Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-02-15
Abraham Lincoln.

The very general observance, Monday
and Monday night, of the anniversary
of Abraham Linooln's birthday, shows
how the country is coming to more and
more appreciate the greatness Of this
wonderful man. who now stands forth
pre- eminent as one OF the greatest
products Of American citizenship.
Few public men of high repute were
SO misunderstood and so uniustly
maligned during their lives as was
Abraham Lincoln. Even members of
his own party failed to appreciate his
marvellous staresmanship or his superb
intellect. Too many Of them were of
the opinion that he would be President
in name only, and that the shaping of
the course of the administration would
devolve upon them. How they found
themselves mistaken, and were eventu.
ally held in control by the masterful
man who occupied the chair of state is
a matter of interesting history. As to
Lincoln's political enemies, the ex-
treme hostility of partisan politics
during the campaign that resulted in
his fist election, and the bitterness
engendered by the Civil War, effectually
blinded them to his splendid attain
ments and the largenoss OF his
Christian charity, SO that it is not
surprising that most of them went to
their graves without knowing what
manner of man it was upon whom they
had visited their intense, unreasonable
hatred.
But the light of history has proved
revelation of the real character of
Abraham Lincoln, and he stands
forth as the greatest man of his
times, and one Of the few who occupy
the highest pinnacle of fame in our
public annals. Uututored in the paths
of practical politics, he was yet the
keenest politician of his day; UNI
educated ir the ways of diplomacy, he
proved himself as diplomat of diplo-
mats. His craftsmanship was broad,
progressive and far-reaching, and none
can doubt that had he been permitted
to live out his second term as Presi-
dent, the perpleSing problems of
reconciliation and reconstruction would
have been solved without the outrage,
injustice and oppression that marked
the plans laid down and followed by
his party after his death.
1t is most appropriate, in view of
recent events, that the people of the
United States should revere the
memory of Abraham Lincoln, study
the lesson of his life history, and draw
wisdom from his inspired utterances.
lie was anything but an expansionist
or an imperialist, but he was a
thorough American and believed in
the Declaration of Independence and
the Constitution of the United States,
The man who wrote in his second
inaugural address those soul.stirripp
words, with charity for all, with
malice toward none," would never
consent to war of aggression upon a
brave and patriotic people struggling
for liberty and self government. And
the man who declared, in his famous
address at the Gettysburg cemetery
that "this nation, under God, shall
have new birth of freedom; and that
government of the people, by the
people, and for the people, shall not
perish from the EARTH" could find no
words of approval for the cruel and
oauseless war that this country is now
waging in the Philippines.
| lnt4
honor the memory of Abraham Lincoln,
and, above all, profit by his high ex-
ample.