The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-02-19

malice toward none and charity for all?
Surrounded by friends, in the midst Of
joy, he was struck down by an assassin
bullet and the songs of gladneSs and
peans of victory without were over
Whelmed by an ocean of sorrow from
within, 1t were as if gloomy night had
suddenly spread her robe of darkness
of sea and cities and over the tenteu
tibe fate, the blood of Lincoln became
the first healing potion to be thrust
to the parched lips of the wounded north
and the bleeding SOUTH and in him
! there passed from earth the dearest
friend of one and the best friend of
both His body taken to various
of our larger cities where it lay in state
in order that countless thousands of his
ountrymen might gaze for the last time
on his care-wOrn furroWed face. Upon
his coffin had been placed wreath sent
by the sister of a soldier whom he had
once pardoned from a military sentence.
Hundreds of hamletS throughout our
land could have sent similar token to
testify to his clemency and mercy. Time
has only served to endear him to us
more and more, for he was cast in a
manly mould and kindness was in him
an Unborn virtue
Washington's memory has faded into
ia halo-it arose from veneration; Lin
coins lives in the hearts of men, for it
sprang from love.
Lincoln As Commander.
Judge Lorin Cray was the next
speaker, and his subject was Lincoln
the Commander in Chief" and was i'll
part as follows:
The constitution of the United States
provides that the president shall be the
comma nder chief of the army and
the navy.
hundred years ago today a man des-
tined to become the commandments
chief of an immense army engaged in
Ia long and bitter war.-Abraham Lin
coin.
When Lincoln was inaugurated presi-
dent in March 1861 war had been ac-
tually declared and practically begun.
For many years there had been no
necessity for. and no commander in
|chef. who assumed to discharge the
duties of that important office. Lincoln
had had no previous military training.
he had never wheeled q battalion,
placed a squadron, or planted battery.
He had been a ca plain in the Black
hawk war. to be sure. but that was a
mere uprising of hostile Indians not
arising to the dignity of a war. and
called upon Lincoln to display no mill
Itary genius whatever.
1t became necessary for Lincoln to
organize his army and appoint his com
handing generals. The conditions which
confronted him were very embarrassing
and grave
Nearly all of the trained military
officers of our small regular army, the
West Point graduates, graduates, from
the Only military school in the United
States of any Importance at that time,
We're southern born and when war was
declared. they went south and cast their
lots with the coufederacy.
There was Robert T.. Lee: the two
Johnstons, Stonewall Jackson. Hill, Long
street Beauregard Early Kirby, Ewell,
Bragg. Hood. Fitz Hugh Lee, and many
others who abandoned our army and
went with the south. and all of whom
became renowned military leaders.
Nearly all of the sohooed military
officers who remained. failed to win any
distinction as military men in time of
war. Lincoln was compelled 10 look to
the civilians of the north for his military
leaders.
In the appointment of his generals
he was subjected to political influence,
party prejudice. and public clamor
Had Many Trials.
And while he made mistakes and met