The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1896-02-20

LILY =, LUZ 11I1INkA1l0s Onk
house he characterized military glory as
"that rainbow that rises In showers of
blood, that serpent that charms but to
destroy" When he became responsible for
the welfare Of the country, he was none
the less earnest for peace. He felt that
even in the most righteous cause war Is q
fearful thing,and he was actuated by the
feeling that thought not to be begun ex-
cept as q last resort and then only after 1t
had been precipitated by the enemies Of
the country. He said in Philadelphia on
Feb. 80. g1861;E
'sThere is no need of bloodshed and war.
There Is no necessity for it. I am not in
favor of such course, and I may say In
advance that there will be no bloodshed
unless 1t is forced upon the government.
The government will not use force unless
force is used against 1t. .
In the selection Of his cabinet he at once
showed his GREATNESS and magnanimity.
His principal rivals for the presidential
nomination were invited to seats In his
council chamber. No one but great man,
conscious of his own strength would have
done this. It was. soon perceived that his
greatness was in no sense obscured by the
presence of the distinguished men who
sat about him. The most gifted statesmen
Of the countrys-S Seward, Chase, Cameron,
stanton, Blair, Bates, ,Welles, Fessenden
and Dennison, some of whom had been
leaders in the senate of the United States
composed that historic cabinet, and the
man who had been sneered at as 1.-THE rail
splitter" suffered nothing by such assooia-
ton and comparison. He was leader in
fact as well as name.
His Magnanimity.
Magnanimity was one of Lincoln's most
striking traits. Patriotism moved him at
every step. At the beginning of the war
he placed at the head of three most impor-
tant military departments three of his po-
litical pponents-Patterson, Butler and
Mcclellan. He did not propose to make
it partisan war. He sought by every
means in his power to enlist all who were
patriots.
In his message of July 4, 1861, he stated
his purpose in these words:
81 desire to preserve the government
that it may be administered for all, as it
was administered by the men who made
it, On the side of the Union it is strug-
gle to maintain in the world that form
and substance of government whose lead
ing object it is to elevate the condition of
men, lift artificial burdens from all shout
ders and clear the paths of laudable pur-
suits for all, to afford all an unfettered
start and fair chance in the race of life.
This is the leading object of the govern
ment for whose existence we contend"
Many peoplewere impatient at Lincoln's
conservatism. He gave the south every
possible chance. He pleaded with them
with an earnestness that was pathetic. He
recognized that the south was not alone
to blame for the existence of slavery, but
that the sin was a national one. He sought
to impress upon the south that he would
not use his Office as president to take away
from them any constitutional right, great
or small.
To His "Countrymen."
In his first inaugural he addressed the
men of the south as well as the north as
his "countryme,l, one and all, and with
an outburst of tndescribable tenderness
exclaimed: "We are not enemies, but
friends. We must not be enemies" And
then in those wondrously sweet and touch
ing words, which even yet thrill the heart,
he said:
Though passion may have strained it
must not break our bonds of affection.
The mystic chords of memory, stretching
from every battlefield and patriot grave to
every living heart and hearthstone all over
this broad land, will yet swell the chorus
of the Union when again touched, as sure
ly they will be, by the better angels of our
nature"
But his words were UNDECIDED. The
mighty war came with it's dreadful train.
Knowing no wrong, he dreaded no evil
for himself He had done all he could to
save the country by peaceful means. He
had entreated and expostulated; now he
would do and dare. He had in words of
solemn import warned the men of the
south. He had appealed to their patriot
ism by the sacred memories of the battle
fields of the Revolution, on which the pa
triot blood of their ancestors had been so
bravely shed, not to break up the Union.
Yet all in vain. "Both parties deprecated
war, but one would make war rather than
let the nation survive and the other would
accept war rather than let it perish. And
the war came"
Lincoln did all he could to avert it, but
there was no hesitation on his part when
the, sword of rebellion flashed from it's
scabbard. He was, from that moment un-
til the close of his life increasingly devoted
and conseorated to the great purpose of
saving the Union. All other matters he
regarded as trivial, and every movement,
of whatever character, whether important
or unimportant in itself, was bent to that
end.
Amazing Forbearance.
The world now regards with wonder the
infinite patience, gentleness and kindness
with which he bore the terrible burdens of
that four years struggle. Humane for
giving and long suffering himself, he was
always especially tender and considerable
of the poor, and in his treatment of them
was full of those kind little acts which
are of the same blood as great and holy
deeds' AS Charles Sumner SO well said,
"With him as president the idea of repub-
lican institutions, where no place is too
high for tho humblest, was perpetually
manifest, SO that his simple presence was
proclamation of the equality of all men. :"
During thewhole OF the struggle he was
tower of strength to the Union. Whether
in defeat orsyictory he kept right on, dis
mayed at nothing and never to be diverted
from the pathway of duty. Always cool
and determined. all learned to gain renew
led courage, calmness and wisdom from
him and to lean upon his strong arm for
support. The proud designation Father
of His Country was not more appropri-