The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1909-02-12
rne LINCOLN ckNrsNARY cELEsRA7IoM.

The one hundredth anniversary # the birth Of Abraham Lincoln "a Tot
to b celebrated with pomp and display and military ceremonial 1t is rot with
deeds of arms or fets If conquest that the hlustious name OF Lincoln is as
soeiated. although for four years hi was commandein-efief Of vast armies Of
sddiers and of great fleets VI vamhhps. and he appointed to command such
generals al Grant'and sheridan and shermana and Mcclellan and Thomas. Lin
coin vas a man IF civil life and of peace flung tnot the fiery cauldron of wr
10 sustain a part such a has been imposed on few men since history began If
he had been a trained soldier probably he would have failed. AS it wa, it
seemed a if Providence had specially designed him ITO take the helm of a dis
tactodI state aud guide it safely through the awful perns OF a great civil war
While The name and fame of Lincoln belong TO the period OF the var mankind
does not associate it with wars carnage. Victory and defeat, battles and re-
treats the slaughter Of men and the destruction of property, were only the iroi
cents OF a asst political drama. in which the rnon established by the fathers
struggled for existence 10 maintain the PRINCIPLES of human liberty that found
their brit upon this continent In that drama. so tragica1 in its features, Lin
coin was preenincnt but always as the nations civil executive never Is the
eolder The supreme happiness If his life came with Appomattox, and it "a by
the inspiration If Lincoln that Grant uttered that noble invocation Let us have
peace" That aspiration was even in the mnd and heart Of the great President
Peace but peace ony with he unon o States. 1t can be recalled that att the
inception of III civil delegations of representative commercial men from
New York and Boston visited Washington to urge that war b aveted,e even at
the price of letting the South 60. The answer Of Lincoln vas characteristic of
tho nan He was for peace; but not for peace al any price For him the resolve
a 1The Union IA Id shall be preserved" There could be n tempoizing|
with secession. The prophetic eye IF Lincoln say far beyond the narrow and
.lhsh ken OF his commercial advisers. and his patriotism and high sense Of duty
forbade II course omr than hat which he pursued 81 beginning to end
So. vhen he conflict had reached a stage to justify, as we'll as make effective
his act he issued his emancipation proclamation that struck the shackles from
mr. million dawes. Always a foe to slavery, that "a to him Inc supreme act
Of his life. and it gives him his greatest fame in Europe. To the American mind,
great as "a the emancipation of the slaves it was only an incident in the sal
walton of the republic only an act in the mighty drama that involved the liberty
of the whole world of humanity For if North and South had separated the
principle If popular government would have become extnguished OIL this CONT
nent. 1t is therefore as a civil ruhr, a statesman, a patriot and a citizen that
" e must remember Abraham Lincoln in the celebration OF the centennial of his
birth. Military ageant would be out of harmony with his character. And the
most fitting celebration is that Of the schools 1t is there that the great
Of Lncoln's life career can be impressed on the American mine, lessons
that point to the highest ideals of citizenship. that incuhate patriotism, that
teach public duty and give tn inspiration for noble thoughts and deeds so the
nation will be blessed by the great example of him who SO richly blessed and
honored it in his life and who rave u p his life only when his tasks were accom-
phshed and the Union vas saved.