The White Pine news. [volume] (Ely, Nev.) 1906-1910, 1909-02-13

continued from page one.
Lincoln used both these traits as he
strove for reform. We can learn
much of value from the very attacks
which following that course brought
upon his head. attacks alike by the
extremist of revolution and by the
extremists of reaction. He never
wavered in devotion to his principles,
in his love for the Union, and in his
adherence of slavery. Timid and
lukewarm people were always de-
nouncing him because he was too ex-
treme; but as a matter of fact he
never went to extremes. he worked
step by step. and because of this
the extremist hated and denounced
him with IA fervor which now seems
TO us fantastic in its dedication OF
the unreal and the impossible. At
the very time when one side was
holding him up as the apostle OF
social revolution because he was
against slavery, the leading
abolitionist denounced him as the
slave hound of Illinois, When he
was the second time candidate for
president. the majority of his oppo-
nents attacked him because of what
they termed his extreme radfcalism.
while a minority threatened TO bolt
his nomination because he was not
radical enough. He had continually
to check those who wished To go
forward too fast, at the very time
that he oyerrode the opposition of
those who wished not to go forward
at all. The goal was never dim be-
fore his vision but he picked his
way cautiously. without either halt
or hurry, as he strobe toward 1t.
through such morass of difficulty
that no man of less courage would
have attempted it, while ii would
surely have overwhelmed any man
of Judgment less serene.
Yet perhaps the most wonderful
thing of all. from the standpoint of
the American of today and of the
future, the most vitality important,
was the extraordinary way in which
Lincoln could fight yaliantly against
what he deemed wrong and yet pre-
serve undiminished his love and
respect for the brother from whom
he differed. In the hour of a triumph i
that would have turned any weaker |
mans head, in the heat of a struggle |
which spurred good man to
dreadful vindictiveness. he said |
truthfully that so long as he had I
been in Office he had never willingly /
planted thorn in any mans bosom. /
and besought his supporters TO study +
the incidents OF the trial through |
which they were passing as
philosophy from which TO learn wis
dom and as wrongs to be avenged
ending with the solemn exhortation
that. as the strife was over, all should
reunite in a common effort TO save
their common country.
He lived in days that were great
and terrible, when brother fought
against brother for what each sim
cerely deemed TO be the right. In a
contest so grim the strong who alone
can carry it through are rarely able
to do justice TO the deep convictions
of those with whom they grapple in
mortal strife. AT such times men
see through a glass darkly: only the
rarest and loftiest spirit is vouch-
safed that clear vision which comes
to all, even to the lesser. as the
struggle fades into distance. and
wounds are forgotten. and peace
creeps back to the hearts that were
hurt But 10 Lincoln was given this
supreme vision. He did not hate
the man from whom he differed.
Weakness was as foreign as wicked
ness to his strong, gentle nature; but
his courage was of a quality so high
that IL needed no bolstering of dark
passion. He saw clearly that the
same high qualities, the same
courage, and willingness for self
sacrifice, and devotion 10 the right
as it was given them to see the right,
belonged both 10 the men of the
north and to the men of the south.
As the years roll by. and as all of
MS. wherever we dwell. grow to feel
an equal pride in the valor and self
devotion. alike of the men who wore
the blue and the men who wore the
gray, so this whole nation will grow
TO feel a peculiar sense of pride in
the mightiest of the mighty men who
mastered the mighty days; the lover
of his country and of all man.
kind. the man whose blood was
shed for the union of his people and
for the freedom OF a race. Abraham
Lincoln. g..
Gov. Wilson. of Kentucky. in his
address said.