Omaha daily bee., 1896-02-12


to Washington the most imposing and
the most rcycred character in American
histoiy-will be duly honorcd. 1t has
been proposed to make February IL n
national holiday, and sooner or later
this may be done, the only objection to IT
being that IL comes So near the ami
vcrsary of Washington's birthday. But
in any event the birthday of Abraham
Lincoln does not need this recognition
in order to insure it's observance by his
countrymcn. Appreciation of the great
qualities of Lincoln, admiration of his
character, and gratitude FOR the mighty
work ha accomplished, grow with the
passing years, and there is no danger
that so long as the republic stands, or so
long as free institutions are cherished,
that the memory Of the emancipation of
race and the savior of his country will
fade from the minds of men or cease
to command their affection and rever-
ence.
Great interest has been developed
within a few years in the study of the
character of Abraham Lincoln. in the
investigation of those clements that
were so mixed in him as to give him n
distinct individuality more marked and
unique than that of any other man
who was ever prominent or dlstin-
gushed in American public life. He
was Il many sided man, but on no side
was Lincoln other than an entirely
good man. A characteristic which con-
stantly obtruded itself often TO the
great annoyance if not disgust of the
members of his official household, upon
whom the burdens of state rested heav-
ily was his quaint humor, his readiness
to tell Il story or to make an application
of some funny incident in his expert
ence to the most serious matter. He
was much ridiculed and condemned
for this. but all now understand that
it was by this means Lincoln found
relief from a strain greater. than was
ever imposed upon any other man in
our history. No man could be more
serious than he and his seriousness was
profound and all-engrossing, but his ma
ture could not dwell perpetually under
q cloud. 1t needed some sunshine and
this he found in occasional salies of
humor. Lincoln was man of tender
nature. All his instincts We're humane
and kindly. He was easily moved by
an appeal from the humble and help
less. Yet he could be as firm as ada
mant and immovable as the rock-ribbed
hills when firmness was demanded. He
could and often did temper justice with
mercy, but never with any sacrifice or
surrender of right.
Lincoln was an orator whose rank
among Americans Is, in the opinion of
most competent judges, second only to
that of Daniel Webster In the judg
ment of so capable an authority as
Thomas b. Reed there seems to be
nothing even in Webster to equal that
sublime recognition of the justice Of the
living God, even in the midst of chas-
coins second inaugural. "That passage
seems to have the power of the bible"
says Mr.. Reed in an article in the
Philadelphia Press, ''and the words
seem as consecrated as if they had been
the words on which our hearts and
our fathers hearts had hung for 2,O00
years" While the fame of Lincoln as
an orator will always rest, as Mr.. Reed
suggests, on the two inaugurals and
the speech at Gettysburg, everything
that has been preserved of his utter
ances is worth reading, for Lincoln
never gave careful expression to his
views without saying something of
value. His mastery debate with Doug
las is a rich mine of political ideas and
many of which are as valu-
able now as when they were spoken.
OF the patriotism of Abraham Lin
coin the world needs no new evidence.
His love for and devotion to free insti-
tutions was profound, intense, bound
less. He had also an unfailing faith in
the survival of those institutions and
in the grand destiny of the republic,
which had its basis in a perfect faith
in divine providence. There has re-
Gently been some controversy regard
ing Lincoln's religion, but there can be
no doubt of his belief in the bible and
in the cardinal doctrines of Christi
anity. His whole course of life and all
that he ever said attest this.
Hannibal Uamlin once said: "There
be any exaggerated estimate of
Mr.. Lincoln. No doubt he made mis-
takes, and he was the first to admit
them. He had less of self-consequence
than any man of ability | ever saw,
but he is not to be Judged by occasional
but by his whole career, his
purposes and his achievements" So
Judged, Abraham Lincoln was one of
the greatest. noblest and most heroic
the world has known.