Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-02-12
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

lincoln Will be held in grateful re-
membrance by Americans as long as
popular government is their ideal Lin
coin. in his great characteristics, was
product of American democracy
with the power OF q despot, he re-
5naincd a common citizen to tho last
He stood for the preservation of the
unity and principles of American Eov-
ernment. Finally he died for his
country.
What q wonderful career was that
of Iincolnl As a farm laborer, earn
ing 81 cents a day, be found time 10
seek to improve his mind by reading
His career as an orator was begun at
Decatur, and his platform was an
empty keg. Then he was a boatmah
on the Mississippi river, clerk d.
the polls. a salesman, a deoater !"
debating clubs, q captain In the Black
b,wk war. and an unsuccessful candl-
date for Congress- In 1882 he bought
a store and failed. ruined by oruiN-
on partner. The next year he was post
master at New Salem, using Is
said. his hat as a postoffice AL tn's
tim. be Was a referee in all local dis
nutes. wages, and horse races. Next
he became a lawyer and memoer VI
the Illinois legislature. In 1S4S nc WIS
darooted as A candidate for Congress
but In 1876 he was elected In leof ie
,,as an unsuccessful applicant Tor the
oNtce of general land commissioner
Then he had the famous DEBATE Will
Judge Douglas. and the nonfuia'io'
cor president of the United states toi-
,o,ad Who can read this wonder
IN, life story without feeling impresseu
,,,,t, the fact that before ones view
IS unrolled the record oil Ina1i u
destiny2
In the debate with stephen A. Doug
las Lincoln gave utterance TO sot'ie
truths that should ever be heid III re-
membrance. He said:
.eThe real Issue in this country
the eternal struggle between the w
r,rinciple+right and wrong-throusn-
ave the world. They are the Two prih-
ciples that have stood face 10 e. Eu
from tho beginning of time. anu Win
ever continue to struggle. Ine o"e
,he other is the Divine right of kings
7, Go the same principle In Whatever
ahano II develops itself. 1t is the same
S,ir5t that says. You work ana toii
and earn bread, and I'll eat II
To lincoln the contention Of his :ime
was a moral one. Believing that elav-
cry is wrong he denied the right OF
even the sovereign people to make II
legal. No man. and no set of men. he
contcnded. could acquire the right to
do q moral wrong. not even by popu-
lar vote. A crime. against God and
man could never bo legaliZed That
was his unassailable position. If this
principle wore applied today to polite
al issues, the God-defying, law-break-
Ing elements would never get control
of states or communities. o, for
Lincoln to raise the standard of NOR
ality on the battlefield OF politics.
Lincoln, like all great men, had a
sometimes made bitter TO him by their
unjust criticisms and savage attacks
He was frequently assalled by Mr..
Greedy and the Tribune teemed with un-
reasonable complaints Frederick
Douglass. who was engaged In raising
colored troops and who frequently met
President Lincoln, says. in his recollec-
tions, that he was present at the In
auguration. March T. 1865. and so dense
was, at that time. the atmosphere of
hostility around him. that he felt there
was murder in the air He said he kept
close to the Presidents cnrringe on the
way to the capitol. for he had a strange
presentiment that Lincoln might fall.
He could not account for that feeling.
but he just had an impression that
Lincoln was In danger.
Abraham Llncoln's attitude to tho
so-called Mormon" question was Just
and conciliatory. II propose TO let them
alone was his reply to a question re-
garding his Mormon policy. Though
he was familiar with tho prosecutions
OF the Saints In Missouri and Illinois.
and the accusations that were used as Il
cover by the murderous mobs. he knew
OF no reason why the "Mor1nons"
should be intcrfcred with Lincoln evil
IDENTIFY had confidence In Brigham
Young. for he called upon him to ralsc.
arm, and equip company of cavalry
to protect the property OF the telegraph
and overland mall companies. This WAS
promptly done. and the company under
the command of Lot Smith rendered
valuable service In the struggle for the
Union. Lincoln removed Governor
Harding, al the request OF number OF
ciprens OF Utah. and though he signed
the anti-polygamy law OF 1862. he
was always considered friend OF jus-
dec and of the people here
Tho news OF his death WIS received
with genuine sorrow In Utah Places
of business were closed on the 18th OF
April. 1865, the day after the assassina-
tion. FlnSs on public buildings were
raised on half mast. with Grape droop-
ing over them Brigham Young's car.
ringe was driven through the City GOV.
cred with Grape. The Thcater was
closed for the evening. The Tabernacle
was draped In mourning, and impres.
sive memorial services were held or