New-York tribune., 1901-02-12

altogether With malice toward none. with
charity Tor all. with firmness in the right,
God gives us TO the right let US strive on
10 nnlsa the work are in; bind up the Ma
tion's wounds; to care for him who shall have
borne the hattie and for his widow and his
orphan-to do all which may achieve and cher
lsh just and lasting peace among ourselves
and with all nations
LINCOLN CANNOT BE BELITTLED
The last few years have seen a curious agita-
tion set on foot TO cloud President Lincoln's
fame and challenge his emnently sane and
searching political judgment. Certain dema-
gogues Of the day have sought dstort Lin
coins sense of fellowship with those whom he
afectionately classed the plain people" OF
this country into a morbid and hysterical cham
pionship of the "masses'' against the Glasses
The Democratic Presidential candidate of 1896
and 1900 has not hesitated 10 trace 10 LincOln's
teaching the inspiration of his tricky and shall
low attempt to array 'the man. against 'the
dollar" Garbled extracts from Lincoln's
speeches-even a posthumous deliverance
ceived from him through a favored spirit
dium-hgured in the desperate appeal which
Colonel Bryan and his followers made in 1896
and again last year to the discontented and in
fammable elements in the body polite. At
Democratic dinner to be given Columbus,
Ohio, Lincoln has been infelicitously added to
the patron saints whom a party led by Bryan,
LentZ. Towne and Petigrew presumes 10 honor.
AT htiy might Vallandingham have proposed to
make the great war President the hero of an
Ohio 'copperhead" reunion.
From so warped and stunted estimate of
Lincoln's character and purposes it is refresh
ing TO turn to the judgments of his life and
work which promise to live longest in American
history and letters.
plain man Of the people. an extraordinary
fortune ATTENDS him. He grew according to the
needs. his mind mastered the problem of the
DAY. and as the problem grew. did his COM
prehension of il.
In four years-four years of battle days-his
endurance his fertility of resources. his mag
nanimity, We're sorely tried and never found
wanting There, by his courage, his justice. his
even temper. his fertile counsel his humanity.
he stood an heroic figure in the centre OF an he
roic epoch. He is the true history OF the American
people IN his time. the true representative of
this continent-father of his country. the pulse
of twenty millions throhbing in his heart, the
thought OF their minds articulated by his
tongue.
These are the words of Emerson. perhaps the
subtlest and profoundest intellect of HIS own and
Lncoln's generation With this tribute another
may be coupled-the noble lines from Lowell's
Harvard Commemoration Ode, written but three
months after Lincoln's assassination:
Nature, they say. dotn dote.
And cannot make a man
Save some plan,
Repeating US by rote.
For him her Old World mouds aside she threw;
And; choosing sweet clay from the breast
OF the unexhausted West
With stun untainted shaped a hero new.
Wise. steadfast in the strength OF God. and true.
His was no lonely mountain peak OF mind
Broad prairie. rather, genial leyel-lined,
Fruitful and friendly for all human kind,
Yet also nigh 10 heaven and loved Of loftiest stars
Great captains with their guns and drums.
Disturb our judgment for the hour.
But at last silence comes.
These all gone. and. standing like tower,
Our children shall behold his fame.
The kindly. earnest brave foreseeing man.
Sagacious. patient, dreading praise. not blame.
New birth Of our new SOIL the first American.
In these two judgments the world can always
read Americas true verdict her martyr
President