"
| On Monday. September 22d, he Issued the
preliminary proclamation which declared all
slaves free In states In rebellion January 1
following.
On January 1. 1868 the final proclamation
OF emancipation was issued and the great
act was done.
Another event of the greatest Importance
to the country and the world was the re-elec-
tion ef Mr.. Lincoln to the Presidency.
During the four years Of his administra-
among those who had originally support
ed him many Republicans under
supposed private grievances. Tneir
counsels bad not been sufficiently followed,
their friends had not been sufficiently
served. Some thought Mr.. Lincoln too fast
and severe In his measures; others thought
he had been too slow. Yet notwithstanding
all this Mr.. Lincoln was renominated and 10
the election received 2l2 votes out OF the 2S3
OF the electoral college.
The President might well feel gratIfied at
this result To some who called on him
that night he said, II am thankful TO God for
this approval Of the people"
This was the year that attained to the
age that gave me the right OF suffrage, and
it Will always be one OF the pleasant
thoughts Of my life. that my first vote was
given for Abraham Lincoln under the guns
OF Petersburg.
An immense crowd was present at his
second Inauguration and there Mr.. Lincoln
read his address, paper whose Christian
sentiments and whose reverent and piuus
spirit has no parallel among the state papers
Of the American Presidents. have time to
give only the closing sentence.
"Fondly do we hope. earnestly do we pray,
that this mighty seOurge OF war may soon
pass away. Yet Il God wills that 1t continue
two hundred and fifty years OF unrequIted
toll shall be spent, and until every drop of
blood drawn by the lash shall be paid with
another drawn by the sword; as was three
thousand years ago, so still it must be said,
"The judgments Of the Lord are true and
righteous altogether"
"With malice toward none, with charity for
all, with hrmness In the right, as God gives
as to see the right. let US strive on to finish
the work we are in, TO bind up the nations
wounds. to care for him who shall have borne
the battle and for his widow and orphans. TO
do all which may achieve aud cherish Just
and a lasting peace among ourselves and
with all nations"
The military campaign had hardly been
less remarkable and decisive than the politl-
cal and the close OF the year found the great
army Of the rebellion closely besieged in
Richmond and Petersburg, held In the firm
Union hosts to the many victories Of the
year. The rebel armies Of the west badly
scattered and Sherman at the sea.
TIE affairs OF the Southern C0nfederacy
were nuTEylnR 10 a CrlSlS. Win Luo Ft-eltc-
tion OF President Lincoln, IL could expect no
change ln the policy OF the war, and dis
couragement settled, like dark pail, over
the Rebel capital.
In order to make the most out OF their ex-
tremity, the Rebel authorities instituted ne
gotatiOns for peace, but all the demands on
which they based them were declined. Dur
ing the winter OF GAGS, active preparations
for what was generally considered to be the
closing campaign, were continued. In order
IN ha the Of aQLiOn President
Lincoln went down to City Point to be at the
headquarters Of General Grant, and was
present at that remarkable council Of war
on the 25th OF March, 1855, at which were
President Lincoln. Generals Grant, Sher-
man, Sheridan Meade, Ord and Admiral Por-
ter. The plans for the grand and fnal cam
paign were considered, and when the move
ment began, the 18th, Mr.. Lincoln remained
at City Point. saying 10 General Grant. as he
babe him goodbye, "God bless you all; and
remember. your success Is mine"
When Richmond fell President Lincoln
proceeded there accompanied by his son
TAD" and on foot and escorted by only a
small detachment Of marines be made his
was from the wharf at The Rockets through
the crowd 10 General WietzePs headquarters.
While in Richmond he had an interview
with Judge Campbell In regard to the recon
stfucti0n OF the state.
Returning to Washington he was at once
waited upon by an immense crowd, to whom
he delivered his last public address. He
said little about victory, further than briefly
to express his acknowledgements to the sol
diers who fought, and the God who had
prospered their arms, but turning his eyes
from the past, he regarded the future, and
the new duties and pei plexitles 1t was GER
tain to bring.
The whole North was wild with rejoicing
over the news OF the surrender OF Lee at Ap-
pOttox. The same psalms Of joyous exalta-
ti0n were being repeated that were witnessed
when the news of the fall Of Richmond had
been received few days before, but how
sudden and how terrible the shock when the
words were flashed over the land, Lincoln
Is sassassinated."
The effect Of this terrible event upon the
popular heart throughout the country was
touching In the extreme. From the sunni
est hills OF joy the people went down weep
ing into the darkest valleys Of affection. The
whole nation which the previous day Was
1ubllant and hopeful, was precipited into the
depths OF profound and tender woe. Mil
lions felt that they had lest a brother or a
tather, OF dear personal friend.
The funeral procession from Washington,
via New York to Springfield, Ill was some
thing more than ever had been witnessed In
thls land before or has been since.
!, The hnal services at the cemetery In
Springfield were impressive Ia the extreme.
In MS address Bishop Simpson quoted from
.ne OIL Mr.. Ltncoin's speeches, made In 1859.
from which N almnaf fhafo a N fnfiruas