The Ellensburg dawn. [volume] (Ellensburg, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1909-03-04
August, -, 1862

Hon. Horace Greeiy,
Dear Sir: have just read yours of
The oh inst, addressed to myself
through the New York Tribune. If
Ihere be In any statements or sssump.
inns OF fact which know to be erron-
arms. | do not now and mere contro-
vert them, II there be any inference
vhich may believe to be falsely drawn
do not now and here argue against
them. II these be preceptible in it an
impstient and dlctatorial tone, l waive
Il 10 Difference to an old friend whose
heart I have always supposed TO be
right
Az 70 policy "seem to be pursuing"
= you say, have not meant to leave
,ny one In doubt. would save the
Nation. would save it in the shortest
NV under the constitution. The
sooner the national authority can be
restored, the nearer the Union will be
The Union as it was. II there be those
Who would not save the Union unless
they could at the same time save STAY
sry, I do not agree with them. My
mrsmouut object is to save the Union
and not either to save or destroy slav
ey. III could save the Union without
freeing any slaves would do it, and il
could save it by freeing all the slaves
would do it, and If could save it by
freeing some and leaving others alone,
would also do that. What do about
slavery and the colored race, do it
because believe 1t helps to save the
Union. And what forbear, forebear
because do not believe it would help
70 save the Union. | shall do less
whenever I shall believe what am
doing hurts the cause, and shall do
more whenever believe doing more
will help the cause. shall try to cor
rect errors when shown to be errors.
ssd l shall adopt new views so fast as
they shall appear to be true views. |
have here stated my purpose according
bmy view OF official duty. and intend
10 modification OF my oft expressed
personal wish that all men everywhere
could be free
Thus spoke this great patient man OF
the people at time when his heart
vas sore with disappointments and his
mind harried with problems OF state.
Even when this letter was written,
Lincoln had made the draft OF his
Emancipation Proclamation. But IN
bis judgement the time was not ripe
ioe its PRONUNCIATION. Afterwards,
when he considered the psychological
moment had arrived, be unhesitatingly
gave 1t 20 the people. And towards
the close OF the war, feeling that
events had so shaped themselves as to
warrant 1t, be unequivocally declared
that no peace could be secured without
Tie recognition OF the adjustment OF
slavery. Thus by bis patience, his
diplomacy, his firmness, his thorough
understanding of the complex motives
Of men, he attained all he had striven
Tor and that was 10 his heart to accom-
plish. He did not believe that he had
accomplished these tn ings alone
Abraham Lincoln was profoundly reli
gous 1t is said the effect upon his
taought and conduct OF the belief in,
and conscious communion with an al
mighty, mysterious and beneficenf
power concerning itself not less with
human affairs than with the march OF
seasons and the sweep of consultations
va most powerful. 'He who posses
~ the divine powers OF soul is great
being, be bis place where it may. You
may clothe him with rags. chain him to
saSish tasks, but he is still great.
nn vas simple great soul 10 deed, IN
thought, and in expression. No one
v0uld have written the Gettysburg adj
aFess, or the second inaugural address
unless be was greaE because they were
wv the expression Of the pent up Soul
'ast vas In the man. Both these are
us'sc' 10 the English language. HIS
usage to his countrymen 10 his sec
ono inaugural address, at time when
we result Of the war was no longer in