Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1904-10-07
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THE LOAD LINCOLN sHouLDERED.
Forty-four years ago November next
the republican party won its first ma
tional victory and placed in the execu-
tive chair the immortal Lincoln It Is
interesting at this time to refer to the
great burdens that were placed not
only upon Lncoln's shoulders but upon
those Of his party as well. -
= It is stated of Pope Plus K, that
when he was selected for that Inn
portant ecclesiastical post, he respon-
ded, 1T is a cross that you gave me-"
The affairs Of the nation for over a
decade up to 1860 had been in the
hands Of the. democratic party. The
country was on the eve of a great
civil war. The great question of slav-
cry was about to be solved and good
men were rejoicing that America was
to be free in deed as well ais mi name.
Already the south, jealous of what
it considered to be it's state rights,
was anticipating the conflict, James
buchanan, the democratic president,
weak and imbecile-like, refused to
stop the rebellious efforts Of the
south In making preparations for war
Northern arsenals and navy yards In
control Of southern members of his
cabinet had already been depleted Of
ammunition and war vessels, which
were sent into southern forts and
ports a .3. s,5
Such was the situation OF the coun-
try when the peace-loying Lincoln
assumed the presidency. The south
was ready to respond to a cali to
arms. Mr. Lincoln was pledged to
preserve the nation at any cost. While
his intention was not to disturb slav-
cry where it was he and his party
had promised to prevent It's spreading
into free territory. Really 1t was a
cross that the democratic party had
given to the republicans and to Presi-
dent Lincoln upon their assuming
control Of the government. ' g. +.
How well Mr.. Lincoln and his party
accepted the burden and the respon-
sibilities Of the hour and carried this
- NJ Q p E=
awful cross during a four years
bloody conflict history clearly shows
The nation was preserved but Of
course at an awful cost not only in
lives and loss Of limb and other injur-
les to hundreds Of thousands of sol
diers but a national debt was incurred
amounting to three billion dollars.
The great armies OF the nation
were disbanded and the men Returned
to the peaceful pursuits of life with
out any disorder, which attracted the
admiration of the world. The nation
al credit was maintained and the pay
ment Of 1.-The debt incurred by the rebel
lion was provided for. The immortal
Lincoln gave up his life ais "a martyr
but the republi lean party never failing
when the nation looked to it for sue
cor confronted the duty of the time
and set to work upon the great prob
lem OF; reconstruction and carried it
out successfully. 1t also commenced
to pay the national debt, rehabilitated
the finances OF the nation, built up the
country's industries, worked out won
derful problems of internal improve.
me ments and in less than a decade
wrought such wonderful progress
throughout the union that the nations
of the world stood by and app1auded.
The great party Of Lincoln has con-
tinued this magnificent work, has car
RED out the commission which the
dying Lincoln placed in its hands and
today in less than a ha1f century has
placed the republic on 4 footing higher
than the most enthusiastic citizen
ever dreamed OF g4s8 ssslS s:5 / =;
The policies Of the republican party
have not changed since the time Of
Lincoln and II stands ready today to
do even more for the nations vel
fare than ID the past The inspiration
OF Lincoln ii still present with the
republican party and Il an incentive
for greater progress and advancement