Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-02-11
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

"wednesday. Feb -, Is the ninety
ninth anniversary OF the birth OF Ap'"
ham Lincoln The day will be refneh-
bered throughout the country ana inc
wonderful part he played in American
history win be recouuted to the present
generation. And this is well for 'ne
lives Of such men are an inspiration TO
patriotisrn and deeds OF righteousness
1dnooIn was born in Hardin County
Yv Feb. ~. 1908. Like so many other
truly great men, he entered the worlu
an,id humble surroundings. His educa-
tion was. as he himself says, detective
bit his training in the hard school of
experience was clearly calculated to III
him for his great mission. And in this
school he was rapidly promoted lie
rose to the highest places Of honor ana
responsibility
Lincoln was the man of the hour
when the question Of the right of states
10 secede was debated on numerous
battleaelds and when European nations
contemplated the recognition OF tne
South as a separate nation France
with designs in Mexico hoped for
division OF the Union. The English
aristocracy sympathized with the
South. Even Gladstone said: "Jeffer-
son Davis and other leaders of the
South have made an army; they are
making, 1t appears, a navy; and they
have made. which Is more important
than either nation. Such were
the views entertained In Europe. Lora
Palmerston was at the point OF oterihs
''mediation," which would have beeil'
practically, recognition of the Con-
federacy, since mediation means an
attempt TO make peace between inde
pendent nations. II was during this
crisis that Lincoln proved himself the
greatest man of his time. He lived but
for one object When he was publicly
attacked for his mistaken Difference
TO rebel slavery" he answered that
his purpose was neither to save, nor
destroy slavery, but TO save the Union
The time came. however, when he
became convinced that the slaves must
be freed, for the salvation OF the unity
OF the nation, and when his mind was
llilue UP nc dIAth fhNNANNAAAb'Jf NA'' 49,
Proclamation OF Emancipation was Is
sued 1t is believed that this proclama-
ton did more than any other single
effort 10 prevent European powers
from interfering as ''mediators'
IT is strange that this man should
be taken away at the height OF his SER
vices. when the difficult problem of re-
construction confronted the nation. 1t
Is strange that the assassin's bullet
should be permitted to find his heart,
while his work seemed still unfinished.
But such was the fact. He died on
April 10. 1886 and the whole country
felt that he was martyr to the cause
of human liberty. The principles of his
life may be summed up as follows:
with malice toward none; with char
ity for all; with firmness In the right
as God gives us to see the right, let us
strive to finish the work we are in;
to bind up the nations wounds; to
care for him who shall have borne the
battle. and for his widow, and his
orphan, to do all which may achieve
and cherish a just and lasting peace
among ourselves. and with all ma
tons"
The war which 1t was Lincoln's Inn
portant mission to bring 10 success
million men and over five billion dol
lars in money. But It decided the
question of the unity of the United
States and opened the doors of liberty
TO four million slaves 1t also proved
the courage and patriotism of the
American people, both North and South
one trait Of character was promi-
nent in the mental constitution OF Lin
coin. His practical common sense went
straight to the essence OF every ques-
ton that arose before him. Another
trait was equally prominent. He was
sensitive and gentle as a lamb toward
his fellow-beings sympathy and sweet
ness Of character We're shown toward
all who approached him to seek his aid
In both these admirable traits OF char
acter he rescmbled the Prophet Joseph.
another martyred great American OF
the last century.
But he was every way equipped Tor
his HES work. lie was the strateglst
of the war. His plans for the prosecu-
ton Of the conflict We're followed TO
the letter. lie was a master IN diplom-
acy, ana this enabled him 10 steer clear
OF the rocks upon which less able
statesman would have lost the ship OF
state, He was respected by friend and
foe. Jefferson Davis is quoted as fol-
lows Next TO the day OF the fail o
the Confederacy the darkest day this
South has ever known was the day o
the ass ~ nation Of Abraham Lin
coin a greater tribute was never pale
to the memory OF any man,