The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-04-15

On the evening of Good Friday. April
II. fsss. an unparalleled crime was COM
m!ttsd. AT 2 minutes past o'clock on
the morning Of April Is, thirty years ago.
Abraham Lincoln. the martyr president,
passed into history.
No man or woman old enough on that
day 10 realize what had occurred 10 the
nation can yet pass its anniversary un-
moved. Death In violent form had
come into many family circle during
the preceding few years. but sorrow had
not made the people csilons. and when
the most awful shot OF all was fred IL
struck millions Of hearts with pain and
thrilled a world with horror.
IL H. the day which gave Abraham
Lincoln birth We honor. and though hts
pitiful death has in some measure identi-
fed his memory more anatically. so
10 speak. with the history OF the coun-
try. already II Is fading away: but the
story OF his grand life Is standing out
more conspicuously as the passing years
prove IL to have left deep impress upon
the nation. A peaceful death would have
lessened in no degree the influence he
exercised or the lesson his career has
lefs.
Abraham Lincoln was one OF the few
profound statesmen OF the century. and
scarcely one OF the many brilliant men
OF our time was more disiinctively Amer
lean than he. He was actuated by the
spirit of freedom which gave birth 10 the
great republic: he had an abiding faith
in the intelligence and integrity OF thu
American people. You can fool all the
people sometime you can fool some peo-
pie all the time. but you cannot fool all
the people all the time" was one OF the
quaint unpublished expressions in which
he couched that faith.
The great secret OF Lincoln's position
In the hearts OF the people was that he
belonged 10 them. The "plain people"
whom he 50 often addressed. were his
people; he knew their struggles. their
disappointmnts and thir hopes. He be-
lieved in the efficacy OF republican in
situations Ia insuriug the greatest liberty
and equity. aIis life purpose was to ap-
ply those principles TO the methods of
government Unfortunately, his great eff
forts were absorbed I'm the direction OF
a war. had they been reserved TO the de-
velopment of the nation in peace he would
have advanced this people "A century in
the establishment OF good government
He was too sincere of purpose 10 de-
lude the people by hattery, and he was
therefore as bold In eriticising mistaken
notions Of liberty as he wax courageous
in the advocacy OF true freedom. I'm
Outstanding the spirit OF our institu-
TONS" he said. ito aim at the elevation
of men, 1 am opposed TO whatever de-
grades them. There ia no grievance that
Il ~ object OF redress by mob law.
Gold Is good in It's place. but living. brave
and patriotic men are better than gold"
His life is an ever living lesson to poll
tieians that no permanent success is at
tainable unless the confidence OF the peo-
pie Is secured and he was merciless 10
those who attempted TO betray that trust
when given.
Its sagacity was without guile. His
keen perception led him 10 a thorough
knowledge OF men. aud although he met
efforts at deception with astuteness. ne
sought to gain no end himself by duplio-
ity.
Washington lives in the hearts OF the
people as the aggressive leader who
wrung from foreign power our liberty
and institutions. lie IS Identified with
patriotic resistance 20 oppression from
abroad. ard maintenance OF American
institutions against all the world. Lin
coin typlaes the true American charac-
Ter ia as relation 80 rs own race. its as
plrations and It's destiny. Washington Is
the theme OF tho orator. Lincoln the study
OF the citizen. Ills beautiful life. pure
and exalted 81 every relation his gen
sle. bat ever manly uttcrancos: his In
tearity OF motive and his steadfastness
% purpose. should BE cxpatiated upon
and held up FOR emulation wherever II -
| soueht % lead American citizenship up
20 the throne OF popular sovereignty.