The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-02-12
SEATTLE. MONDAY. rEBRUARy ~.
Abraham Lincoln.

Ninety-one years ago a boy was born
to poor people living in a cabin in Har-
din county. Kentucky. His mother
could read but not write: his father
could do neither. Both had little with
which they might fit the lad for the
struggle OF life. Poverty and Ignorance
were around him: toll and difficulties
were before him. He overcame them
all. and today his name. his work. his
imperishable renown. judged by noble
qualities Of head and heart. are those OF
the greatest American OF the century.
Lincoln was distinctively an American
product. He was OF the great new
West, with Its hopes, Its ambitions. its
love of freedom, its broad and liberal
ideas. His environments were rugged.
and because OF them he took on the
strong, rugged character which, once
formed, never changed to the day OF
his death. His inspirations were those
OF the sturdy people building an empire
In the wilderness. people who were to
achieve success only through hard work.
frugaiity and honest living. From youth
onward his was the plain life of those
who constituted the real sinew OF the
American people He grew up accord
ing to their ways, walked In their light.
reasoned with their reason. communed
with them In thought. felt the throbs of
his coun'ry's mighty heart and so. as
one has said. was IN every way child
OF America.
He worked on hatboat. he drove
cattle when the family migrated to H.
linots. he split rails for the new home
stead and others in the nelghbor-
hood;-he kept a store. he served as
volunteer In the Black Hawk war; he
learned something OF surveying. he
studied law, was member Of the iegis-
lature, served one term In congress. be-
came leading practitioner In the state.
aspired to a seat In the senate, and NJ
last, just as the civil storm was rising
to whirlwind and the most expe-
rienced statesmen OF the country had
failed TO allay its wrath. was called 10
the highest position In the land. with
only the slender education which
harsh circumstances had permitted him
u gain while making living. with 1T
tie experience In affairs Of state. and
none as an executive officer. with the
country torn asunder by disaffection
and the wisest men trembling for the
future. Abraham LINCOLN took up ms
mighty task as was ever allotted 10 a
citizen and patriot. and. measuring the
dinieulty ~ the duty that devolvcd upon
HIM. resolved TO falan 81
Hts great work. performed under try.
ing circumstances. which are each year
becoming better and better understood.
H. now matter % history During
those weary years. when an angry. &C.
vcrish. cypactant nation. now sanguiue.
row desrairing. was urslng. criticislng,
ccndemning. he toiled ON patiently amid
the turmoil. often dlsheartsaed bu;
hoping and praying tha, the Uniun
Nigh, be saved There were times Of
fault finding an1 bitter denunclatian.
but the years have cleared away those
darker shadows. and all the world now
maFveis at the grea; god sense. the
d!srsssianate ladsmen, and the clear
vision Of the martyred president
Roth North and South 80 last appr,.
ciate the rcuarkshle parts ~ this ser.
tic man Ms intense love of country ana
sincerity OF purpose his faith In the
people. hts kinanness Of heart. his
Christian tolerance. his rcai-tenderness
OF Seeiins. his marvellous rasience. bis
ariss frmness. hts plain bat shgrwa ~
tsiHx~nee. hts rare common sense WITH