Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-02-13
After the overture by the orchestra
came the address by President Deasy
Address of President Deasv.

e@iiic tie duufeSS Dy FFeSluenC DedSy.
Address Of President Deasy.
Hon. Luere B. Deasy, President of the
Senate, in his address emphasized the
simplicity and the self-reliance of Lin
coin. He said in part:
The year 1909 produced more than its
share of genius. In that year was
born Charles Darwin, the interpreter
of life-s riddles; Mendelssohn, who
"Untwisted the chains that tie
The hidden soul of harmony"
Alfred Tennyson and Edgar Allen Poe,
who struck from the harp of our Ian
guage clearer, sweeter notes than had
been heard before. But of the children
of that memorable year, the one who
was destined to attain the highest place
measured by service to the world or
measured by the love and gratitude OF
mankind, was born in little cabin in
Kentucky a hundred years ago today.
Abraham Lincoln was very fortunate
in the circumstances of his birth and
early training, for he did not have to
endure the blight of luxury and in
diligence. A child may be rocked in
silver cradle, may be sent to school
and university without having to con-
slider ways or means, and may
achieve success, may attain eminence.
But the chances are against him. He
is heavily handicapped. For he is de-
prived of the opportunity of taking
that course without which all other
courses afforded by schools and col
leges are useless, a course in self-reli-
hnvC eylr1S
here who are compelled to earn for
themselves the means of taking their
school and college courses, if there are
parents here whose circumstances are
such that their children must wholly
or in part educate themselves, let me
say to them, do not repine but thank
your lucky stars that it is so, for out
of the qualities that such a training
develops, strong men and women are
made 1t is such training that in the
past has produced, and in the future
will produce, our Franklins, our jack
sons and our Lincolns.
Abraham Lincolns life, his thoughts,
his words, We're simple. Some of his
addresses indeed were masterpieces
and have Become classics. But even
they expressed simple ideas, in words
SO transparent that he who runs may
read.
His simplicity is illustrated by the
well known Vallandigham incident
Clement Vallandigham was an orator
who went about the country proclaim
ing that the administration was IN
efficient, the officers in the field IN
competent, and the war a failure. He
was arrested, and by order of President
Lincoln, sent down through the lines
ard delivered over to the Confcderates,
so that he might be, as Lincoln SAID.
among his friends. This act aroused
a storm of protest that threatened al
most to disrupt the administration
The Democratic party of the North,
which was in the main supporting the
war to preserve the Union, and fur
nishing many thousands Of soldiers to
the Federal armies, under the leader
ship of Governor Seymour Of New
York. arose almost in a body in denun-
citation of this act of President Lin
coin. Many of his own party criticized
it as uniustifable. A great public
meeting was held at Albany, New
York, at which resolutions were adopt
ed bitterly denouncing this alleged ty-
ranny, and committee was appointed
to communicate the resolutions to the
President. Abraham Lincoln might
have replied in words of learned
length and laundering sound. He
might have cited authorities by the
hundred, and quoted precedents by the
volume. Instead, however, he wrote
a short and simple letter, which was
read through binding tears at every
fireside in the great North.
His letter was substantially in these
words:
IT understand that the meeting
whose resolutions I am considering IS
in favor Of suppressing the rebellion
bv military force, by armies. All eX-
perience teaches that armies cannot
he maintained unless desertion is pun
ished by the extreme penalty of death.
Experience justifies, and the law ana
the constitution sanction, this penalty.
Must I shoot the simple minded sol
der hoy who deserts, while l must
not touch a hair of the willy agltator
who induces him to desert? This Is
none the less injurious because accom-
nlished nv enticing the boys father or
br other or friend into a public meet
ing and working upon his feelings I'M
til he IS induced to write to the soldier
hoy that he is fighting in a bad cause
for q weak administration of an IN
government. 1 believe that
TO silence the agitator and to save the
how is constitutional and merclful
This plain and simple letter. from a
plain and simple man, went straight TO
the hearts of the plain and simple peo-
n,a Of all parties, and left the Albany
convention without a constituency. IL
were asked to name Abraham LIN
coins most prominent characteristic,
should mention not his keen but KIND
w humor: not his sympathy, tender as
woman's: not his magnetism That
made a friend of every man whose
hand he clasped; not his wonderful
mower of analysis by which he van
o,,ished Douglass in debate; not MS
nresciencc that foresaw the remotest
of every act, but rather
his simplicity.
Does this suggest weakness! IL
should not Simplicity is allied 10
not weakness. The strongest
things are the simplest things. Gree
ian temples which are the admiration