The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-02-20

years before Abraham Lincoln was
born. The stigma. however. wore
deep the burrows in the face OF
this noble man.
An Honest Lawyer.
In calling upon Jean A. Flittie
to respond to the toast, Lincoln,
the Composite" Rev. Keesey told
Of John Strane requesting on his
death bed that his epitaph be, Here
lies an honest lawyer" and said the
same epitaph might be written of
the next speaker, who was a devotee
Of that much aligned profession. Mr..
Flittie, in his opening words said
ha had heard that same story in a
little different way, the epitaph being
Here lies preacher and an honest
man" 9F ~
Mr. Fllttie said Lincoln had struck
down an old barbaric order and Great
a new one. Fifty years had passed
since his death, and more had been
written of him in that period Of time
than had been written I'm half a GEN.
tury of any other man that every
lived, except Napoleon. Mr.. Flittie
went into many OF the details Of the
personal and home life of Lincoln,
showing him to have been a man Of
human sympathies and human frail-
ties. He spoke of Lincoln's contribu-
tions to the literature Of the world,
and declared that contribution was by
no means small one. Mr. Flittie quot
ed Lincoln's letter to Mrs. Bixby of
Boston, who had lost FIVE sons I'm
the war, telling her that she must
feel q sublime comfort in the thought
that she had laid so costly sacrifice
on the alter OF freedom.
Fame as Lawyer.
Mr.. Lincoln's fame as a lawyer, the
speaker said, had been. overshadowed
by his renown as statesman. Of
fetal records, however, showed that
he carried on successful law prac-
tice for twenty years, and handled
vast number OF cases within that
period. '.''
The browning virtue of Lincoln, ac-
cording TO Mr.. Flittie. was his char
ity. He illustrated this in many
ways. He told how Lincoln. in par
doning a condemned man, commented
as follows: 'If this man had more
than one life, I think a little hanging
would not hurt him, but as he has
only one. think we had better pardon
him.
The speaker summed up Lincoln's
character by referring to him as
"a strange combination of human
frailties and human virtues, yet with
al. strong in his simplicity and mighty
I'm his faith"
Coming state Senator.
In presenting Dr. J. w. Andrews,
Rev. Keesey referred to him as. the
coming state senator of Blue Earth
county. DR.. Andrews responded to
the toast, Lincoln, the Man of
Destiny" He spoke of errors that
many great men had made, causing
them TO lose part OF their greatness.
General Grant had erred In becom.
ing candidate for a third term as
president, and Cast a shadow over his
glory. Theodore Roosevelt, once the
most popular man in the United
States, IL not in the world. had made
the same mistake. William j. Bryan
would have become president of the
United States, II be had not ridden
the free silver hobby General Nc
Clellan showed himself coward when
he failed TO advance upon the rebels
Lincoln. "the man of destiny" also
had his weaknesses. but these were
of a minor character.
Lincoln, the doctor declared, was
special instrument of God, born
and reared for his own special work
Prejudiced historians had made many
attempts to malign his character, but
the life of that man only shone forth
brighter, as a jewel when rubbed and
FURNISHED. until now his character
shone forth like the morning star over
the whole globe. Even the southland.
which once hated him as no one
could hate a rattlesnake, today re-
vered him as man born for mighty
task. .
Was ProvidentiaIiy Guided.
The speaker cited numerous In
stances that seemed to prove that
Lincoln was providentially guided
throughout his life, and. thus brought
to the work that he was to do. He
took the view that Lincoln was born
amid these rustic surroundings, just
to produce such a mighty man as the
nation needed. When Lincoln refused
to accept the governorship Of Oregon,
II seemed like turning down some
thing well worth having, yet II he had
accepted that Office, he would have
been taken from the scene of strife
and would never have taken the great
part he did in the struggle. The
speaker told how Lincoln was borne
upward on the rising tide Of the
sentiment against slavery, and he lik-
ened this rising tide to that which is
today showing itself in opposition to
the saloons. He declared that this
tide would be still stronger year
hence. stronger than that two years
hence and still mightier FIVE. years
HANOI THE diooraosiou wae graatod