The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1893-06-01
HONORING THE DEAD.
CONTINUED from First page

4
the fire that he might read by the light
reflected on his book. In this was laid
the foundation for that broad knowl-
edge of men and events which in after
life so distinguished his character.
Whatever he undertook he mastered.
On his maiden trip down the Ohio on
a fat-boat at a landing on the southern
side he first saw a slave in chains. This
sight awakened in him an adherence
of the institution which never left him,
and which controlled many of his flu
ture actions. When a member of the
Illinois legislature, although almost
unknown outside his county, when that
State was almost slave State, he en-
tered a protest and had it recorded on
the journal against the passage of a
pro-slavery resolution, and only one
other member had the courage to join
in this protest. Subsequently he ut
tered those almost prophetic words,
This country cannot remain half slave
all free" An intense and patriotic
love of country was one Of his leading
characteristics. While many of his
own party at times after his election to
the presidency differed with him in
policy and at first doubted his ability,
no one ever questioned his honesty and
sincerity or loyalty. During the great
conflict, when surrounded with difficult
ties and burdened with responsibilities
enough to crush any man, he said, II
should be foolishly presumptious if I
thought could discharge for one day
the duties which have fallen upon me,
without the aid and enlightenment of
One who is wiser and stronger than all
Others" Mr.. Blaine in his Twenty
Years in Congress- says, much of the
popular opinion of Lincoln is erroneous.
No man was farther than he from the
easy, familiar, jocose character in
which he is often painted. He was not
a man with whom liberties could be
taken; he united frmness and gentle
ness in a singular degree; he rarely
spoke a harsh word. Approaching wit
and humor he relished good story,
especially if it illustrated a truth or
strengthened an argument, and he had
vast fund of illustrative anecdotes
which he used with the happiest effect.
AS a statesman he had the Hottest
ideal, and it fell to his lot to inaugurate
measures which changed the fate of
millions of living men, and tens of mil
lions yet to be born.'' Having steered
the storm tossed ship of state through
the waves and breakers of four years.
war, just when he expected to see her
ride safely in the harbor of peace with
the storm abated, the skies cleared,
and our flag floating from the mast
head over a united country, he was
struck down by an assassin's bullet.
But his name like that of Washington
will stand through the centuries as a
benetactor to the human race, and it is
but proper that on each successive an
nlversary of the birth of these great
men, Americans, at home and abroad,
should assemble together to recount
their deeds and extol their virtues. to
teach our children to appreciate their
worth and emulate their example and
revere their memory, as we'll as to re-
vlve our own love which is liable to
grow cold amidst the engrossing cares
OF daily toll. AS we each fall set apart
day for thanksgiving to Almighty
God for the blessings of the year, so on
each birthday anniversary of Washing
ton and Lincoln we should render
praise and Thanksgiving to Him for
raising up for this country such men at
gust the time when they were needed.
Ihe anniversaries before referred to
are seasons of rejoicing, which we cele-
brate with music and mirth, with foy
and gladness. e.
1t was during Mr.. Lincoln's- occu-
pancy OF the presidential chair that
the great war of the rebellion was
fought. Perhaps the majority, at
least great number of this audience
nave no remembrance of it. To them
IL IS but an event in history as remote
to their minds as the war with Mexico.
or the revolutionary war, but to many
OF the older portion it has signii-
canoe fraught with sorrowful recollec.
lions. The questions referred to in
the earlier part of this paper, so long
the subject of heated controversy in
congress and throughout the country.
having failed Of a peaceable solution.
+ the south decided to Withdraw from
the Union. States passed ordinances
OF secession, enlisted men, organized
armies, and finally attacked Fort
Sumpter, in Charleston harbor. The
firing on Fort Sumpter at last awak.
ened the peaceful and Industrious north
to the conviction that the south really