The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-02-12
County aud GUY ogieiai Paper.
SEATTLE. WEDNESDAY. FEB. 1s.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

This IL Lincoln day. the anniversary Of
the birth Of the great martyred president.
Nearly thtrty-one years since he fell at the
hand OF an assassin. his name has become
dearer 10 the American people with each
suecee Ing decade. and his fame only grows
the greater as hts noble traits and splendid
characteristics are subjected 10 the test OF
time. Abraham Lincoln was. perhaps, as
typical an American as this country has
ever produced. His birth was humble. his
early years full OF ell the priyations which
fell TO tho lot OF those pioneers engaged in
building up tho West. 1t was at a time and
In IA country where the equality OF man
was recognized as a national principle. and
II success was TO be obtained IL was only
through ability and individual effort
I.incolr's battle for existence was no easy
one. lie had 10 overcome poverty and want,
and whSs he acquired In the way OF edu-
cations. accomplishments was only through
the scanty facilities of the frontier And
yet, the rough struggles of the youth were
probably the making OF The man. for 1t
brought out all his best mental and phys
lcal qualities and gave him patience and
power OF self-denisl which in later years
proved to be invaluable.
Reared among the common people, Lin
coin TO the dag OF his death remained enc
az them. Eia sympath.es were always with
the masses. ana power. position and pres
tigs never alenatea him from tAc great
majority which. like himself. had found
fife hard and net always promising s,rug-
gle. His nature. although in a rough ex-
terror was gentle as ehiid's. and his heart
never failed 10 beat ia sympathy with
suffering or distress lie was man
distnetlveiy Of the people ana even in high
station he remained I'm touch with them.
seeing as they saw. feeling as they felt.
doing as they did.
I.incoln's political career will. OF course.
always remain one Of the striking stories
In American history. When elected 70 the
presidency he was hardly what might be
termed man 81 national reputation al
though his fame had become widespread
"a the West through the great DEBATE with
Douglas The old leaders might suspicious
~ ask who this new aSrlrant from the
prairies was. but those who had seen him
had long since begun TO appreciate his
strength OF character. great mental force
and splendid powers Of reasoning. LIN ,oln
IN iSla was more or less % raggeily intel
iec;uai giant where known. and II was rot
Ions before tho Eas, began 70 estimate him
IN the same way.
With all the side lights that have been
thrown on the administration OF the gov
ernment during TIE years az civa war. the
great president stands cat each year a
more heroic figure. As councillors he hal
about him men % pre-ensiaent AGILITY with
weil-estahlishea rational regulations.
Moreover. they we're ambitious. n not in-
dependent and arbitrary. To BE TIE hea
OF government among such leaders ard
ia the midst ~ al manner OF se0as ara
rsvaIrtes was task sroa waleh the stoas.
est hear, might shrink I4ncola never hes
hated however. lie had been chosen pres.
itent ey gae people, he proposed 20 perssraa
she duties of thai eyslee ana foF fogg long
trying years be ala s.. claiming no credit
Tor grand accomplishments. yet wiling =
take the responsibility for results whscs
CHANGED 90 ean Tor criticisms frosn an over,
wrought and impatient puhiic.
TIE frankness. generosity. kinsiiaess and
foreearaacs which distinguished 50 MARY
or Issccln's Scts amidst ere surmoii - war
whea raen wero hardly responsible .oT veal
they id. seem ROW 10 have been almost
divina inspiration Nexed. frettsa. ans ~
times aleaost driven % desperation th7eass
military essSSsrcaAeS or internal atsssn'
xious al Washington city. his geed tsag-
ment ana sonnapa sense never lu&t Inn