Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-02-12
FAITH AND GREATNESS.

The last century saw many great men
upon the stage OF history, but Abraham
Lincoln was perhaps the greatest OF an
those who appeared in the ro'''''''
arena. -.
knows OF Lincoln only through his-
tory. the important point to note is th'
source from which he derived ms
greatness.
rincoln was strong because he had
implicit trust In God. This truth stands
forth more clearly than any other, In
The marvellous history of his life. Be-
cause of that faith he loved truth ana
hated falsehood Because of that faith
nothing could sway him from the path
Of duty. That made him sincere In
that faith he found strength TO face
all the hate and fury Of his personal
enemies; he could so forwad. undis-
couraeed and undismayed, in the pres
ence of defeat and impending ruin be-
cause he believed that God was in
heaven. and that the right would ulti-
mately prevail. without faith in God,
Lincoln would have been failure.
To this unwavering faith in God Lin
coins love for his fellow-men may be
traced. He loved the common people,
because he saw In them the children OF
the same eternal Father. Like all great
men he was humble, because he loved
his fellow-men. The following anecdote
told by Ida Tarbel in the American
Magazine. illustrates this admirable
trait of character Miss Tarbell quotes
a Springfield man who went to Wash
ington to pay Lincoln q visit;
''WeH. | had brother in Washing
ton, clerk in department--awful set
up cause he had an office-and when l
got down there / told him I'd come to
visit MIR. Lincoln, He says, 'Wilham'
be YOU a fool? Folks don't visit the
President OF the United states without
an invitation, and he's too busy to see
anybody but the very biggest people in
this administration. why he don't
even see me- he says Well, it made me
hufly to hear him talk Isaac / says,
I don't wonder Mr.. Lincoln don't see
you. But it's different with me. Him
and mo Is friends
Well he says. you've got to have
cards anyway Cards / says. what
itin cards--with your name on We'll,
! says, IT'S come to a pretty pass If an
old friend like me can't see Mr., Lincoln
without sendin him a piece Of paste
board I'd be ashamed TO do such d
thing, Isaac Brown. Do you suppose
he's forgotten me2 Needs to see my
name printed out to know who am
You can't make me believe any such
thing and / walked right out of the
room, and that night | footed II up to
the Soldiers Home where Mr. Lincoln
was Twin then, right among the sick
soldiers In their tents.
There was lots OF people settin'
around in a little ROOM waitin' fer him,
but there wasn't anybody there / know
ed, and was feelin "A little funny when
a door opened and out came little John
Nicolay. He came from down this way,
so / Just went up and says, How'd you
do John: where's Mr. Lincoln? Well,
John didn't seem over glad 10 see me.
Have you an appointment with Mr.
Lincoln?' he says.
mo. SIR i says; 4 amt, and II
ain't necessary. Mebbe it's all RICH
and fittln' for them as wants post
offices TO have appointments, but
reckon Mr.. Lincon's old friends dom
need EN-. SO you jlst trot along, John
ME. and tell him Billy Browns here and
see what he says Well he kind 8
flushed up and set his lips together, bu
he knowed.me, and so he went on. II
about two minutes the door popped
open and out came Mr. Lincoln, hli
face all lit up. He saw me first thing
and he laid holt of me and Just shool
my hands ut to kin Billy he says
now l am glad 10 see you. Come rgh
In. You're goin' 10 stay to supper With
Mary and me-
Didn't / know it2 Think bein' presI
dent would change him--not a mite"
Lincoln lived during the most storm,
period of the Nations history. but hi
every energy was bent toward the es
tabllshment of peace everlasting. And
although he has long ago Joined the
cloud OF Witnesses" his voice ma,
still be heard from the past. for peace
Let us have peace" win the presen
generation listen, ana take heed?
Atany questions are now before tn
American people. Are they To be an
swered in the legislative halls and tn
courts, or are the forces on either sid
OF those questions 10 be arrayed ngains
one anotner IN deadly strife? Is clas
10 be arrnyed against class? Are W.
10 have war between labor and capita
IN which the sufferings OF the poor ar
10 atone for the absence OF patriot
craftsmanship? We ought To hay
learnt by this time that a house divide,
against itself be II ON geographical
lines, as IN the days Of Lincoln. or OF
Industrial lines, as IN our day, cannl
prosper. Advancement depends upo
the harmonious corporation betwoe
all classes and interests But where
the great spirit today whose innuenc
is for peace and Cancellation, iustea
Of combat 10 a finish?