Morning journal and courier., 1894-05-10
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

The Character of the Great President
 as Delineated by Colonel Robert C..
 Ingersou.
 A rather email audience greeted Colonel Robert o. Ingersoll at the Hyperion last evening, but ali who were present listened to an exceedingly interesting and eloquent lecture on "Lincoln," delivered in Colonel Ingersoll's inimitable style.
 He opened his remarks with an enter taining biographical sketch of Lincoln. Proceeding, he said: Lincoln was a states man. And let us see what is the differ enoe bstween statesman and politician. A politician Is man who lsbors day and night to zee what the people will do for him. A ststssman Is 6 man who lsbors equally hard to do what be can for the people. He was by nature a diplomat and had ss much shrewdness as is consistent with honesty. It requires real genius to be good, but this genius Lincoln had.
 He guided, cheersd, consoled and con- quered. He held within bis brain the greatest truths with the greatest ease. In his proclamation of emancipation he stated the greatest generalization of the doctrine of freedom that has ever yet been uttered by msn-that If freedom is taken away from any one man, the freedom and rights of all other men will suffer. Thirty one years before that famous day in Sep tember, '62, when be issued his pro- clamation, he landed in New Or leans after voyage down the river on which he earned his princely consideration of $10 per month. It was at this time that he for the first time saw a human being sold. He went to the auction block and saw girl sixteen or seventeen years old up for sale. He heard what the auctioneer said and what those who stood around said, and he saw the terrified, affrighted creature. A shudder of horror shook his frame. He said to his companions "Come on, boys, let's go," and when he got out side he said, "By God, if ever I have . chance to strike blow at the institution of slavery will do It." Thirty-one years afterwards the chance came The oath be took there In New Orleans was a prayer. For there are some oths which are prayers, and some prayers have heard sounded
 like oaths.
 All knew that Lincoln was aetuated by one motive-the salvation of the Union. He was also merciful. He loved to forgive. Through all the years Lincoln will be known ss 'Lincoln, The Merciful." We all know that Ltncoln's political prophe- sies have been fulfilled. He longed to save both the south and the north as one, and-he lived to see the oonfedsrscy dead and the doors of Libby prison opened. His deeds made music in men's souls. And then came the tragic end. The noon was turned to the darkness of night. For the Gra In ho xvar1dfo hfofnvv bowed and wept. He was bound to ~ the people of this country by the strongest of earthly ties. Through all his life he was characterized by charm ing candor, and delicate sense of the hu- morous. He was not type of men. He stands alone. He had no ancestors, no fel- lows, no successors. How, then, shall we account for this mani In the first place he had the advantage of living in . new country. There are three chsracteristics which are necessary in a new country: Honesty, courage and generosity. In 8 new civilization and society character counts; in an old society, reputation is all in all; in the new, it is what one is; in the old, what one resembles. In the country is the idea of home. You livA nearer tity and personality. Your cheek Is laid close to the breast of nature. Lincoln never finished his ed acstion. Till the night of his death he was always @ pupil-s seeker after the truth.
 As before mentioned he had keen sense of humor. He who hes no senee of humor tends to absurdity. For how else can you account for the Sandwich leland muddls. He was logical, which shows he had Q clear head and good heart. He was not solemn. His religion was the re- Iiaion of Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jeff ferson, Thomas Paine and the great Vol 1 taire. He was natural and simple in nspeecb. He did not pretend to be more or less or | different from what he was. He cared | title for place, but everything for princi- pie; little for money, but everything for With him men were neither | treat nor small, but right or wrong He Lnew no fear except that of doing wrong. 5e was the embodiment of the courage, lope and nobility of nation. He raised is hands not to strike, but in benediotion. Ie loved to see the pearls on the cheeks of he wife, whose husband he had ssved. Ie will evsr be remembered as the most nerciful of men and the greatest presi. ent of the United statss. i