The times., 1897-06-20
LINCOLN THE PATRIOT
The Friend Of Humanity and
Equal Rights.
THE COUNTRY'S DEBT TO HIM
Sprung From the People, No One
Better Understood His Duty to
Them, in Which He Never Wav-
cred His Speeches and Writings.
His Gettysburg Address.

, The campaign Of 1860 witnessed the
haost remarkable contest and alignment
OF political parties ever known in Our
history No less than three factions of
the dominant party confronted the Re-
publican raIty in it's second battle before
the people. Douglas, tie regular nominee
at Baltimore, was dstIusted 10y the South,
and Breckinridge was nominated 10y the
boilers Pell was also nominated by what
was termed the Constitutional party. This
DENTAL and the man of the people, the
great friend of humanity and good govern
ment was elected-Abraham Lincoln, OF
Illinois 1t matters little who nominated
hin, or who supported him, he was the
true representative of the people the
third great apostle of common sense IN
goyernm eat.
As public man atthis time, he was but
little known outside of his own state
But after his nomination for the high OF
flee of President, every important and
trivial incident OF his life was soon brought
to the attention Of the people. He was
made the subject OF ridicule by some or
the wealthy arisUocracy and not n Few
brainIess stump orators. But the plain
people listened with interest and did their
OWL thinking, and when the votes were
counted ne was the victor. They had
Judged theii man and made No mistake,
for lis sympathies were with the common
people Bern in log cabin, his muscles
had beer Injured to honest toll from Toy
hood Self-made, self reliant manly, hon.
est, hc was enc OF Gods true noblenen;
reared among the sturdy yeomanry OF the
West that honored men for their good quail
ities and not by their income, How fitting
that such q man should be at the helm OF
state at such ume
his trip to Washington was an ovation.
Throughout the journey the people turned
out to greet him, irrespective of party HIS
speeches at Cincinnati, Pttsburg. New York,
Albany, Harrisburg, Trenton and Phila-
delphia were characteristic of the m:u-
plain and direct, without ambiguity, and
without deception.
When il came his time to take the oath,
preparatory TO entering on the duties Of his
office, tie eyes OF the whole country We're
on him-lricnds as Well as foes. None of
his predecessors had been inaugurated
under like circumstances, and none Of his
SUCCESSORS are likely to be-
"There is a tide in the affairs of men,
and at this time it was running high,
threatening the very existence Of the re-
public. A great struggle was approaching;
thoughtful men were thinking and patriots
doubling. Were the sacrifices of our faith
ers and the labors of wise statesmen to
come to naught? The horizon was dark
and ominous. Warlike demonstrations were
everywhere visible. Companies were being
mustered aud drilled; secret messages flew
over the wires. Men whose patriotism had
never been questioned were on the fence.
The flag which had been the symbol of
national pride and glory was, in certain
sections of the country. insulted and trailed
in the dust. Such was the condition OF our
country when Lincoln delivered his inaugu-
raj address.
Asa speaker his power was remark able
On ordinary occasions his homely phrases
and native humor frequently punctured his
common sense and logic. He had the rare
faculty OF making his arguments plain to
the common people, and was able to rise
to the dignity of any occasion.
At the dedication of the Gettysburg Ma
tional Cemetery he followed the eloquent
and polished Edward Everett, and who
will say that he did not reach the full
height of his subject? That short speech
has been translated into many languages.
and is published as a model of pure and
terse English in our schoolbooks. How
strong, forcible and pathetic it is!
So in his address before his countrymen
from the front of the Capitol he fully
measured up to the occasion. His mastery
plea for the Union aud constitutional gov
ernment was unequaled. The reader will
thank US for a few brief extracts, as In
dcative alike OF his forcible logic and OF
his courage and patriotism.
"Seventy two years have passed since the
first Inauguration OF d President under our
National Constitution. During that period
fifteen different and very distinguished
citizens have, in succession, administered
the executive branch of the Government.
They have conductedit through many perils |
with great success. Yet with all this scope
of precedent, now enter on the same task
for the constitutional term of four years |
under great and peculiar difficulties. A |
disruption OF the Feder raj Union, heretofore |
only menaced, is now formidably attempt |
ed. / hold that in contemplation of uni |
versal law and the Constitution the Union |
ofthese States is perpetual.
"You can have no conflict without being |
yourselves the aggressors. You can have |
no oath registered in heaven to destroy the |
Government, while ] shall have the most |
solemn one TO preserve, protect and de- |
fend it,
"a majority held in restraint by con
stitutional check and Limitation, changing |
with deliberate changes OF popular opin-
ions and sentiments, is the only true
sovereign OF a free people. Whoever re
jects it, does, of necessity, fly to anarchy |
or to despotism.
The Chief Magistrate derives all his |
authority from the people
we are not enemies, but friends Though |
passion may have strained, it must not |
break, our bonds of affection. The mystic /
chord of memory, stretching from every
battlefield and patriot grave to every |
living heart and hearthstone of the Re
public, viii yet swell the chorus Of the
Union, when again touched, as surely it |
viii be, by the better angels of our ma
ture.'
How prophetic seems the closing para
graphi The better angels have again
touched the chords, and the grand chorus
of the Union swells from the lakes to the
oceans.
There was to be no backward step. The
people had put the right man in the ex-
ecutive chair. His firm stand for the
Union and the Constitution was applaud
ed by every patriot, and his appeals were
responded to with promptness and unanim-
ity.
"They gathered from the hillsides,
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