Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-07-21


I spite of his all-night vigil, he was
unusually calm and quiet. After
ward he told General Sickles about
it. He said:
Il will tell you why l felt-no anx
iety about Gettysburg, when every
body seemed panic stricken over dis
asters, and nobody could say what
was going to happen. I was op
pressed, and the gloom was heavy
locked the door of my room, got
down en- my knees and prayed to
Almighty God for victory at Gettys.
burg I told Him that this was His
war, our cause was His cause, that
we could not stand another Fred
ericksburg or Charlottesville. Then
and there ] made a solemn vow
that if He would stand by our boys
at Gettysburg, | would stand by
Him He did, and I will. l don't
know how to explain it, but a sweet
peace crept into my soul. and /
knew that things would go right at
Gettysburg.
When asked about General Grant
besieging the enemy at Vicksburg,
Lincoln replied that Grant was peg
ging away down there; and added
But | have been praying for Vicks.
burg, also. and | believe our Heav-
emily Father is going to give us the
victory there, too" a day or two
later he had the satisfaction of
hearing of the unconditional sur
render of that great stronghold on
the Mississippi.
will copy down the closing pass
age of Lincoln's second inaugural
address, which is considered one OF
the most profound state papers ever
written. 1t is a classic that, with the
Gettysburg address, will live on
through the coming centuries, and
Lincoln win live in both.
'Fondly 60 we hope, fervently do
we pray, that this mighty scourge
of war may speedily pass away
Yet, if God wills that it continue
until all the wealth piled up by the
bondman's two hundred and fifty
years of unrequited toll shall be
sunk, and until every drop Of blood
drawn with a lash shall be paid
with another drawn by a sword; as
was said three thousand years ago,
so still it must be said, the judg-
ments of the Lord are true and
righteous altogether.
With malice toward none, with
charity for all; with firmness in the
right as God gives us to see the
right. let as strive on to finish the
work we are in; to bind up the ma
tons wounds; to care for him who
shall have borne the battle, and for
his widow and his orphan; TO do
a just and lasting peace among our
selves and with all nations"
One thing is certain
talked and acted like christian,
and l guess that is about as good a
criterion as any to judge any one
by.
I find in this little book Lincoln's
judgment of what Christianity is
not He said. Il am not much of a
judge of religion, but, in my opinion,
the religion that sets men to fight
and rebel against this government
because, as they think, the govern
ment does not sufficiently help some
men to eat their bread by the sweat
of other mems faces, is not the sort
OF religion upon which people can
get to heaven"
Here is some very wise advice he
gave to a committee of laboring men
who called upon him March 81. 1864.
1t is worth while for laboring men
to read it now
THE strongest bond of human
sympathy, outside of +':e family re-
latiOn, should be one uniting all
working people. of all nations. and
tongues and kindreds Nor should
this lead to a war upon property or
the owners of property. Property is
the fruit of labor; property is de-
sirable; is positive good to the
world. That some should be rich
shows that others may be rich, and
hence. is just encouragement to en-
ergy and enterprise. Let not him
who is houseless pull down the
house of another: but let him labor
diligently aud build one for himself
thus by example assuring that mis-
own shall be safe from violence
when built
The beautiful spirit of Lincoln Is
shown nowhere more beautifully than
in this passage concerning his sec
ond election: Il do not lmpugn the
mot yes of any one opposed to me.
1t is no pleasure to me to triumph
over any one; but I give thanks to
the Almighty for the evidence OF
the peoples resolution to stand by
free government and the rights OF
humanity"
How well it would be for all OF
US if we could when under sharp
criticism, say with Lincoln: Il do
the very best know how. the very
best l can; and mean to keep ON
brings me out all right. what is
doing so until the end. II the emo
said against me won't amount to
anything. II the end brings me out
wrong, ten angels swearing was