Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1895-07-17
81 A YEAR IN ADVANCE
LlncOln'S POsthumOuS Influence.


contributes largely to the shaping of
events and the adjustment of condi-
lions. A distinguished citizen is not
lost to his country when he dies, strictly
speaking. The services that he render
ed while living continue to be advan.
tageous, and the memory of his exam
pie permanent source of inspiration.
In some instances, personal fame ia
thus materially increased, and noted
name acquires more potency with a
succeeding generation than it had with
the one to which it is directly related.
IL Is not too much to say that every
truly great figure in the affairs of a
country is sure to survive in this sense.
and to be effective for the future. We
know that certain illustrious characters
retain their Importance from age to
age, and help to solve intervening prob
lens by virture of their relation to the
philosophy of civilization. The man
dies, but his works live after him. He
becomes part of the procession of in.
terdependent occurrences which make
up The story of general development
ana progress, and the things that he
said and did, the words and deeds in
which his superior faculties were man
ifested, come to have fixed practical
value. He calls'to the present from
out OF the past with recognized author.
ity, and his messages are treated with
the kind of respect that settles disputed
points and determines the course of
public opinion and sentiment.
In the list of these immortal person
allties, Abraham Lincoln occupies
conspicuous place. His posthumous
influence fifty supplements and pro-
longs that which he exercised before
his death. He SO impressed himself
upon history and the hearts of coun-
trymen that time only tends to furnish
additional reasons for regarding him
with pride and affection, and to invest
his character with new and enlarged
attributes of excellence and usefulness.
1t is difficult to credit the recollection
that he was once the most villified man
In the world when the fact is consider
ed that his name is now spoken only
with reverence and tenderness by those
who were his enemies as well as by
those who were his friends. The South
Joins hands with the North in paying
homage to his memory, and acting
upon the generous impulses by which
ne was always guided. He stands IN
the estimation of both sections as the
embodiment OF the idea of peace, unity
and fraternity. The masterful part
that he played in the civil war is eaualed
by the splendid results with which his
name is associated in the work of re.
moving the enmities and prejudices of
tnat awful conflict. 1t is as a peace
maker that he is posthumously as great
as he was when directing the national
energies against the rebellion. We know
that in all the trials and distresses by
which he was surrounded, he never har-
bored bitter thought toward those
whom it was his duty to subdue, and
never for moment doubted that in the
end there would be restoration of
friendly relations.
There is curious and beautiful illus
tration of poetic justice in the fact that
this man who was the chief represen-
tative of Federal power during the war
Is now the principal influence in bring
ing the two sections together on the
basis of common patriotism and devo-
tion to the interest of the whole coun-
try. His memory is the bond of fell
lowship that grows stronger from year
to year. The South claims a share with
the North in the glory of his name, be-
cause it was for the South as we'll as
for the North that he labored and died.
He believed in the Union as priceless
advantage to those who were trying to
destroy it the same as to those who were
trying to preserve it, and there is no
longer any want Of acknowledgement
that he was right. That is the mean
ing OF Southern tributes to his great
n ess and his goodness. The war ended
in the best way for all concerned, and
the losers were gamers with the win
ners. Nobody now thinks that the sue
cess of the Confederacy would have
been beneficial; nobody now regrets the
overthrow of slavery. The matter is
fully understood, the situation is fully
accepted. There is no profit to be de.
rived from the discussion of the es.
arrangement which has given place to
new covenant of harmony and CO.
operation. The time has gone by for
grudges and determinations on account
of a conflict that took place before a
majority of the present voters of the
country were born. That is what we
are taught by the posthumous influence
of Lincoln, and the lesson is one that
appeals to every intelligent and repu-
table American citizen.-Saint Louis
Globe Democrat