Norwich bulletin., 1909-02-12

tlOoR Second Prize.
1t is not difficult to place a correct
estimate upon the character Of Lin
coin. He was the greatest man of his
time. especially approved Of God for
the work he save them to do.
1t is now hundred years since this
american hero was born, but the name
of Abraham Lincoln will never cease.
Each generation will have better I'M
Outstanding Of him than we have,
Enough he is not far removed from u.s.
He was bern to the blessed Inherit
ance Of poverty and it is from the soil
OF poverty that the highest virtues
spring.
He did not have any advantages.
and his surroundings were such in his
noyhoOd days that they did not ex-
site ambition for an education, and
be went very little to common school:
but graduated from that grand COL
tege Of fEee-labor whose works were
Ehe f1atboats, the farm and the back
woods lawyers office. But he strug-
Gled to get an education, every book
be heard about he obtained even
walking twelve miles to get one, and
or damaged he split rails to pay for Il.
The element of his greatness that
made him master of the greatest crisis
An our history are that ne had the true
Faith of the people He walked with
and among them. In all he did he in
Eited them rather than evaded them
TO critttism and examination. Lin
eOln looked right into their. souls, and
had than peculiarly which few public
men have attained, of looking away
from tine deceptive and misleading
Sings about him, determining for
himself what the people wanted him
TO DO; and no one was more accurate
Fudge OF their opinions and wishes He
did nod show his superiority even to
Ghe hUmblest negro, but Seeply SYM
Bathiz4d with him. The poor widow,
she soldier on the battlefield sufferers
In hospitals, all knew Of his kind love.
One of his most remarkable traits
y as his honesty. Honesty was the
framework of his mental and moral
power. When a clerk in q store he
had made a mistake Of six cents and
walked three miles TO redeem it.
Lincoln was man Of peace, and
xelt that even in the most righteous
cause war was fearful thing. He
gave the south every chance posi-
nie, and pleaded with them with an
Rarnestness that was pathetic. War
came. he accepted it TO save the un-
aon. This was his main PURPOSE
nothing else mattered.
Having keen insight into the future
ne foresaw that the country could not
Femain half-slave and half-free long
OSAOAd h@ b5CAmS president.
The browning glory Of his presidency
and the greatest executive act in the
worlds history was the Proclamation
Of Emancipation. Many long and
thorny steps had TO be taken to issue
A. Great and strong men had urged
him 70 issue ii long before he did, and
equally great and strong men had
urged him to delay its issue. He
therefore stood alone and acted for
himself. To him is given the honor of
fulfilling the Declaration Of Independ-
Wnce.
When a boy, he had visited slave
suction in New orleans, and there re-
marked: IF l ever get chance to
hit that thing I'll hit it hard" He
did htt 1t hard, when, as a member of
khe legislature, he protested that slav-
cry was founded on both injustice and
bad policy. He hit It hard when he
voted for the Wilmot proytso as good
ms forty times. He hit it hardest in
his Emancipation Proclamation.
Abraham Lincoln had high ideals