The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1909-02-19


plishment Of His will and purpose.
Nor does He choose His means as
men would choose. Not the great
and mighty, the strong and influen-
tial, the rich and powerful; these
He passed by and called to His SER
vice the humble and lowly, the
plain and simple, but with all the
sane and sincere-a Lincoln whom
He had prepared for such an emer-
gency."
Mr.. Hickok then entered upon a
brief but compact review of the
humble birth, the pioneer discipline,
the incidents that helped to form
and mould the character, the natu-
rally strong mind that overcame the
meager opportunities OF improve
ment, and the close touch and SYM
pathy of the great commoner with
the humanity of the common people.
The events that lead up to his
elevation to the presidentcy were
briefly referred to, and his position
upon the question of slavery and
its relation To the war. Mr.. Lin
coin was unalterably opposed to
slavery, but to him the war was
waged primarily for the preserva-
tion Of the Union, while In several
special messages he suggested to
Congress Legislation looking to the
gradual emancipation OF the slaves
with compensation to the States
under which they were held, In one
plan fixing 1900 as the year for the
final extinction of the institution OF
slavery.
Mr.. Hickok concluded his address
with these words, which were fol-
lowed by Mr.. James Russell Low
ell's ode on 1.-THE First American,
rectted by the author at the Har-
ward Commemoration OF Lincoln on
July 2lst, 1865:
Let us turn from the story OF
conflicting opinions, honestly held
by brave and good men of both
sides, and from the story Of the
strife Of civil war, and look upon
brighter and more pleasing things.
From the strife there followed re-
suits that were wholly beneficial in
their character.
First, let this message be sounded
through the years: In this land,
dedicated to Liberty at the begin
ming OF It's history, nevermorc shall
any human being be held In bondage
by another. Let us amplify and
bear its spirit into every realm
where abuse may abound, where
human rights are not allowed. II is
the duty of true manhood to-day to
struggle for those conditions under
which he can attain his highest
manhood; 1t Is his duty to recog-
nize obligations Of brotherhood t.
the betterment of every human be-
ing who dwells beneath the common
flag.
"SecOnd, once and for all time
the question has boen settled, this
country is one and cannot be divided.
To no state or section can there be
given the right of severing it's con-
nection with the sisterhood of states.
In the furnace the iron is heated to
a white heat; under the blows of
heavy hammers II Is welded and
beaten into shape. In the furnace
OF civil war, heated many fold, by
cruel blows given and taken on each
side of mighty conflict, our ma
ton and our people were welded the
more closely together, and from the
furnace and blows emerges with
greater beauty and strength. For
ever shall IL send down through
history the message of n people re-
country that is one.
"Third, it may not be amiss to
apply as one of the effects of the
war, the terse saying OF Mr.. Lin
coin, In substance, there can be no
successful appeal from the ballot
10 the bullet.
ut is not possible that one should
review the life and work of Mr.. Lin
coln, even imperfectly, and not see
In these both IN example and an in
spiration for his countrymen, SO
long as their country shall endure.
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