The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1909-12-18
HERALD -REPUBLICAN AND THE CIVIL
WAR.

We are of the opinion that the able and bril-
liant editor of the Herald Republican is mistaken
when he says in a recent issue of his paper that
Truth and justice however thwarted, will tri-
umph at last. To blot out for all time the curse
and the shame of slavery from the fair name of
the American people, Lincoln summoned to his aid
the northern hosts and struck the chains from the
wrists of eight millions of human beings"
Abraham Lincoln is one of the greatest men in
history. He had most humane SOUL a most tender
heart but he had also an instructive and ntuitive
discernment in political problems He was con-
sentative abotionist, and when installed in Office
as President of the United States one might have
thought he would have emancipated the slaves.
compensating the masters as did Dom Pedro of
Brazil But he could not do it, because public
opinion would not permit him to carry out his own
instinct
The civil broke out and was waged for four
years, not for the emancipation of the blacks but
for the preservation of the Union The northern
states were invaded by southern troops. md even
then the President dare not send abroad his procla
nation, the north would not permit him to do it.
The rabid abolitionists of the eastern states sub
jected him to contumely and 20 insults and to
taunts, but he bore the infection and did not move
for the time had not yet come.
Horace Greeley, able, passionate petulant
narrow man, ruthlessly assailed the President and
DANGEROUSLY called for the enfranchisement of the
slaves. But Lincoln, tower of strength which
stood four-square to all the winds that blew. would
not be moved before the time. Here is his answer
to Horace Greeley, then editor of the New York
Tribune, and 1t shows conclusively that if enlanci
patton carried disruption of the Union there would
be no emancipation:
''Dear Sir: have Just read yours of the 10Th
addressed to myself through the New York Trib
une If there be in it any statements or ass,mn-
lions of fact which [ may know to be erroneous.
do not, now and here controvert them. If there be
in it any inference which may believe to he false
ly drawn, DO not now and here, argue against
them 1t there be perceptible in it an impatient
and dlctatorial tone, waive it in Difference to an
old friend, whose heart have always supposed to
be right. As to the policy 1 seem to be pursuing
as you say, have not meant to leave anyone in
doubt. l would save the Union [ would save # the
shortest way under the constitution The sooner
the national authority can be restored the nearer
the Union will be the Union as it was If there
be those who would not save the Union ,,nlass
they could at the same time save slavery. I do NOT
agree with them. My paramount object in This
struggle is to save the Union and is rot either 70
save or destroy slavery If I could save the Union
without freeing any slave | would do it. and if
! could save it by freeing some and leaving others
alone, / would also do that. What | do about slav
cry and the colored race do because believe If !.
would help to the Union. [ shall do less
whenever | believe that whatever I am doing hurts
the cause, and | shall do more whenever shall be-
heve doing more will help the cause. shall try
to correct errors when shown to be errors. and
shall adopt my views so fast as they shall appear
to be true views. have here stated my purpose ac
cordng to my view of official duty, and intend no
modification of my oft-expressed personal wish !
that all men everywhere could be free Yours.
"a. LINCOLN"