New-York tribune., 1900-11-14
Mr.. CHOATE ON LINCOLN.
AN ADDRESS BEFORE THE PHILOSOPH-
ICAL INSTITUTION OF EDINBURGH.

United States Ambassador 10 Great Britain
this evening delivered the inaugural lecture at
the Philosophical Institution Of Edinburgh TAX
ing as his theme The Career and Character Of
Abraham Lincoln" Lord Rosebery. who pre-
sided. introduced Mr.. Choate follows:
Mr.. Choate is one Of that choice succession of
men whom the United States have sent to this
country. He has endeared himself to in a
remarkable degree by his brilliant and genial
qualities For his discourse he has selected one
of she most interesting subjects within the range
of bility. the great man whom he personally
knew i'll the flesh Abraham Lincoln.
MR.. CHOATE'S ADDRESS.
Nj Choate related AT length the early life of
Lincoln. told Of his humble surroundings and
struggles 70 better his condition. and of his
gradual rise IL recognition. The speaker said
II part:
Ny Professional brethren will naturally ask me
had been suent in the forest or on ;he farm and
tie fatboat without culture or training education
oT sIldy by the random reading on the wing. 81
zew mtsceane9' law books become Learned ,1;G
He never would haze earned his salt as writer
- he siEnSt nor have won a place &C. as 3o adv0o
.t,- and te1rie ~ ieaTrtnr and Tracedent are
involved in the equipment Of a lawyer. DR.. Holmes
whom asked by an anxious young mother When
Nam al least TWO centuries before II is born
and 50 am sure il is with the -sco.s lawyer
Bur not 50 in Illinois in i>tU Between 1880 and
!ssa is population increased twe9tyfod and when
Lincoln '.
!.sa in Ilinois was ve:y crude and simple and so
The courts and the administration of justice
ioyei iuefi,e, 5lr..eId he law ard followed the
courts and soon found their favorites among the
common law as sci forth by Piackstone and
chino ] ven & not r SC Gq5 If 70 sSqqTe ese an9 69 2Ff5n PnT
pose. ready wit and powei # speech did the rest.
and supplied all the deficiencies o. learning.
az great Stress on Lineoln's career as lawyer,-
much more than his 5lographers qomneca 1t 4S IN
from that which prevails in Great Britain, he
this 5sy the rinc1al avei1e to pubic life and
am sure that his training and experience in he
those forces Of intellect and character which he
soon displayed on broader arena.
LINCOLN Al. COOPER UNION.
f2F5E yeP5s sPcy .s9a frs saw 2n4 T6es 4eA55 ID
Ieft On nv mind is inenaceahle. After his great
make a poiitical address He appeared in every
6ng " Thom @ @G o1ed fe to be- @ coGhtea G1 f. s5 ss
there was nothing impressive or imposing "a aoou, @
from the crowd: his clothes hung awkwardly m
his giant frame his face was OF dark pi paIIoTi
and rugged features bore the burrows OF hardship
anxious; his countensnce in repose gave little ev
6ence Of that brain power which had raised him
from he lowest 70 the highest station among MS
countrymen: as he talked 10 me- before the meet
Trehenson which ? young man might feel before
presenting himself 70 : new and strange audience
ne learned and cultural his party in New
York: editors. clergymen statesmen. lawyers mer-
chants critics They were all very curious hear
ceied him and exaggerated rumoT Of his wit-the
worst forerunner OF an orator-had reached the
when MI Bryant presented him. the high
eager upturned faces greeted him. full Of intense
egToi!y to see what his rude child & Of the people M
sp0ke he was his ed eye kndIed IN st ms 5
1re whole assemblv For an hour and a half he
hsia his audience il he hollow of his hand His
verely simple What Lowell called the grand
familiar. were reflected in his discourse With no
attempt az ornament or rhetoric. without PaTade
came expecting the turgid eoquence or the ribaldry
OF the fToniler they must nave o bia Stfarsnces
i was marvellous 20 see how this untutored man.
own spirit outgrown all meretricious arts and
found his own way TO the grandeur and strength
He spoke upon the theme which he had mastered
torical proofs and mastery logic that the fathers
who created the Constitution In order to form a
secure the blessings Of liberty to themselves and
their posterfty intended to empower the Federal
.ioverRment to exclude slavery from the Terri
IN the kindliest spirit he protested against
stroy the Union f. in order 10 secure freedom IN
those vast regions out Of which future states
were TO be carved, Republican Presioent were
elected. He closed with an appeal TO his audience
spoken with all the fire Of his aroused ana nd kndng
justice and liberty. maintain their political pur-
a-s wrong which alone could justify it, and not
- be intinidated from their high resolve and
Government or OF ruin TO themselves He con
Guided with this telling sentence. which drove the
whole argument home 10 all our hearts: Let US
have right makes might, ana IN that
understand tt That night the great hall, and the
T=xt day the whole city. rang with QeIlghted dp-
r-a-se and CONCENTRATIONS. and he who had come
a stranger departed with the laurels OF great
triumph.
LETTER TO A STRICKEN MOTHER
Never was there a more gentle and tender utter
arce than his letter TO a mother who nae gwen
a.! her sons her country written AT urle "llfu
angel of death had visited almost every mousse
rim - have been shown he says, in the mes
= rhe War Department statement that you ar
mother o. five who Rave died glorlouSlE
r- -h- field % battle. | feel how WeGE ana lrulI-
less n any words Of mine Whlcn sAollI az az
tempt 70 begUiie you from your grlef Tor loss SO
overwhelming I cannot refrain from tefloerlns
4 vou the consolation which may be foano IN m lle
thanks q the Republic they died 10 save pIaE
nat our Heavenly Father may assuage the ais uIs
q EDur Bereavement. and leave you Only Ilt ClleI
-ere6 memory ~ the loved and the lost, ana the
solemn pride that must be yours 10 nave ldiu s -
costly sacrifice upon the altar or tfeeooll.
Hardly could iliustrious sovereign from INC
DEPTHS q her qleenly and womanly heart nave
SPOKEN words more touching and tenoer 10 sooIhe
tLe stricken mothers Of her own soldiers
BY the election OF Lincoln 70 lle
the further extension OF slavery into tne err
tories wzs rendered for ever Impossible OK pop
yher founded great moral sentiment sur m
tie heart of an indignant people. their eoicts az
Irresistible and fnal. Had the slave power acqul-
esces n that election. had the Southern states re-
naa3ned under the Constitution ana W@lthln @ S .Iis
Union and relied upon their constitutional aho
Legal rights their favorite institution, irInoral as
was bIgntine and fatal a II was. might nave en-
cureG for another century. Ihe great parry '-'