Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-02-13


right and answers the appeals of the
righteous, and that SO far from an in
dication of weakness it was an element
of strength to Lincoln and a comfort and
support to the people. He also insisted
that this is but the beginning of Lin
coins fame, and that his name is to
stand as the greatest yet developed in
the hI=tory of this Western world
am not going to ask how you feel on
tits question, for / think l already know.
The first of these two men never saw
Lincoln, never synpathized with the war,
never cared whether the slaves were bond
or free. The other man stood by Lincoln
u men he raised the flag at the White
House at Washington, and he went on
with the armies of the Union to the front
ard staid there up to The battle of the
Wilderness. turning back only when his
life blood traced a thin led line along
tie torn and trampled earth. Which OF
the two, think you, knew Lincoln the
better? Which Of the two could better
understand why in the vigils of those
days and nights Lincoln's heart turned
with it's burden to the Lord? Nothing in
all the Lincoln literature that floods the
current publications touches us like this
pertinent suggestion of the loneliness of
Abraham Lincoln. To me, he seems like
one of the old line of Hebrew prophets.
He had their vision and their proph-
coy. their gift of speech. ard he shared,
as | have said, their loneliness and their
majesty. If he lightened his outward
converse, with story or jest, it was to re-
lieve the sombre background of his pro-
foundly thoughtful and prophetic life.
Like them, he knew how to wait and
how to forbear 1t seemed as if he could
look beyond the veil and see the hour
when he could strike for freedom. How
many times we have heard the story of
the impetuous demands of the North for
immediate emancipation. Who, but the
man stepped in the philosophy of an is
sue could bide his time until the psyche
logical moment when he could break the
bonds that had been forged about the
millions Of the South? I do not intend to
attempt any analysis of Lincoln's char
acter. Others have done it far better
than / can do it, 1t is en- ugh that he
loved this nation tendely. 1t is enough
that he suffered and was strong. 1t is for
these human elements of his great life
that this nation loves as well as veneer
ates the name of Lincoln, and it is sig
nifcant that his sad. lonely life touches
us more keenly, more realistically today
than it did even in that hysterical hour
when we fell as a nation to our knees
and sobbed out our hearts above his
PROSTATE form.
Lincoln struggled for political liberty
Today we have every political liberty we
desire and more than we need. The is
sues that face us are those of social anG
economic, not political iniquties. Thess
must be met and settled and settled right
We must save our national domain fol
the use of the people-not for use against
the people. We must purify the market
places We must drive the money chang
ers out of the temple of justice, out OF
the control of our Legislatures and oul
Congresses. We must face these ques
tions-not in spirit of bitterness and re-
venge, but with minds open and devoted
to justice. In this coming battle for po-
Iitical and economic justice and for pop
ular sovereignty may Lincoln point th>
way. With malice to none, with char
| ity to ALL" may his pure spirit be a men
| tor to the people. If that is to be the
case. then. in deed. will Lincoln never die
! for the millions today cry out for q
savior even as the voices of them thai
went up to Father Abraham so years ago
| Congressman Dawson made an elo-
| qucnt eulogy of Lincoln. Representa-
tive Cole. who has previously spohcl
| in Maine. delivered an interesting adj
| dress Two letters written in 1859 b!
| Abraham Lincoln respecting himself
| in response to Il request for his autOS-
repay, were read by Congressman AL
| len to illustrate the modesty of Lin
| coin.