The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1896-02-20
M'kINLEY ON. LINCOLN.
Eloquent Tribute to the Patriot
Martyr.
TRACING A WONDERFUL CAREER.

The Prophet and Master OF the Nations
Greatest Crisis-Secret Of His Mighty
Power-Address of Ex- Governor william
Mckinley Before the Marquette Club
Of Chicago.
MR.. PRESIDENT, GENTLEMEN OF THE
MARQUETTE CLUB AND MY FELLOW CITI-
ZENs-It requires the most gracious pages
in the worlds history to record what one
American achieved. The story of this
simple life is the story of plain, honest.
manly citizen, true patriot and profound
statesman, who, believing with all the
strength of his mighty soul in the institn-
tions of his country, won because of them.
the highest place in it's government, then
fell precious sacrifice to the Union he
held SO dear, which Providence had spared
his life long enough to save.
We meet tonight to do honor to this i'm
mortal hero, Abraham Lincoln, whose
achievements have heightened human as
pirations and broadened the field of oppor-
tunity to the races Of men. While the par
ty with which we stand and for which he
stood can Justly claim him and without
dispute can boast the distinction of being
the first to honor and trust him, his fame
has leaped the bounds of party and coun-
try and now belongs to mankind and the
ages.
What were the traits of character which
made Abraham Lincoln prophet and mas
ter, without a rival, in the greatest crisis
In our history? What gave him such
mighty power? To me the answer is sim
ple-Lincoln had sublime faith in the peo
pie. He walked with and among them.
He recognized the Importance and power
of an enlightened public sentiment and
was guided by it. Even amid the yicissi
tudes of war he concealed little from pub
lie view and inspection. In all he did he
invited rather than evaded examination
and criticism. He submitted his plans and
purposes, as far as practicable, to public
consideration with perfect frankness and
sincerity. There was such homely SIM
plicity in his character that it could not be
hedged in by the pomp of place or the
ceremonials Of high official station. He
was so accessible to the public that he
seemed to take the whole people into his
confidence. Here, perhaps, was one secret
of his power. The people never lost their
confidence in him, however much they I'M
consciously added to his personal discom-
fort and trials. His patience was almost
superhuman, and who will say that he was
mistaken in his treatment of the thousands
who thronged continually about him?
More than once, when reproached for per-
uniting visitors to crowd upon him, he
asked, in panied surprise: why, what
harm does this confidence in men do me?
get only good and inspiration from it..
Friend of All Men.
Horace Greeley once said: 81 doubt
whether man, woman or child, white or
black, bond or free, virtuOus or vicious
ever accosted or reached forth a hand to
Abraham Lincoln and detected in his coun-
tenance or manner any repugnance or
shrinking from the proffered contact any
assumption Of superiority or betrayal of
disdain.''
Frederick Douglass, the orator and pa
triot, is credited with saying, Mr.. Lin
coin is the only white man with whom I
have ever talked or in whose presence
have ever been who did not consciously or
unconsciously betray to me that he recog-
nized my Color
George Bancroft, the historian, allud-
ing to this characteristic, which was never
So conspicuously manifested as during the
darker hours of the war, beautifully illus
trated it in these memorable words, GAS
Child in dark night, on a rugged way,
catches hold of the hand Of it's father for
guidance and support, Lincoln chung fast
to the hand of the people and moved calm
~ through the gloom"
His earliest public utterances were
marked by tho confidence On March 9,
1882, when announcing himself as cam
didate for representative in the Illinois
Legislature, he said that he felt it his duty
to make known to the people his senti-
ments upon the questions of the day.
EVERY man is said to have his peculiar
ambition, he observed, land whether it
be true or not I can say for one, that
have no other so great as that of being
truly esteemed by my fellow men by rem
dering myself worthy of their esteem.
How far shall succeed in gratifying this
ambition is yet to be developed. I am
young and unknown to many Of you.
was born, and have ever remained, in the
humblest walks of life. have no wealthy
or popular relatives orr friends to recon-
mend me. My case is thrown exclusively
upon the independent voters of the coun-
try. But if the good people, in their
wisdom, shall see fit to keep me in the
background I have been too familiar with
disappointmcnts to be very much cha
grined."
In this remarkable address-to me al
ways pcton6blC-luau6 Wu6Q n6 WAS only
90, the main clements of Lincoln's charac-
ter and the qualities which made his great
career possible are revealed with startling
distinetness. 1t expresses the experience
of the noble young man of today equality
as well as then. Weseo therein '.that brave
old wisdom of Sincerity that oneness in
feeling with the common people and that
supreme confidence in them which formed
the foundation Of his political faith.
The True Democrat.
Among the statesmen of America Lin
coin is the true democrat, and Franklin
perhaps excepted, the first one He had no
illustrious ancestry, no inherited place or
wealth and none of the prestige, power,
trainingor culture which was assured to the
gentry or landed Glasses of our own colonial
times Nor did Lincoln believe that these
classes, respectable and patriotic however
they might be- should as matter of alb
stract right have the controlling influence
in our government Instead, he believed in
the all pervading power Of public opinion.
Lincoln had little or no instruction in
the common school; but, as the eminent
DR.. Cuyler said, he was graduated from
"the grand college of free labor, whose
works were the fiatboat, the farm and the
backwoods lawyers office" He had
broad comprehension Of the central idea of
self 0Oyarnment The Declaration of In