The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1911-03-09
The Greatness Of Lincoln
(Conti,s,lsed)

uiS 1dIues AOIsOPpOItuHlty gdNO LII
1.-THE means to sdeyelope that. to 8
certain extent. But the foundation
was laid, the wisdom obtained, and
the character established along the
lines open to every American boy OF
intelligence, no matter what his con-
dition in life may be.
l believe that his lowly birth and
early hardships were blessings in
disguise; that they made him self re-
liant in absorbing knowledge upon
every subject that was worth an eff
fort to learn and who will say that
he did not learn something of states
manship when he was reading
Weeme's Life of Washington" at
the same time he was learning to
split rails. And / am thankful that
he never rubbed his home spun back
against the walls of college, for he
would have been out of place and
discouraged in an atmosphere where
he could not have had time enough
to learn hazing nor be a good foot
ball player in his one year at school.
The Plain People," as he called
them were his university; the Bible,
John Bunyan. Aesops Fables and
Burns, were his earliest text books,
and clearing the forest and splitting
rails were the safety valves to let off
his surplus physical energy. He
felt the great throb of the plain peo-
pies hearts every hour that he was
in the White House and next to
Gods leadings they were his unerr-
ing guide. Lincoln did not possess
Hamilton's brilliant genius, yet
Hamilton never read the future more
sagaciously. Hemade no pretention
to Webster's massive and magnifi-
cent oratory, yet Webster never put
more truth in portable form for the
popular guidance. In what may be
styled civil literature, his produce
tions are unequaled by an American
pen. And the immortal twenty line
address at Gettysburg is the high
water mark of classic eloquence.
And read his second inaugural adj
dress and see if it is not the most
sublime state paper Of the 10Th CEN
fury. And by those anecdotes, most
of which were men of his own crea-
ton, were as wide in range and as
true in teaching as Aesop's Fables.
They were his parallels, and he illu-
strated the weakness and force of
human nature with them, perhaps,
with almost as universal a reach as
lid Shakespearsin his plays. For Lin
coin looked forth upon the world, as
we of today now realize, with almost
Shakespeare's eyes. Therefore, there
need be no fear that upon the ami
versaries of Lincoln's birth or death
1othing can be said of him which
has not been uttered before. There
will always be new suggestions, new
understandings for of such capacity
was the quality of his intellect and
soul. The years have come and
zone until almost half century
rom Lincoln's time views a nation
hats trebled in population and its
achievements stupendous. And the
wealth increased from millions then
o billions now. Other public men
lave appeared and held the stage
md public eye for time, great men
90, but one and all must bow to the
anne of the great idol Of the plain
people, who are still plain and grow
ng palmer as time passes. And
more numerous too in a per capita
ats with those who are not >plain.
Nor has slavery ceased in the land
hough of a different kind. Not Sec
ional, but the mass by the class;
lot colored, but white and unre-
luested toll goes on as before. What
. forgetful nation we are! How