The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-02-14

citation of every man in responsible
position, from the president down to
the colonies of regiments Members
or the cabinet had their especial de-
tenders in the press. who denounced
every other member as responsible
There were .Jacobins' and traitors.
towards and idiots tyrants' and
tools Caesars and .Cravens. Every
epithet familiar to the English tongue
can be found there in cold type, all
hurled at Lincoln and the others upon
whom fell the responsibility for ac-
ton. And the cartoons of that day
or brutalizing.
His Patience Fortunate
1t was fortunate for the country
that Lincoln could at such time lay
aside all emotions, and all prejudices,
TO face the problems before him with
mindedness. He stood like Moses as
the leader Of the people-the plain
people who were filling the ranks of
the army, and those at home who
We're supporting and reinforcing those
in the field.
ITO me there is no more inspiring
incident in our whole history, or one
more pathetic, than that of the tall,
gaunt form of Lincoln, with that sad
but serene face, standing out against
the darkenfng sky, to assure the men
in the field and their supporters at
home that there was still manhood and
real leadership in the place of highest
responsibility. Had the people de-
guidance then they would have turned
against Lincoln, and anarchy would
have followed. But Lincoln had not
won the confidence of the people in a
single brilliant campaign or by mod,
ern methods of publicity. He had
come into this confidence by slow but
sure development, along the path of
patient and honest effort, with a life
devoted to the cause of the people,
and they looked over the heads of sub
ordinate leaders and editors and cor
respondents TO the real leader, who
was serene and patient in his greatest
hour of trial. ready to sacrifice all to
save the Union.
Horace Greeley, in 1865. began
lecture on Lincoln with this sentence:
There have been 10000 attempts on
the life of Abraham Lincoln, whereof
that of Wilkes Booth was perhaps the
most atrocious; yet IT stands by no
means alone The old editor did not
explain what he meant. but he left the
impression that he counted the strokes
of the assassins of character along
with those who employed cold stee' in
their designs against the president;
and it is a humiliating historic fact
that the three presidents who have
been struck down in office were muir
dered by foolish cyclists, hungering for
that notoriety which they found in a
sensational press.
Long investigation failed to identi-
fy the assassins of Lincoln, Garfield
and Mckinley, with any deep con-
spiracy against the life of the presi-
dent. They we're all of that type of
shallow cyclists who crave notoriety.
and in whose diseased minds is created
desire to appeal to the same senti-
ment that tolerates and even applauds
reckless denuHciation of those upon
whom is laid the burden of response
bility.
Changes of Today.
I'm conclusion. a word. Since the
election of Lincoln the population of
the republic has increased from 80 OO0,-
600 to 10000. 900. With the changed con-
diticns 1t is absolutely necessary that
we should grow more and more COM
petent in our respective callings as the
old pass out and new come in, the new
sovereign must not only bring patriot
IS m TO enable him to help rule the re-
public, but patriotism must be crossed,
On skill, intelligence, and industry.
81 am glad that we have 10000, 900
children in the common schools, and
that We contribute to education almost
cre-half the amount that is contribu-
ted for popular education in the whole
world. 1 do not know the genesis of
any one of yoII, but will venture the
statement that YOU builded castles in
Spain when -Nu were boys, and your
effort to live in them has never been
ed to make the civilization.
If you desire to know who will make
up the membership of the Pittsburg
Chamber of Commerce so years from
now, and who will be the speaker of
the house of representatives, who may
come to talk to your successors on Lin
COINS birthday anniversary, go to the
machine shop. to the farm, to the pub
lie school, and find the children of the
sons of toll, who. under Gods fiat, are
e..ti nc in of fao
and are building their castles in Spain.
There you will behold your SUCCESSORS,