The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-11-02
|The' Character of '
Our Greatest Chief.
Gems Culled from Colonel lngersoll's Eloquent
Lecture Upon the Noblest American, Lincoln.

found wisdom, t0l1 Greeley that, II the
south really wanted peace. he desired
the same thing. and was doing all he
could 20 bring 1t about. Greeley in
sisted that a commissioner should be
appointed with authority to negotiate
eracy.
This was Llncoln's opportunity. He
authorized Greeley to act as such COM
missioner The great editor felt that
he was caught. For a time he hes!tat-
ed, but finally went. and found that
the southern commissioners were will
ing to take into consideration any Of
fers Of peace that Lincoln might make,
consistent with the independence Of the
Confederacy. The failure Of Greeley
was humalatlng. and the position In
which he was left absurd. Again the
humor OF Lincoln had triumphed.
Lincoln. to satisfy few fault-ind-
ers in the north. went to Grants = cad
quarters and met some Confederate
commissioners. He urged that 1t was
hardly picoer for him to negotiate with
the representatives who were rebels
In arms-that II the south wanted
peace, all they had to do was to stop
fighting. One OF the commissl lDGers
cited as precedent the face that
Charles the First negotiated with
rebels In arms. To which Lincoln re-
piled that Charles the First lost his
head. The conference came to nothing,
as Mr.. Lincoln expected.
Lincoln always tried to do things
IN the easiest way. He did not waste
his strength. He was not particular
about moving along straight lines. He
d.d not tunnel the mountains. He was
willing to go around. and reach the end
he ha
Lincoln's Merits summed u.
After this the snenker touched on
Lincoln's statemanship, and conclud-
ca: Lincoln was many-sided man.
acquainted with smiles and tears COM
pleX In brain, single In heart, direct as
light; and his words. rs candid as mir
rors. gave the perfect image Of his
thoughts. He was never afraid to ask,
never too dlgnified to admit that he did
not know. No man had a keener wit
OF kinder humor It may be that
humor is the pilot of reason. People
without humor drift unconsciously into
absurdity. Possibly that accounts for
the present administration. Humor
sees the other side-stands in the mind
like a spectator. a good-natured critic.
and gives its opinion before judgment
Is reached. Humor goes with good ma
ture, and good nature Is the climate of
reason. In anger reason abdicates and
malice extinguishes the torch. Such
was the humor Of Lincoln that he could
tell even UNPLEASANT truths as charm
ingly as most men can tell the things
we wish to hear.
He was not solemn. solemnity is a
mask worn by ignorance and hypoc-
risy-it is the preface. prologue and in
dex to the cunnin~ or the stupid He
was natural in his life and thought
master of the story-teller's art, in H.
lustration apt, in application perfect,
liberal In speech, shocking Pharisees
and prudes, using any word that wit
could disinfect He was logician.
His logic shed light. In its presence
the obscure became luminous, and the
most complex and intricate political
ana metaphysical knots seemed to unite
themselves. Logic r. the necessary
product OF intelligence and sincerity.
1t can not be learned. 1t is the child of
clear head and a good heart Lin
coin never finished his education. To
the night Of his death he was a pupil,
learner. an inquirer. q seeker after
knowledge. You have no Idea how
many men are spoiled by what is called
education. For the most part, colleges
are places where pebbles are polished
and diamonds a~a dimmed
IF you wish to know the difference
between an orator and an elocutlonist
between what Is felt and what is
said-between what the heart and brain
can do together and what the brain
can do alone-read L!ncoln's won.
drous speech at Gettysburg, and then
the grafton Of edward Everett. The
speech OF Lincoln will never be forgot
ten. 1t will live until languages are
dead and lips are dust. The Grafton of
Everett will never be read
Nothing dlscloses real character like
the use OF power. 1t is easy for the
weak to be gentle. Most people can
bear adversely. But II you wish to
know what a man really is, give him
power. This Is the supreme test. It Is
the glory Of Lincoln that, having al
most absolute power, he never abused
1t, except on the side OF mercy.
Wealth could not purchase, power
could not awe, this divine, this loving
man. He knew no fear, except the fear
OF 1olng wrong. Hating slavery, pity
Ing the master-seeking to conquer
not persons. but prejudices-he was the
embodiment Of the self-denial, the
courage, the hope and the nobility of a
nation. He spoke not to infiame, not
to Urbra!d, but to convince. He raised
his hands. not to strike, but in bene-
dict.on. He longed to pardon. He loved
to see the pearls OF Joy on the cheeks
OF wife whose husband he had res
cued from death. Lincoln was the
grandest figure Of the fiercest civil war.
He Is the gentlest memory of our
w0Y>ld