The Sauk Centre herald., 1909-03-11

Lincoln was hedged about Ey cautious
counselors. Even as it was, he pre-
pared the proclamation long before it
was given out, being held back at the
advice of Seward. Above all else, Lin
coin 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 victO-
ries had been few and slight. Within
4, 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. o.
The long and agonizing struggles
J 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
abolitionists and others on his own
side of the struggle and his own men,
tai conflict in arriving at determine
ton to liberate the slaves, made the
first years of the war a veritable Geth-
semane. That he long contemplated
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. It 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 d.
plomacy, shining example for other
lands to follow.
Lincoln's manner of conducting his
campaign for second term consisted
In making no campaign at all. He
knew Secretary Chase was q candt
date and yet did not resent ii, mol
would he ask for Chase's resignation
There is no doubt that Lincoln want.
ed the vindication of a denomination
and reelection. There is no question
that there were times when he felt
doubtful Of the outcome, though usual
ly buoyed up by serene faith. Yet
he did little or nothing for himself and
let his enemies conspire against him
unchecked. That he Won out shows
once more that the invisible moral
forces have more to do with running
this world than they get credit for.
After all, however, the best part OF
Lincoln rests on such sentiments as
are shown in his Gettysburg speech
his second inaugural address, with its
charity for all and malice toward
nOne," in his pardons for military pris
oners and in his large heartedness re.
vealed in a thousand different ways.
His tenderness for the weak, his sym.
pathy for distress, his patience and
uncomplaining endurance, his lack Of
censure for others-all these things
have touched the worlds heart and
have engendered feeling of personal
love for Lincoln such as has seldom
been witnessed in modern times.
The Gettysburg address and second
inaugural were President Lincoln's chief
contributions to the literature Of the
world. In many respects they are
alike. Both came near the end Of his
life, when his great and trying work
was almost at an end. Both are ex-
tremely brief, the briefest great ora
tons on record. Both are exceedingly
simple. stating fundamental and pri-
mary propositions that everybody
knew and yet giving them a meaning
so true and so final that it must be-
come the verdict Of the ages.
The Gettysburg address laid down
the simple principle that the battle oc-
curing on that field had been fought
for the preservation of human equal
ity and popular government. Gettys-
burg was one more triumph for the
Declaration Of Independence. The Sec
ond inaugural took up another phase
Of the same theme. The war had
come because of slavery. Liberty had
won the victory. 1t was in Gods pur-
pose that one man should no longer
eat his bread in the sweat Of another
mans face. If Lincoln was right and
Gods purpose remains now as 1t was
then, we have some more reckonings
on that score, for there is still tyranny.
and those who produce are yet de-
prived of their own. The GROWING
glory Of the second inaugural, how
ever, is its magnanimity. The battle
having been won, there was nothing
but mercy for the conquered. The
spirit Of the Gettysburg address Is
democracy; that of the second inau-
gural is love.