The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1909-03-04

Lincoln was hedged about by cautious
.ounselors Even as it was, he pre-
Jared the proclamation long before 1t
vas given out, being held back at the
dvice of Seward Above all else, Lin
toln was on the ground and knew
what was needed. 1t is hardly fair to
Judge him at this distance.
Here is sober truth, however. Up to
the time the emancipation proclama-
ton went into effect the Union yictO-
ries had been few and slight. Within
eight months thereafter occurred the
twin successes at Vicksburg and Get
tysburg, which decided the fate Of the
war. After ALL the invisible moral
forces rule the world.
The long and agonizing struggles
through which President Lincoln pass
ed in the early defeats of the war, In
the death of his little son. in the mis-
understandings and abuse from the
nboitionists and others on his own
side of the struggle, and his own men,
tai conflict III arriving at determine
ton to liberate the slaves, made the
first years of the war veritable Geth-
emancipation as soon as the proper
hour arrived was shown by interviews
with various friends. 1t is suggested
that the defeats and his private grief
| had much to do with forcing him to
take this supreme step. Through the
Wilderness of sorrow God leads us to
many promised lands.
| When emancipation came the fears
of the timid concerning it's disastrous
effects on the northern cause were
seen to be groundless. Events went
on as before But on the 4th of July
following came the events which
wrote this latest decree of freedom
into the permanent law forever. The
war dragged on after Gettysburg, but
it. was only shell. It's spirit, which
was breathed into it by the Confeder-
acy's hope died on that field.
The attitude of both Lincoln and
Seward in the Mason and Slidell affair
was statesmanlike in the highest de-,
gree 1t won the golden opinions not
only of Englishmen, but of all Euro-|
peans. 1t was assumed in the face of
universal clamor. An act of that sort
shows the highest courage. The frank
. admission of the wrong done and the|
real principle involved, that of the
, right Of search, which we ourselves
had denied, made the act unique in di-
, plomacy, shining example for other
r lands to follow.
Lincoln'S manner of conducting his
E campaign for a second term consisted
In making no campaign at all. He
knew Secretary Chase was candi-
date and yet did not resent it, mol
would he ask for Chases resignation
There is no doubt that Lincoln want
ed the vindcation Of denomination
and reelection. There is no question
that there were times when he fell
/ doubtful of the outcome, though usual
ly buoyed up by serene faith, Ye
he did little or nothing for himself an(
let his enemies conspire against hin
Unchecked. That he won out show
once more that the invisible mora
forces have more to do with runnin
this world than they get credit for. ].
| After all, however, the best part ;
Lincoln rests on such sentiments a
are shown in his Gettysburg speech
his second inaugural address, with 1t
| "charity for all and malice towar
| none,' In his pardons for military pris
| oners and in his large heartedness r.
vealed in thousand different way.
| His tenderness for the weak, his syn
| pathy for Distress his patience an
| accomplishing endurance, his lack G
| censure for others-all these thing
| have touched the worlds heart an
| have engendered a feeling of person;
| love for Lincoln such as has seldol
| been witnessed in modern times.
| The Gettysburg address and secon
| inaugural were President Lincoln's chic
| contributions to the literature of til
| world. In many respects they al
/ alike Both came near the end Of h
| life, when his great and trying wor
| was almost at an end. Both are e:
| tremely BRIEF the briefest great or
| tons on record. Both are exceeding
| simple, stating Fundamental and pr
mary propositions that everybod
/ knew and yet giving them meanir
so true and so final that it must b
i come the verdict of the ages.
The Gettysburg address laid dow
the simple principle that the battle o
curing on that field had been fougl
for the preservation Of human equa
ity and popular government. Getty
burg was one more triumph for Il
| Declaration Of Independence. The sc
j ond inaugural took up another pha
nd Of the same theme. The war hi
come because Of slavery. Liberty BIT
40 won the victory. 1t was in Gods pu
~ pose that one man should no long
~ eat his bread in the sweat Of anoth
-, mans face. If Lincoln was right al
~, Gods purpose remains now as 1t W
~. then, we have some more reckonin
49,, on that score, for there is still tyrann
- and those who produce are yet
~ prtved of their own. The crownil
A - =. u.