The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-02-13


his people. In the midst Of strife and
the days that his enemies were many
he never lost sight Of that golden day
when once again would the nation be
q community of brothers. Misguided
men were the objects OF his regard.
He was q little circumscribed by
creed and party. caste and color as
any man who has ever graced the
presidential office.
From the dark days OF the rebellion
until now it has been the pride of
humble hearts that once they were
permitted to speak to Lincoln. 1t was
Lincoln's way to make even the hum
blest feel at ease in his presence. 1t
never occurred to him to have him
self hemmed in from that larger con-
stituency that he SO admirably serv-
ed. He lived in the days when 1t was
less difficult to find a place at the
presidents side, and tradition, ii not
exact history, credits him with the
aphorism that God must have loved
the common people for He made SO
many of them"
How unassuming. how artless, how
humble was this great man! He had
no assumptions save as he gave him.
self to his duties. In the midst OF the
artificial and gilded life into which
his office introduced him he remain
ed to the last unaffected, simple
hearted and true His life was SO
transparent as to be easily under
stood by every one except by that
company that yielded to the persua-
sions of reasonable malignity. When
Lincoln spoke to the people, the peo-
pie believed him. 1t is no wonder
that those who knew him best and
title of Honest Abe"
The course that leads out into a
consideration of the mans greatness
in the remarkable achievements Of his
administration is most tempting. and
yet this we must forego in that pleas
ure of thinking of his love for the
people. 1t is hard to stifle the impre.
cations that rise in ones bosom as
we think OF the wanton cruelty OF his
destruction. 1t is futile to hone that
justice was done when the felon was
finally captured, and the presidents
death avenged. 1t Is no fair exchange
to give the life OF Mckinley for a
Czolgosz, nor Garfield for Guiteau,
nor q Lincoln for a Booth. We for
bear uttering what our hearts are IN
stinctively prompted to speak in the
presence Of the forbearance he him.
self displayed at every part OF the
great conflict that ragged in the days
of his administration. Lincoln has left
us three great literary compositions
the Second Inaugural, the Gettysburg
Speech and the Bixby letter. The first
of these is of too great length to re-
produce in these columns, the second
erected in our beautiful park at the
eastern end OF the city, while the
third will in itself demonstrate the
proposition which we have advanced
that Lincoln is beloved of the people
because he first loved them. While
the Magma Charta lives, the Declara-
ton of Indepen dence endures in the
memory of man, and the Psalms find
q place in the hearts OF devout men
and women. they will cherish the
memory OF him who even while the
war was raging sent the following
message:
Executive Mansion, Washington,
Nov. p. 1864.
Mrs. Bixby, Boston, Mass.
Dear Madam:-I have been shown
in the files of the war department q
statement of the acknowledgement of
Massachusetts that you are the moth
er of five sons who have died glor-
iously on the field of battle. feel
how weak and fruitless must be any
words of mine which should attempt
to beguile you from the grief of a
loss SO overwhelming. But l cannot
refrain from rendering you the conso-
lation that may be found in the thanks
of the republic that they died to save.
pray that our Heavenly Father may
assuage the anguish of your bereave-
ment, and leave you the cherished
memory of the loved and lost, and
the solemn pride that must be yours
to have laid SO costly sacrifice upon
the altar of freedom.
Yours very sincerely and respectfully,
ABRAHAM LINCOLN"
This Is the man. the beloved of the
people. whom We are seeking to honor
today One hundred years ago today
he first saw the light in LaRue county
Kentucky. For less than three score
years he lived his life true to the
highest instincts Of his great nature,
and out of that mortal career he has
stepped into immortality. there to be
held in everlasting remembrance in
the hearts of his country men. The
world will never cease to need such a
life as he lived. We need 1t now, to
free us from the giant wrongs that
press us down.
A READER.