The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-08-05
II.

In the interplay Of Federal and State
authorities during the civil war-an inter-
play which was to eliminate in an asser-
tion Of the nations supremacy over the
constituent States and in the temporary
conversion of the President into a dictator
the result. Of course, obviously depended
to a certain extent on the personal qualities
Of the Federal and State Executives. Our
authors portraits Of them are among the
most striking and interesting features Of his
book. 1t may seem hard to say anything
new Of Abraham Lincoln, but Mr.. Weeden
certainly considers him from a To- angle
Of vision. Thus, referring to Lincoln's
almost complete lack Of instruction, in the
ordinary sense Of the word, and the extreme
paucity even Of his opportunities for self
education, our author lays down q prin-
ciple which, once propounded. will scarcely
be contested. namely. hat while libraries
stimulate a book educates. All the mathe-
NAUTICAL training that Lincoln ever received
he got for himself. when he found that he
needed it in the work Of land surveying.
Six books Of Euclid pored over and mas
tered in the intervals Of physical labor
laid the foundations Of a logic which could
grapple with fancy or Douglas. Davis or
Seward" The two books with which Lin
coin was most thoroughly familiar were
the Bible and Shakespeare. Touching this
fact, our author suggests that though
Lincoln may have been wanting in more
direct acquaintance with the annals Of
Greece and Rome and with the lessons Of
European history, yet his intimate knowi-
edge OF Shakespeare in some measure cor
rected those defects.
Another discriminating touch in our
authors portrait OF Lincoln Is his depreca-
ton Of the current description Of him as a
witty man." Even Judge Douglas, who
knew him 30 we'll, spoke Of him as full Of
wit" Our author Is too keenly alive to the
distinction between wit and humor to make
such a mistake "The mind Of Lincoln. I"
he says, seldom discharged wit. Such q
mind did not work readily in that unhuman
atmosphere. where hard CLEANS Of truth
are stricken forth as from flint, or steel, or
diamond, or glass. That assemblage Of
ideas-whether in resemblance or contrast
the play Of intellect, fascinating the great
wits Of the world. did not attract the Hoosier
transferred TO Illinois" Mr.. Weeden goes
on to suggest that wit shocks, humor
touches, our fellows and our kind. Humor
penetrates the individual and the separable,
| o%utfowing into those humane currents Of
feeling, mournful or funny. where people
unite and move onward into large streams
of compassion. All true orators have
something Of this power Of passion that
fuses their individual hearers into q living
sea Of upturned faces but only statesmen
who are also prophets can carry this mo-
| mentary passion into the larger personality
| Of their constituents Emerson is quoted
| to much the same effect: What an orna-
| ment and safeguard is humor! Far better
| than wit for q poet and writer. 1t is a
genius itself, and 30 defends from the in
| sanities.' What follows will also be appre-
| ciated: His judgment, the sum Of all the
faculties, was unerring where justice and
the greater issues OF life brought his ethical
power into full play; but in the myriad
affairs Of life he was like an elephant pick
ing up pins. His dull sensitivity and con-
fessed want Of taste left him senseless In
the ordinary fitness Of life Our author
considers that Herndon's close relations to
| Lincoln make his conclusions important as
we'll as interesting. Herndon's summary OF
Iinooln's predominsing qualities L.. first,
his great capacity and power Of reason;
ssoond, his conscience and his excellent
! understanding; third. an exalted idea Of the
sense Of right and equity; fourth. his intense
veneration Of the true and the good" The
estimate Of Lincoln presented In this book
closes appropriately With the tribute paid
TO him by Sir Edward Malet, who was Sec
rotary to Lord Lyons. British Minister at
| Warrington during our civil war. Abe
Lincoln, = says Malet, was great man-one
whom the homely and loving appellation
| cannot belittle. OF all the great men / have
known he IL the one who has left upon me
| the impression Of Q sterling son Of God
| straightforward, unhinohing, not loving the
work be had to do, but facing II with q bold
and true heart: mild Whenever he had q
| chance. stern a. iron when the public veal
required II. following q beehns TO the good