St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-02-13
If LINCOLN HAD LIyED.

If Lincoln had lived! What then?
For nearly thirty years politicians and
statesmen, patriots ana pubicistS have
been specializing as to the probable con
dtion or affairs III this country if the as
sassin had spared the life OF the great
war president to complete the work of
reconstruction that had just begun.
That he was man guided by the stu
cerest patriotism and controlled by the
strictest sense OF honor no one at this
day questions. His judgment was not
at all times infallib'e. for he was but
human; yet he had perception keener
far than the majority of his contempt
rlries. for it was not influenced by sec
tional or personal prejudices. nor mould
in obedience to public clamor. He
IVES man of the people, rising from
the ranks of the most lowly, and knew
how to sympathize with them i'll all
their ambitions. Ii he had lived the
full measure of his years. would the
country have been more prosperous, its
people more patriotic than at present?
All over the United States yesterday
citizens of every creed and of every
shade of politics united in celebrating
the birthday of our first martyred presi-
dent and in honoring his name. Long
years ago, when the mournfnl funeral
procession wendell its way from the
national capital to the grave at Spring
field, the tongue of calumny had been
stilled. From that day to the present
no man has dared to utter a word of re-
proach to his memory. The evil that he
may have done, if any there was, lay
buried with his bones; the good he &C
compliShed has been ever living. and is
today the most cherished treasure of the
American people.
Homely IN form and visage, Abraham
Lincoln was mental Apollo. moral
Hercules. Men laughed at him for his
quaint forms of expression, but refiec-
ton showed that in the homely setting
there was pearl Of thought, jewel of
wisdom, a drop of human sympathy.
His kindliness was seen in everything
he did; his patriotism Shone Respondent
through every mist; his personal hon
esty was as unimpeachable as it was
unimpeached. But if he had lived,
would he have been able to SO shape
the course of events as to make straight
the highways for restoration Of peace
and fraternity between the people of
the nation?
1t is probable that If Lincoln had
lived there would have been fewer ami
mosities to overcome than have already
been encountered. There would have
been no endeavOr to humiliate and out
rage the people of the South at the
close of the war. The people of that
section would not have been turned
over as legitimate prey to horde of
ruffianly mercenaries, and the infamieS
of carDetbag government would not be
today stain upon the name Of Ameri-
cans. The party to which he belonged
would be as universally respected at
the South as his name is today revered.
There would have been no force bill,
and consequently no need of the repeal
of such a measure twenty-nine years
after the war had closed. Patriotism,
that mas had such long and desperate
struggle for life, would today be occu-
plying the seat of partisanship, and har-
mOny would be reigRing OH the throne
| that has been usurped by discord.
If Lincoln had lived the United States
would have escaped many trials. But
perhaps it is best that they have been
endured. The nation has been chast-
ened by bad rulers and plundered by
thieves. We have come to distrust those
placed in authority over uS-to doubt
the honesty of purpose of those who
make the loudeSt professions of purity.
The experience has been a sorrowful
one, but not without benefit For we
have learned to be more watchful of our
rights and privileges, more jealous of
the authority exercised over US, more
eXacting in demanding from our public
servants the full measure of their re-
sponSibilities. Mr.. Lincoln was not the
man to successfully cope with the in
trigues of artful and dishonest politi-
clans. He was honest himself, and, like
all men of that character, placed too
great confidence in the integrity of his
followers. He never practiced deception
or duDlicity himself, and could not con-
ceige Of tine existence of such qualities
in others. He died in moment Of
triumph-a national triumph over inter-
nal treason and personal triumph
over those who had persistently critl-
cised his policy and misconstrued his
motives.
Lincoln's memory is worthy of per-
petuation. He was typical American.
rugged, honest, patriotic. All men de-
light to honor his name, for he was that
noblest work of God-an honest man.
The eulogies spoken yesterday may
have referred to genius he was thought
to possess, but that genius was simply
sincerity, honor and tenaeity of purpose
joined to kindly human sympathy that
won the admiration while holding the