The Portland daily press., 1900-02-13

must be formed. Human sacrlnce is not
abolished with PsRanism and the nav
of the divine NOR stsr Is never filled or
satisfied. 1he human atom rolls on un-
I'll an impact comes that changes ell
It 10 as II right had been suddenly
changed into day. Intention and purpose
succeed to indireotion. Ambition s-on
follows and advancement step y sep
leads quickly to achievement. Who
placed the stono In the road upon whioh
the wandering soul reboundsd? How
did 1t happen that tAe atom aud Its
stone found such just positionf A
watohful and foTgivins Providence. see
ing mans accumulation Of folly and sins.
that necessarily mus be stoned for and
washed away by extra human effort, au
almost blood atonement. waters with
benetoent rain the obscure tree and
nurses 1t to sturdy proportions that it
may do the work called for by the occa-
sion-and the hero 10 produced.
Such q man was Abraham Lincoln. His
birth could hardly havs been more lowly,
bis childhood more obscure or dishe esrten-
ing. His youth and early manhood were
marked by every hardship. Bound ont
In accordance with the custom Of the
time. during his minority. he respected
his Obligation with sorupulous fidelity
and honor. Indeed, the one great CHAR
acteristic of this man was his high sense
Of honor whi'h he maintained even with
nimtelf. Throughout his very busy ca.
word Of HE that was other than entirely
honorable. 1t is said that there was
marked difference In his conduct of O
legsl case when he knew he was defend
Ing the right; he could not be eloquent
or convincing when he was retained on
the other side. He would do his duty,
Of course, and do 1t well, but there was
something lacking In him, the pure
flame of his utmost endeavor was absent.
What was he not in his early career?
Hunter. toatman. farmer, tearnster. sold
Ter, clerk, storeks eper, latortr, In fact q
general newer OF wood and drawer OF
water. And always with such earnest
IS, such determination, such honorable
Intention TO do his full duty by his en-
ployer, to yield bis exact return either In
labor or goods. During these weary years
he was sustained byi that omnipressnt
has becomes famous. Perhaps 1t was
somewhat coarse, judged from the stan
dard Of today, but 1t was never harsh OF
Intended to hut anott er's feeling.
His reading, though limited In extent,
was generous and ennobling In Its sub
lect matter. His direction toward the
law came naturally. He had the gift OF
clear, logical argument and his generous
impulses easily mads him the champion
Of one side or the other OF every neigh.
his speecteI began to be widely known
In the neig hborhood and it was not long
before he was encouraged to become q
lawyer and advocate.
Indifferent success and awakening am
billion turned his mind to politics and he
islature. This was before the time OF
primaries and nominations by oonven-
tlons A man desiring to try for Office
announced the fact to his friends and
the public, made his own platform, cO-
vassed his constituency personally. and
then calmly awaited the result of the
election. Sometimes there were many
and votes were widely dis.
trtbuted.
Lincoln did not succeed at first, but
legislature and later one term In the Ma
tional House of Repre- ssntatives. He did
not seem able to hold his naturally an
tagonistio district, and his Washington
experience was not extensive. He made
= fair name for himself, however, In his
single term and was not buried in total
But the storm was gathering. The
heavens were darkened and flashes of
angry light zigzaysd across the national
horizon. The seedtime Of human blood
hal lasted for long. long years; the
the wealth piled by the bondman's $50
years Of unrsquited toll shsll be sunk,
and until every drop of blood drawn with
the lash shall be paid by another drawn
with the sword"
The tall figure Of the peoples champion
of the people and from the reople. seemed
q fitting object for the o1lmination Of
I he furies now being let loose Would the
angry flash strike and rsnd himf Or
would he stand triumphant when ex-
hausted nature drew OIL her weary forces
and retired from the attack The contest
with Douglafs for Senator In Illinois re-
suited In failure; but IL wss the chasten-
ing. Il lost him . seat In the Senate and
gained him the Presidency. --.. A--.,.
II there is one lesson taught by Lin
ooln's work and struggles. Il Ia the me-
csssity of doing well the part We have to
do In this world with no regard TO the
future, its possibilities or opportunities.
Too often men feel tire role they are
called upon to play in this world Is not