The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-02-12

within its limits. They felt that n the
! Federal government was ever placed In
! the hands of those not under their di-
I rect control, their institutions were in
l serious danger
Abraham iucoln was one OF those who
foresaw the inevitable conflict When he
stated, after dcliheration, that the coun-
\ try cannot remain half slave and half
! Tree, he made public the conviction form
ed carefully in his mind. He was uuali-
ned To express an opinion upon this mat
ter He had been In Congress several
years before, after crcdtabe expert
ence OF six years In the Illinois legisln-
ture. In his single term I'm Congress he
was identified with the opposition to the
slave power, and he undoubtedly
was Impressed with the persistence de-
Notion and designs of it's leaders He was
a close Student OF affairs To which he
gave his attention. His sound Judgment.
afterwards so often displayed as presi-
dent, could lead him 10 no other conclu-
sion
Lincoln did not go 10 Washington TO
assume his office, an unknown man II
may fairly be said that on the day of his
nomination for president OF the United
states his name was as familiar TO the
people as the name OF any OF his com
petitors. He was, however. a stranger
20 the atmosphere surrounding official
life IN Washington and had never before
occupied an executive Office
President Lincoln was confronted with
carefully planned rebellion OF great
magnitude. The young men of the SOUTH
ern states had given a great deal of at
tention to military affairs and were large
~ oiiieered by mon whom the government
had instructed and upon whom IL ex-
pected TO depcud I'm time OF war. with
the exception of q small portion Of Ten
nessee, the people of n states were prac- /
uoaly unanimous In oppposing the mill |
'hry measures OF the government
Tho president commanded a weak navy l
scattered abroad ANA q small army many
of whose officers had resigned. The treas
urN was empty Public opinion in the
North was not unanimous iu Opposition
go secession. the weakness experienced
hy an free governments IA carrying op
war was painfully apparent
in our government OF divided rcsnonsI 1
piilty ana divided powers. I'm the time of
triai everything may he said To depend
upon. th" chief executive. For live years
Abraham Lincoln occupied this position
uhder ~ burden 90 cares no ono ~ us
yan appreciate or understand History
records that trying difficulties of the va
llous situations were overcome That the
formidable attempt 30 disrupt this conn
ny fhilcd ihat as an incident SLAYER,
'Nas abolished. The struggle made IA
nous several Americans but the fame
~ none approached that or Abraham
incoln lie WIS not only the oflciaI .
head ~ the government. but he WAS tho
ruder ~ the people
historians furnish details of his mag
lihcent services to The nation Orators !
or nearly ~ ycars have told their autit
noes ~ his many good qualities. sense
y Justice, vast endurance aud his states
nanship. Authors have presented him in
very conceivable light aud school chin.
lrcn have his career held up 90 them as
h example ~ what is possible in this
ouutrv. ,
10 Is well Tor eyory umciai assemhl,
u the country 90 annually cal atten-
ION 60 Abraham L,ncolns lifc lie not I
MY demonstrated that the highest of. 4
Ice in the gift uf the people In I'm tbe Z
each of All without tho advantages OF +,
wealth or station. but also that our sNs- ,
em of government based upon the VIII 2
q the people T. capable OF standing sue. ,
cssfully The seVerest tests that can be
ut upon any government
JUDGE swEETLAND SPEAKS.
Concluding his own address the GOV. ,
lnpl introduced Judge Sweetland who a
p9k VIGOROUSLY, cioquently aud effect. 4
,ss vsr, ne.sftl on hali hour, he said it
'sa .ttrl ntilnE aud appropriate not only
lr the school children aud citizens sen
i"lll nut also fnf legislators in tho ner- 7
'tmfhcs OF their high a tics 10 urn :.
-lue today. For brief n ri0d s,td bnun, 4
, ,n,lueit e. % man who moro than
H.. .,' !. 9l-i"N. tyrlned The highest
ihtpiN Wa man uf unflti.sf sf,cneth
n,,a a9a' riatosmanshir and political MIS-
lie wa a plain man OF m. ,i.t,, ,..o,i.
- simplicity ls the ksfnots A. ,,e,i,.11tt''.' =
~ i.s anu the sciences generaiiv so q
nSu.a "a ia, y oe ~ Eoverrmsni, Legislation .
ifrtirrss manhood and osliuurf human | u