The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-13

Slowly but surely and with common con-
sent Abraham Lincoln's birthday IS COM
ing to share the honors hitherto reserved
for that Of George Washington. 1t has not
yet, like the other, been given legal dis
tinction, but the people of the United
States are showing themselves unwilling to
let the day pass without special observ-
ance. 1t detracts nothing from the rever-
ence iii which the name of the first Presi-
dent has so long been held that the later
hero should have universal tribute paid his
memory. Nor is it a reflection upon the
illustrioIis character of the father of his
country to say that the one who died a
martyr to the same country more than
half century after comes nearer to the
hearts of the people. There is no meas
uring and no comparing the services of the
two. Each met the demand made upon him,
and the debt owed by the Nation they
helped to form and to save is beyond COM
putation. But the one stands apart as a
being superior to the common frailties of
human nature, the little weaknesses that
bring a man near to his kind; the other
had the distinctive quality of sympathy:
he had thought not only for the great
problems of craftsmanship, his heart was
in touch with that of the humblest citizen.
The greatness of his heart, indeed, hindered
for a time appreciation of his intellect; the
world that looked on wondered at his SIM
plicity, his gentleness and tenderness his
approached ility and his humor-the humor
that saved him in awful stress-and failed
at first to understand what it all meant.
But degree of comprehension came soon;
even before his life ended people We're be-
ginning to see that his nobility of soul was
equaled by his sagacity a statesman. A
third of a century has gone, and he looms
a colossal figure against the background of
not so high that his distinctively human
traits are lost to sight Though SO uncom-
mon. he was one of the common people
living; dead, and one of the great names
of all the ages, he is close to the people
still. This nearness is not because the
years are few since he went, nor that men
are yet alive who knew him; already myths
are gathering about his name as about
those who moved on lifes stage centuries
personality. A hundred years hence he will
be dear to the people of that time as well
for his simple, honest. manly heart as for
his deeds. And back of all, and apart from
his services to his fellow-men, is the lesson
of his life, yet but idimly realized-the les-
son that the man arises to meet the emer
gency. His country needed him, and he
was ready. 1t is the triumph of popular
government that such things are; perhaps
of any government, for Providence does not
wait for kings. The Jeremiahs who bemoan
the failure" of self-government should
give heed to the Washingtons, the Lincolns,
the Grants and the thousand others, who
though less conspicuous, were all equal to
the special call when it came, and take
courage for the future. Let them consider,
too that before the emergency these men
quietly pursued their chosen vocations nor
dreamed Of the work before them in other
fields. To consider Lincoln apd his life on
one day in the year is most profitable for
any American citizen