The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1898-03-01

The Best Informed Man of His
Timc-His Public U,teraDces the
Classics OF the Language.

The Best Informed Man OF His
Timc-His Public U,terapces the
Classics of the Language.
The following tribute to Abraham
Lincoln has seldom been exCelled,
although hundreds Of writer's n
speakers have eulogiZed his services
and praised his achievements. The
estimate of MIR. Lincoln is partial and
yet discriminating, and while 40 has
risen greatly in tho estimation OF
5outherners since he fell u martyr to
the cause he esLoused, we question
very much whether the masses OF his
own section truly appreciate him as
does the writer Of tho following
sketch, which is taken from the Wool
Record:
The proposition to make Lincoln's
birthday u national holiday should be
promptly effected by appropriate Con-
gresslonal action. The whole country
stands In the greatest need OF the
quickening influence OF his inspiring
words and deed. He has been deau
nearly thirty-three years, but the
world gazes upon him with an interest
keener tuan yer man aroused. His
own cOuntrymen have looked upon
MIN long and lovingly, but through
strained and blinded eyes. He has not
yet been clearly seen, nor will he be-
until the eye can bear his light.
Abraham Lincoln IL still unknown.
His measure has not been taken. The
wonder Of his work has not betn com
pretended. His history has . been
written. To estimate what nc ac-
complished is the Of the future.
70 sing his praises and eXalt his name
will always be the inspiration of poets
and orators. , The American people
can conceive 40 greater ambition, ana
can achieve no higher distinction, than
TO be deemed worthy Of his service ana
sacrifice.
Uulestered and untraveled, he was
the best informed man Of his time. He
seemed to be superior to the approved
methods of education and independent
VI the ordinary mental processes. He
had an intuitlve grasp upon the real
significance OF every public question,
and an apparently prophetic compre-
nensiOn of the obscure and complicated
issues of the future. La his intel
iectual composition there were ele-
ments both good and evil, but the vast
re. ources and varied attributes of his
mind were concentrated and focused
on the great principles OF justice, truth
and mercy. His words were the fit
vehicles Of his thoughts and hence his
public utterances are the classics OF
the language.
He was distinctly human, with all
hat phrase implies, but between the
base of his physical existence and the
crown of his intellectual life, there
was included all that is grand in
human nature, from the Drawn OF the
slave to the dream of the prophet. He
was fitted for action in the forest hoveI
or the court of kings. The qualities
| nf hia mind phnrmnd ennallyA1ha dol
and the seer. He astonishsl the
philosophic mind with the keenness OF
ms logic and b scope of his compre.
hensiOn. ne made clear to the Sim
plest intellect the most complex pro,
position.
His style frequently blended the
beauty and strength, the simplicity and
sublimity, of the Hebrew prophets and
poets. Nothing in our language CAP
exceed the tender tone and delicate
touch Of these pathetic words found in
his first inaugural: THE mystic
chords Of memory which stretch from
every battlefield, and from every pat
riots grave, shall yield a sweeter music
when touched by the angels of our
better nature" This Is q veritable
poem in three sentences. The elo-
quence of his Gettysburg Grafton is
lairly Addisonian. Impartial criticism
can suggest no Improving substitute
for d single expression used in ths.
wonderful though exceedingly short
speech. 1t required only "a few minutes
for It's delivery, but while Edward
Everett's three-hour's Grafton, with its
iabored rhetoric and studied declama
ton, is practically forgotten, those
few, simple, beautiful and inspiring
words, breathing the warmth and
pathos OF q noble nature and q sympa-
thetic heart, will live SO long as elo-
quence welded to patriotism and hu-
manity shall survive.
In human affairs he had no sphere
to ill. He filed all spheres. He was
the heir OF the human race, and he
came into the world endowed with all
It's gifts. He was all hat Is strong
and rugged all hat Is beautiful and
tender. He was the granite and the
moss fern the sea crag and the thistle
down the oak and the ivy.