The sun., 1895-05-15
WATTERSON ON LINCOLN.
A EULoGY LAST NIGHT IN PLY
MOUTH CHURCH, BROOKLYN

Personal Recoilecttons OF the Martyr Pres
iaent-Thc One Friend the south Had
TO Save it from Itseif-Lincoin ns n Poet.
Henry watterson talked to large audience
in Plymouth Church. Brooklyn. last night
about Abraham Lincoln. New York has had
opportunities to form an estimate of Mr.. Wat
terson as a graceful and forcible speaker when
he has chosen to talk politics or TO respond to
after-dinncr toasts, but last night he spoke in n
different vein. Mr.. Watterson's lecture was q
sympathetic estimate of Lincoln and tribute
to his memory, delivered In way that held
the attention OF the audience for nearly two
hours. He introduced Lincoln after brief re-
view of the conditions that made him possible
in political iife
"Step by step" he said, "the forces Of free
dom advanced to meet the forces OF slavery.
The Senate had its Gettysburgs. and many a
Shiloh was fought on the floor OF the House.
The field Of politics became almost as murky
and suffused as IL 1t had been field OF battle.
Then came one day into the Northern camp the
figure of Abraham Lincoln.
"How shall describe him ? As | first saw him
after his election to the Presidency. or shall
use the words of q more vivid word painter2 In
1861 Col. A. X. Mcclure journeyed to Spring
field to meet in person the man to whose elec-
ton he had contributed so materially"
Mr.. Watterson reNi an extract from Col Nc
Clure's account OF ~ first meeting with Lincoln.
The President-e elect answered the bell In person,
and his visitor found confronting him q tall.
ungninly, ill-clad man wearing baggy snuff
colored trousers. an open black waistcoat and
straight black coat with tight sleeves that en-
phasized the great length of his arms. Mr.. Lin
coin had in his manner an aWkwardness that
was uncommon in men OF intslliEence.
recall him." said Mr.. Watterson. "a few
months later. n little better dressed. but in sin
Eularty and angularty much the same. Lin
coin was an oid.iine. Wing of the school Of
in a dream feeling its resstless force. Mr. Lin
colin entered his canvass with Douglas un.
vi. a saustry snaed to tSe o6ep 9m II
bark rode a food tide. Then. as now, tho
divided. I.incoln''s defeat counted for more
than poug,ns's victory: for i made him the
later. douglas was patriot. He tried to save
the Union as Webster and Clay had tried. by
compromise. lt,was too late. The string had
Mr.Watter.on told of his meeting with Lin
coin when he came to Washington to be in
as he delivered his inaugural address.
He delivered h it, said Mr. Watterscn: las II 4
his life From tho moment TINT he crossed the
threshold Of the Capitol until his death there
was not moment when he was not dominant
Mr.. Watterson told several anecdotes to Illus
trate this fact. and TO prove that Lincoln con-
dent.
THE South" he said. docs not know that
Lincoln was n friend the one friend who had
the power to save 1t from itself. Let no South
ern man point finger Mt me because canonizo
Lincoln. He was the one friend we had at court
when we needed one most. lie dared to think.
and he wasn't afraid to speak He was ahead
of his party"
Mr.. watterson then spoke Of Lincoln as
prose poet and read several OF his letters as ex-
amples Of his style.
Where did he get this style ?" said Mr.. Wat
terson. Ask Shakespeare and Burns whore
they got their style. Where did he get to know
men Ask the Lord God who created miracles
in Luther and Bonaparte. good volume of
Lincoln was great master OF English. have
gathered from his writings that he was not
civil service refOrmer OF the school of Grover
Cleveland. What was tho power OF this ex-
traordnary man? His was the genius Of COM
mon sense He was inspired Of God"