Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-02-13

The election of 1864 resulted in an
overwhelming victory for Lincoln. He
received a majority OF over 100000 in
the popular vote--a larger majority
than had ever been received by any
other president up to that time. He
carried net only Indiana, but all the
New England states, New York Penn
svlvania, all the western states, West
Virginia, Tennessee, Louisiana, Ark
ansas, and the newly admitted state of
Nevada Mcclellan carried but three
states: New Jersey, Delaware and
Kentucky The result. as Grant so
| s,rtly expressed it in his kilograms OF
congratulation, was "a victory worth
| more to the country than a battle
Won" A second time Lincoln stood in
front of the great capitol to take the
oath CT office administered by his for
mer rival, Salmon p. Chase. whom he
himself had appointed to succeed the
deceased Roger B. fancy. The problem
| of the war was now fast working its
own solution. The cruel stain of slav-
cry had been cffaced from the nation
al escutcheon, and the rosy morn OF
| peace began to dawn behind the
| breaking clouds of the great storm.
! Lincoln, firm but kind, in his inaugural
address, bade his misguided brethren
of the south come back. With the frat
! crnal affection characteristic of the
man, and strictly in keeping with his
former utterances. he asked the return
of peace. with malice toward none,
withzcharity for ALL he emplored his
| fellow countrymen,, with firmness in
the right as God gives us to see the
right, let us finish the war we are in,
| to bind up the natl MS wounds, to care
for him who shall have borne the. bat
tie and for his widow and orphans to
do all which may achieve and cher
ich q ,ct 1ac ct
ourselves and with all nations
With the coming of spring the great
armies, awakening from their lons
! winters sleep. began preparations fol
the closing campaign. Sherman had al
ready made that greatest march OF
modern times, from the mountains OF
Tennessee through Georgia to the sea
while Grant, with stolid Indifference
to public criticism and newspaper
abuse. was creeping steadily or
through swamp and ravine to Rich
mond. Thomas had defeated Hood II
Tennessee, sending, the latter hacl
with his army demoralized, cut II
pieces and ruined. The young ant
daring Sheridan had driven Early gu
of the Shenandoah valley, after a ser
ies of brilliant engagements. PHI
Kearsarge5 had sunk, the Alabama il
foreign waters. Farragut had capture
Mobile and the union forces held un
disputed possession of the west an
the Mississippi valley from the lake
to the gulf. Meanwhile Sherman, un
dauntcd by the perils Of a furthe
march through the enemy's country
returning from the sea, was amin,
for Richmond. where Grant with bul
doc tenacitv held Lee firmly in hi
grasp. Ere long, the latter with
shattered army reduced to half it
original numbers; evacuated Richmon
with Grant in close pursuit. A fey
days after the boys in blue overtoo
those in gray at Appomattox cour
house. and there under the warm ray
of the April sun, the line was at las
SQUEEZED out Of a once proud but nov
PROSTATE confederacy. THE sun c
/, peace Rad fairly risen. The incumbu
), of war that had pressed upon the ma
q tons heart four long. weary years wa
lifted; and the nation sprang to 1t
, feet with all possible demonstration
, Of joyous exultation.'
/. In. the midst of the general rejoic
Z in at the return of peace Mr.. Lincol
: was stricken by the assassin job
: Wilkes Booth, in Ford's theatre {
e Washington. The story of his dealt
h though repeated, is the saddest an
h most impressive pal'- in America
: history. l cannot well forbear repro
r ducing it's painful and tragic detail
It here.
: The Assassination of Lincoln.
5 Mr. Lincoln for years had presen
= timent that lie would reach a hig
:. place and then be stricken down
, some tragic way. He took no pre-
Z cautions to keep out of the way
danger So many threats had bee
e made against him that friends wei
It alarmed. and frequently urged hi
d not to go out unattended. To all the
$ entreaties he had the same answer
It If they kill me the next man will
n just as bad for them. In a country lii
# this where the habits are. simple, ar
IT must be, assassination is always pc!