The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1893-02-17

Sunday last-Lincoln's BIRTHDAYS
celebrated by the S. O.V. as Defenders
Day." In New York large audience
gathered to listen to Col. Ingersoll's lee
ture on the Martyr President. The eulo-
gy was worthy of its author. 1t was de-
livered in the best vein, and was listened
to with rapt attenhsn. When shafts of
Ingersollian wit and wisdom were shot
to them the people applauded, and when
pathetic incidents were related many
found moisture in their eyes.
Colonel Ingersoll began his discourse
by comparing the early life of Lincoln
and Darwin. Said he in part:
Because of these two men the nine
teenth century is illustrious, One asso-
ciated his name with the enfranchise-
meat of labor, with the emancipation of
millions, with the salvation of the Re-
public. The other broke the chains of
superstition and filed the world with in
tellectual light
The sympathies of Lincoln, his ties
of kindred, were with the South. His
convictions, his sense of Justice and his
ideals were with the North. Lincoln
was statesman. And there is this diff
ference between politician and states
man.
1t is not common thing to elect a
really great man to fill the highest off
cial position. | no not say that the
great presidents have been chosen by ac-
cident Probably it would be better to
say that they were the favorites of a
happy chance. BY happy chance Lin
a,l En1 .1aotnI - 30
of his fitness, and the patient, gentle,
just and loving man was called upon to
bear as great burden as man has ever
borne.
Colonel Ingersoll reviewed the events
that led to the preparation of the Eman-
cipation Proclamation and quoted the
famous words of Lincoln beginning with
"a house divided against itself cannot
stand" ''These words" Colonel Inger-
soil said, "were the standard around
which gathered the grandest political
party the world has ever SEEM" The
speaker added:
When Lincoln was elected President
he was held in contempt by the South,
moderated by the North, without the
confidence of the members of his own
cabinet, and yet he was one of the
wisest, strongest and shrewdest men of
his day. He appreciated the conse-
quences of the war"
Colonel Ingersoll referred to the offer
of Lincoln to buy all the border State
slaves at $500 apiece, and said the South
was blind not to have listened to it. He
referred to the fugitive slave law in
scathing terms, calling it law 'that
made charity crime and decency PEN
itentiary offence" In his drollest style
the Colonel told how Lincoln called his
cabinet around him when lie had pre-
pared the emancipation proclamation,
and said to them: Gentlemen, l have
sent for you because think it is due to
you to know what am going to do, but
want you to know that don't want any
of your advice"
The members of the cabinet found him
reading Artemus Wards WAX Works at
Albany" Minister Chase told him after
hearing the proclamation that he thought
it ought to have some allusiOn to God in
it. WELL" said Lincoln, that won't
hurt it. Put it in" Colonel Ingersoll
closed his discourse with tribute to
Lincoln, the eloqueAce of which could
hardly be excelled.
Here are some lngersoll sparks
Victory makes forgiveness easy.
After all, men are the best books.
Do you know that all my life l have
liked black man with a white heart
better than white man with black
hearth
To fight for yourself is good; to fight
for others is grand; to fight for your
country is noble, but to fight for human
liberty is the'noblest OF all. ''--=--.-s--
Lincoln was not type; he stands
alone; no ancestors, no fellows, no sue
cessors. He was many sided man, ac-
quainted with smiles aud tears, complex
in brain, single in heart, direct as light;
and his words, candid as mirrors, gave
perfect image to his thought.
Lincoln did merciful things, as stealth
lily as others committed crimes.
Lincoln held within his brain the
grandest truths as easily and naturally
as a waveless pool holds within its stain
less breast the reflection of cloudless
sky.
Lincoln stood an angel OF mercy be-
tween discipline and death.
Nearly all great historical characters
are impossible monsters. Washington is
only now a steel enuravin0