Omaha daily bee., 1898-05-29

As son, husband and father he was as neal
perfect as man can hope to be. TIL,
guiding star of Lees life was duty
Once satisfied what his duty was he pur
sued his way with unfaltering steps. a sol
der. and the descendant of n long line o
soldiers and statesmen, he did not love car
mage. He fought not for glory. Power an(
rank did not exalt him. Lee was al
great In peace as in war. When HI
rendered his sword to Grant at APP.
pomattox and accepted his parole, he showed
his good faith by his acts. With a simple
dignity and with the cheerfulness that IL.
Illustrated the greatness Of the man, he be-
took himself to the work of educating The
youth Of the land. II he grieved over the
result of the war between the states. or was
discontinued with his lot, the world did no,
know it. He literally died in harness. and
to the last followed those high conceptions
Of duty that had from early youth character
lied his life.
Senator Thomas G. Plat Of New York
Abraham Lincoln; because he was the great
est republican statesman Of America.
Senator Fairbanks of Indiana: Among
our national characters / select the name OF
Abraham Lincoln. He illustrated the
marvellous possibilities of American youth.
He walked the path of duty and taught the
gospel of virtue and the dignity of work.
Always elf-possessed, well poised, no
exigency could move him to indiscretion
He was courteous; that is, he coveted the
good opinion of his fellow-men and had a
laudable desire TO serve them. He would
pluck a thistle and plant a flower where a
flower would grow. He was an alien to the
subtle arts of the demagogue. 1t was mot
within the scope of his purpose in life to
create classes and intlame their prejudices
that he might attain power. He stood for
the masses, believing that the greatest good
Of all was the highest good of each. His
creed was direct and simple: w build
upon fair play for every man, equality be-
fore the laws, and God for us ALL"
Representative Charles H. Grosvenor of
Ohio: l nm asked to mention the name of
the person, dead or living, who is my
~favorite national character, other than
Washington. Were ! not impelled by a sort
of sentiment or idea that it is unwise to
write of men who are living in strong terms
Of praise, my paper would not be what it
Is. Mr.. Lincoln, to my mind, fills the
highest niche in the temple of great and
favorable characters among the American
people. If l could bring my mind to be-
lieve that the Almighty especially raises
men for special purposes, and disregards
their early opportunities and developments
in making choice, | should believe that the
Almighty as distinctively raised up and
ordained Abraham Lincoln for the purpose
of his later life and activity as that Moses
was the chosen of God to lead the children
of Israel. AND l do not want it to be under
stood that / do not believe in this theory.
| do not know the theory to be true and
never can know it, but l cannot account for
Abraham Lincoln upon any hypothesis
other than the direct imposition of God
Almighty. TIL leading characteristics or
features of the character of Abraham Lin
coin were independence of thought,
honesty of purpose and unfaltering in
tegrity of perseverance. His virtues
consisted of faithfulness to friends; devotion
to party utilization, because he believed in It
and believed that it was the sure road to
patriotic wisdom. in estimating men, and a
broad, comprehensive and unerring judg-
ment of human character and fitness. l do
not believe that l am far wrong in saying
that Of the dead men of American birth
Abraham Lincoln stands today admitted by
mankind to have been the greatest man of
his generation, If not of his country's pro-
ductlon, and If you will permit me, Mr..
Editor, | will say that in all which makes
a great character, you need not have put
the limitation that you did, and if you had
not, rather believe that my paper would
still be what 1t is.
Representative Joseph @. Cannon of I'LL
nois: Were l to name my favorite national
character 1t would be BENJAMIN Franklin.
He was a man of the people, a self-made
man, and amongst great numbers of alleged
self-made men the job was not spoiled.
lie was a typical American, the greatest
on this continent of good man
hood crossed with great ability and culture.
To have produced Poor Richard" was
suihcient to have made a reputation for half
a dozen Of great men. He was a great
a great diplomat, a great philoso-
pher. a great inventor, a great scientist, a
great Yankee.
Military md Naval Preferences.
General Daniel e. Sickles: General Andy
Jackson is my preference, because he knew