The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-02-15

upon her grave"-the tragedy Of great
soul had utterance there! The twilight
night that afterward 'e enveoped Lncons
mind and for year enthralled II. Abra-
ham Lincoln was kentuckian; he him
self never forgot that; in his great last
speech" at Bloomington he said. Ken
lucky, my State and of himself and 9TH
ers native to that State he said: we Ken
to Almighty God that Kentucky-his State
in that blacklist hour of all his misfor-
tunes, did not forget him, Fond and faith
full mother-thou who didst give him TO the
Nation that he lowered with unpurchas-
able pearls created by the crystalZing of
his tears-in his severest need thou didst
succor thy stricken son. Upon thy breast
his aching head was pillowed; thy tender
accents soothed his tortured heart. and
from thy bosom flowed the healing that
brought his wandering mind from sickness
back to health. from darkness up to light
This Kentucky did-all this. and more!
With all mothers love and pride she
watched him climb the heights of fame.
and when he reached the topmost peak and
the clouds closed about him. when the
storm of war broke around him and its
thunder pealed and it's lightning flashed and
men were wrought to madness, Kentucky
though for moment she hesitated; though
for q moment remembering her loving Sis
tiers in the South. she turned toward them
with yearning heart; though for a moment
she paused between duty and love upon the
side and love and duty upon the other,
still. be IL said to her undyiRg fame, Ken
lucky broke her distracted heart in two
Union,
Nor did she from that day ever waver
in her allegiance to the Nations flag,
though her loyalty brought her not unity.
but division-not peace. but a sword, Ii
disrupted communities, it shattered lifelong
friendships, it estranged father and son.
1t separated husband and wife, il set broth
ers face to face in enmity upon the battle
field. Yet she was stanch and true. l
thank God she was stanch ana true ana
those. not only of Kentucky. but of all the
Southern sisterhood, in gratitude to the
Almighty that His higher wisdom ordered
the results of war and preserved to my
generation and to posterity an undivided
country upon whose altar burn with
undiminished fame the fires of liberty,
Inscrutable indeed are the designs of
God. Not in the smoke and bloody turmoil
of war, but just as the white light Of peace
was broadening Ger the land: did death
set his seal upon 1.-The sad. pathetic face"
of our immortal Lincoln, Oh, that he might
have lived. oh. that he might have lived
to take from victory its bitterness and from
defeat its sting. TO temper the winds of
passion to them to whom returning peace
you desolate.' Oh. that he might have
lived to execute those gentle. patriot pur-
poses that rose in his heart. like crystal
waters from the loving earth, and promised
peace indeed. But his appointed work was
done. A voice cried. Good and faithful
servant well done, and the peace that
passeth understanding and the world can
not give fell upon his wearied heart. Oh.
patient heart! thy sorrows were many and
severe but
1.-The bitter cup they mingled strengthened
thee
For the great work to set thy country
free"
The war is over. It's drums are silent:
its shrll-lpped bUgles still. The tramp of
marching infantry Is heard no more. the
clatter of passing calvary is hushed. the
lannon's thunderous utterance has dwin-
died and died out The streams that once
ran reddening to the sea are pure and
sweet again; their voices sing alone the
limped songs OF peace. Upon the hills and
in the dales now new flowers are in bloom.
the birds are piping in the woods. and fields
once desolate are green and gold again. And
the American people kneelng before a COM
mon altar and saluting a single flag. min
gle their tears OF mourning with tears of
gratitude for him whom God gave them I'm
their hour of trial and. that hour passed,
took again unto himself.