Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-01-05

! to admit that the hand of providence
| guides the destiny of men. Despite the
fact that we assume responsibilities
aside from those imposed upon us BIZ
a creative power we are forced to ad
| NIT the mate call to duty. The maj
yields all his faculties to the call d
that still small voice at once, becomes
candidate for human greatness, fitted
to perform the most exalted task II
! the curriculum Of human life.
I'VE love the memory of Lincoln, not
because of his great admiration for the
negro race above that of other noble
CaNcasians, but because he possessed
the courage to do his whole duty to
ward all men, bond and free, in the
presence Of millions of friends. and
enemies alike. He dealt in equity with
men. The character of Lincoln be
speaks for him greater interest in
the freedom of the slave than his
adroit method of saving the union
The pending dissolution of the union
was an open fact, the liberation Of the
slave was the secret ambition of his
life. The former fired the hearts Of
northerners to loyalty even unto
death; the latter gave inspiration to
the great emancipation. Lincoln recog-
nized God as the common father OF the
human race.
HE conformed to the higher laws Of
his being. He used every measure Of
justice visible to American minds, Of
all conditions, to bring to pass the
summum bonum Of men. Custom for
babe him TO reiterate the self convicted
purpose Of his life as a unit; he was
content to allow results to write his
name immortal in the heart Of every
true man and woman. The legacy left
by this noble character to the world
will ever burst forth with radiant
splendor upon the lives of generations
yet unborn. Eternity, with its unhar-
rassed spirits, can justly sing his
praises.
''As reflection of Lincoln and his
sympathizers' work. we are passing
through the most crucial test of our
racial existence, in spite of the preju-
dices and rebuffs we see the hand Of
God supporting our earnestness and
determination to prove ourselves
worthy. Nature has bequeathed to our
race many fine attributes. Long-suffer.
ing, kindness, patience and endurance
are few of the many Christ-like quail
tiles possessed by the negro. That is
not all. He possesses spirit of Opt.
mism woven in the very fiber Of his
being. He is optimistic when lynchings
and burning Of black men without le-
gal investigation) are practiced by a
highly civilized people. He is optimis-
tic when public sentiment chills his
very blood because of race hate. When
disfranchised and robbed of his citizen
ship that Lincoln gave his life for, he
is still the same, knowing full we'll
that God is on the side of the hated.
oppressed and wronged. Negro men
have forgiven the transgressions Of
the past, and are now moving upon
the planes of exalted heights. We have
even placed vengeance in the hands of
God, for the centuries Of debauchery
of our women, when they had no pro.
lection, the hearts of their reasonable
protectors being silent by the whip
lash, yet the progress Of the negro
stands unparalleled This amazing pro-
gress is astounding, being made in the
face Of surging emotions within, try
ing to forget the past, and the hard
fight against injustices without, that is
forced upon him because Of his race
and the previous conditions of servi-
tude. Through it all he is victorious.