The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1912-02-13

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many thinGs that have contributed TO
IL. The terrific ordeal OF Civil War
which he shared in common with his
countrymen. and the chief burden Of.
which he bore. the ~farreaching ene<.
OF that frightful struggle. the re unit
ted country which came from H.. and
his martyr-ike death in the very mo-
ment OF the Nations triumph-all
these things contributed TO give him
a pedestal upo which to stand such
as no other American has ever occu-
pied and may never occupy again.
But back OF all these lie certain
gffb and attitude Of the man himself
which render him worthy OF the niche
in history to which he has been as.
signed. and which stand out palmer
m clearer as the years 90 by. IL is
a common fact OF human observation
that the bread outlines of q landscape.
a structure Of human life stand out
more clearly In the perspective than
in immediate contact. One who wrate
of Lincoln soon after his death talk.
ed hrst with many men who claimed
TO have known him well. and says that
he was ~variously described by them
as
- very AMBITIOUS Man,
and as a man without a particle OF
ambition: as one OF the sadest men
that ever lived. and as one OF the very
tolliest that he was n man OF indomi-
table will. and that he was a man al
most without will: he was susceptible
OF the strongest passions; that he was
a leader OF the people. and that he
was always led by the people.
Whatever fame he acquired as a
lawyer was based upon his essential
honesty and his instructive love for
justice.
The substance of his first
IN the supreme sJur of Appeals Of
Illinois is preserved in this language:
Said he. This is the first case I have
ever had in this Court and I have
therefore examined IL with great care.
AS the Court will preceive by looking
at the abstract OF the record, the only
question in the case is one OF author
ity. have not been able TO find any
authority TO sustain my side of the
case. but | have found several cases
directly in point on the other side. I
VIII now give these authorities TO the
Court and then submit the case"
IL is needless TO say that after this
argument the result was not long in
doubt.
His Instructive Sympathy
with the minds and hearts of those
around him stood him in good stead
at the bar. and in the broader field
OF public affairs accounted for much
OF his success.
or course. in this dav and genera
ton. We have abandoned the words
radical and conservative and have
taken up instead the newer phrases
OF progressive and 'reactionary-
whatever they may mean. No doubt
In 1861, the progressives would have
called Lincoln "A r~eactionary: and in
1863. the reactionaries would have
called Lincoln a progressive. and
either term. with all of the present
day ~opprobrium that attached to II
would have been mild in comparison
with the epijhets he endured: but
through IL all he sensed the tremend-
ous power OF moderation and moved
on TO action only when his own judg-
ment and conscience led the way. His
action on the emancipation is typical.
In August. 1861. General Freement.
by military order. proclaimed the
freedom of the slaves OF all those hos.
tllee to the Union in the State of
missouri. Congress had previously
declared the emancipation Of all
slaves in arms against the United
States. and the president promptly di-
rected General FreemeIt to reform
his order accordingly. In May. 1867.
ne sent a message to congress rec
ommending the pas-age of "A resolu-
Ito offering p~ecuniary aid from the
TR0oTnl RnTnTnmDnF to fhagn .s@s.. n
string 10 abolish slavery. and the 70.
solution was passed accordingly. Hor
ace Greeley bombarded him with one
editorial after another demanding the
Immediate universal emancipa-
ton IN the names of twenty millions
or people. for whom ne claimed The
right TO speak. In May 1862. General
hunter attempted by military order
10 emancipate the slaves within his
department. and the president
promptly
Annulled the Order
he had made. Then. speaking TO the
southern states. he said in his order
OF annulment:
To the people Of these States now
! most earnestly appeal. I do not ar.
que. ] beseech YOU To make the ar
gument for yourselves. You cannot.
II you would. b. blind tn the signs
OF the times
" last. In 1862. he issued a pre
liminary proclamation.
That h. would proclaim emancipation
on the first day 81 tho next January II
hosttiitles we're not sooner suspended.
and ON that last-nam~d DAY. and not
until then. did h. make the final
declaration one o. more moderate
temper said tu him ~ on" time. he
ware Mr. President. and do no- 20
FOO fast Thor" are dangers ahead
To Which he answered. o know cha,
but ] shall 20 just a. fast and onf,
~ iasf as 7 Trims 7 am right and tho
renu'r are ready Tor ne sfor u.f
hoWeter much qualities - mind nav
move urr admiration end -errer-
if after a. OBJ" APPEAL fo fhe heart
'HHf makes OH mans wsmnrr ararr.
at a IrfuE and tifal fnrra amarr fu
country mon Honest paf ~ .r-er.
rrrf these fIrrrin msf- have
f rr'f tn.l.rr f.s pfa.. ID.
r f' ~. hs p- sfar.
.. 'l raI ed a "
fr end r-l 81
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