The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-02-12
ABRAHAM LINCOLN DAY.

of Utah. Accordingly, today will be so
observed.
1t seems, in looking backward over
the events with which Lincoln was so
prominently connected, that he was es-
pecially raised up by Providence TO
serve the people in the great crisis
which came upon them in the War of
the Rebellion, For decades the slavery
question had ccGpsed every other poljt
ical issue in the United States. Lincoln
himself took a prominent part IN the
debates and discussions arising out of
that question:; but all this with couser-
vatism, and always in full recognition
of the constitutional rights of slavery.
He did not even oppose the extension
of slavery 10 new States, but the 6nal
slave doctrine that all the territory of
the United States was open to slave
holders and to slavery aroused his an
tagonism. and on the wave of that OPP
position be was swept into the Prosl.
dental chair.
AS President. Mr. Lincoln exhibited
the divine qualities of tolerance, pa"
ticnce, and charity in their highest de-
gree. On the one hand, he was urged
forward in war against slavery by the
anti slavery sentiment in tho North, on
the other hand, he was held back by
those who insisted upon the constitu-
tional guarantees of slavery, aud the
sentiment of the border States which
was extremely sensitive upon the slavery
MANY of the States in the Union rs pos
siblc. \ radical course on his part
would undoubtedly have alienatcd
Maryland. what was later made West
Virginia, and Kentucky. aud Missouri,
These States were kept in the Union
more by the personal influence of Presl-
dent Lincoln than by any other cause.
He gave no occasion for the secession
with attacking the institution Of slav
ery, In the carly days of the war, he
disapproved the acts of certain Of the
Union Generals who. assuming that the
war was a war against slavery. under
took to free the slaves within the jur-
isdictIou of their military commands.
He apnullcd all such proclamations or
orders, and withdrew from active com
mapd those who issued them. Thus he
assured the conservatives OF his con
servs.tism, and made many friends for
the Union in the States that were in in
ternccIue commotion on the question of
secession. But it was not alone in civil
life that thousands OF his supporters de
nounccd him for being so slow. The
same feeling was in the army. and the
eagcrncss 10 terminate the great cause
of contention pcrmcatcd both the rank
and file, 1t was not until the war had
been wagcd for a year and Il half that
he made up his mind TO issue the cman-
proclamation rs war meas
urc. The radical thought Of the North
considered the delay a. blcmish on his
administration; but even when he is
sued 1T there were many on the con
Scrvativc side to criticise his act in so
doing. holding that he had Transcribed
his constitutional power The sober,
calm Judgment Of the country. how
ever. approved the issue Of the procla-
nation, but only as a war measure, aud
as such il was issued.
The great patience which President
Lincoln manifested towards the Gen
erals commanding the army. even when
they had shown, as in the case Of Nc
Clellau. their Incompetence to lead, his
reluctance 10 act drasti.ally against his
enemies, his great tolerance of South
ern opinion and Of Southern statesmen,
who must at times have tried even his
vast reserves Of patience, tolerance,
and good will, evoked criticism at tho
time, but called forth the later admira-
tion OF all mankind, He kept stcsdfast
throughout, adhering always TO the con-
stituton as his guide and defense. SO
guided, he could not be wrong. aud he
felt in his heart always the calm as
surauce that he must be right, since
his conclusions and his acts were found.
cd upon that great instrument. And no
one was better qualified in all these
United States TO see clearly and dctcr-
mine rightly the scope, the powers, and
the limitations Of the Presidential Of
ice as defined in She constitution. And
as time wore on, he was fully vindi,
Gated by his countrymcn,
Lincoln died on the high wave of his
popularity. The war was just ended; he
was the great National figure. and uu-
doubtedly by far the most powerful
character that remained in public life.
yet the simplicity and candor Of the mau
won all loyal hearts. He was stricken
down by the hand Of an assassin moved
by a narrow sentiment Of hate and in.
tolerance which WAS absolutely unable
to comprehend Lincoln s great nature.
And so he died a martyr TO the cause
which nc had won. There is no uues-
tioD but that If he had lived, he would
have carried out a policy Of copservat-
ism, of charity. and of good will that