Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-02-13

earn a living as practicing attorney
at law. And chiefly due to natural
inclination and a marked aptitude for
public affairs. he was also engaged in
politics, Both party utilization and
conscientious belief united to identify
him with those who in later years or
gained the Republican party. Thus far
his life story is remarkable chiefly be-
cause so common. Through his own
efforts he had become an intelligent,
we'll informed citizen.
Until he became president. the car
eer of Lincoln was comparatively I'M
eventful and in sober truth 1t must be
said, gave no proof of exceptional.
ability or merit, either as a private
| citizen or as a public servant. He lays
no claim to excessive piety, affected
no superior code of morals. professed
belief in no religious creed or dogma.
| His life was certainly such as to earn
and deserve the respect and confidence
| of all who knew him. A devoted hus-
| band and father. honest and punctual
in all his personal engagements and
public relations, he was in these things
but typical of the many thousands of
his fellow countrymen. While justly
ranking well in his profession espec-
| tally as forceful and successful trial
| lawyer. it would be sheer exaggeration
| to place him with Webster. Choate,
| Evarts and dozens of others whose
abilities at the bar have entitled them
to enduring fame. His short period
of service in Congress would have
| been forgotten had he not lived to
become president and while his de-
| bates with Douglass were able and
creditabie to him in every way, that
| service alone would be a poor founda-
ton on which to base a claim to
greatness. AS a master of the bare art
Of popular oratory he fell short Of
| Am rico Of
earlier times whose speeches are to-
day almost forgotten.
Had it not been for the portentious
issues invalid in that discussion and
the impressive events speedily follow
ing, the Lincoln Douglass debates
would have soon passed away with the
other campaign literature of that
time
Upon becoming president, Lincoln at
once assumed the leading part in the
most tremendous political and military
conflict the world had ever known.
Shall government founded on the con-
!. sent of the governed endure or may
it be destroyed at the whim or caprice
of those temporarily dissatisfied? Is
popular. government success Or a
failure? Broadly stated this was the
issue at stake. The theatre of this
titanic conflict was the imperial do
main Of America, the actors were mil
Ions Of free born, intelligent men peo-
ping this vast region descendants Of
sturdy, liberty loving ancestry who
throughout thousand years had
themselves led the vanguard Of civil
ization and fought the worlds battles
for civil and religious liberty.
Eyes of World Upon Him.
Throughout the four long years of
this conflict Lincoln sat at the helm to
guide the ship Of state. The eyes OF
the world We're constantly upon him.
Fortunate il he did his part well but
woe if he fail. True he had advisers
but in the end the responsibility was
his, the glory, the shame. How nobly
he did his part, this anniversary oc-
casion, the gratitude Of mighty peo-
pie. the admiration OF the whole
world, testify today. Yet nowhere do
we see some brilliant stroke Of genius,
some masterful state paper, some de-
cisive move. Is Lincoln then after all
not to be called great? Yes but his
was not the greatness Of a Bismark.
He was great because being one OF the
common people. he understood them,
was in perfect sympathy with their
feelings and purposes and when he
i spoke the people found voice when he
: acted they approved and sustained
him. His even balance, his homely
common sense, his honest judgment
and righteous purpose made him their
idol, and thus he was enabled to say
that this nation under God shall have
g new birth Of freedom and that gov
eminent of the people, by the people
and for the people, shall not perish
from the earth"
Washington displayed little OF that
brilliancy of genius peculiar to the
great military captains of history but
owing to that unfailing love and con-
fidence our people felt for him he was
enabled to achieve results far beyond
the reach of a Caesar or a Napoleon
and in a land under popular rule only
men whose honesty Of purpose and
) patriotic motives are such as to win
and hold the confidence of the people
) are capable of achieving real and last
inc results. Only such men are truly
great. Such was Abraham Lincoln
the plain, sincere, unassuming Amer
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