The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1915-02-12
b. :. 4.

1T is Of the anomalies Of his.
tory that the thing which was
considered during Abraham Lin.
coins administration his chief
source Of weakness has become his
greatest strength. His cabinet and gen.
erals complained bitterly Of his numer.
ous pardons. To them bis inability to
refuse requests vas the one aaw in his
character. To Us It seems the brightest
jewel in his crown.
The world will not soon forget his
service in preserving the Union and
%liberating a race. but even II It should
It could never forget bis sentiment.
with malice toward none, with char
fly for all" Men never yet have meas.
ured the conquertng power Of love.
There is nothing SO strong as meek.
ness, nothing so enduring as mercy.
Inasmuch as Lincoln embodied these
principles, they will render his memory
strong and enduring. The world will
consider him mightier for having saved
life than were all those who destroyed
It: that his kindness was more potent
than his cannon and that. while his
armies conquered the south and freed
the slave. bis humanity will be potent
in c%onquering the race and liberating
all nations. Sympathy wins men un-
awares. clemency is mightier than pow.
der and ball. and the victories gained
by forgiveness are permanent.
Lincoln was an elemental being.
There were no shams or artifcialities
about him. He was what he appeared
to be. even as the oak or rock is what
1t appears to be. His first characters
tic was love of truth. He was plain
because plainness does not deceive
Having nothing to conceal, be was un
affected. He was willing to honor the
handiwork Of God by letting himself
shine forth as God made him. He wa
lnpretentious, for pretense would but
have dimmed his ulster. he did not
accept mere authority. but dug to the
original sources of knowledge for him
self. He thought much and read little.
but what he did read was of the best
and was thoroughly digested. He was
so utterly logical that he had to be
honest. for dishonesty is the most II.
logical thing in the universe. He was
weak in a wrong position. but no man
was stronger in the right he made
little profession Of religion. but lived 1t.
His second quality was love Of man
He could not resist an appeal to his
compassion. But he could he immova.
BILE when a question of principle was
involved. Having made up his mind
that a thing was right, no power on
earth could bulge him. Where no
moral issue was at stake no man was
more pliable. His heart was. tender.
and be was easily moved to laughter or
to tears. His ense Of Justice was
strong. but bis charity was stronger
yet. Loyal to his friends. forgiviug to
his enemies, mighty in his wrath. but
mightier still In his patience and for.
bearance. Abraham Lincoln was the
best exponent of the teachings Of the
Nazarene that has appeared in our
times.
In December. 1868. a lady called on
President Lincoln in behalf Of a Cap
tain Ross. grandson Of one whom she
termed the greatest" Of American
emancipators. placing emphasis on the
word greatest" 1t appears that the
grandfather. Captain Isaac Ross. freed
all his own slaves and sent them to
Liberia at great expense to himself
All this the lady recounted, drawing
attention to the fact that Mr.. Lincoln
was only freeing other peoples slaves
So far from being offended at the
woman's invidious comparisons. the
great wal president evinced the most
lively interest IN the story. granted the
request and showed great good nature
concerning the incident
General Augur, when in command OF
the defenses at Washington. caught q
spy whom he regarded as q peculiarly
obnoxious specimen of his tribe, There
was no question of guilt, and quick
work was made of a court martiat.and
conviction. The spy was to be hang.
ed the next morning. and General Au
CUR went to the war department to
have the papers approved. 1t happen
ed that Lincoln and Stanton were both
absent from the city. and Charles A.
Dana was left in charge. He promptly
signed the papers. and Augur and be
congratulated each other that this one
spy would trouble the Union cause no
more. The next morning Dana met
Augur and asked about the execution.
In a Disguised manner the general said
there bud been no execution.
Lincoln had reached home at mid
night. and before be went to bed the
accused mans friends got around the
president and secured a pardon. Gen.
erai Augur could never refer to the In.
cident without showing anger.
The oyster Shell.
Every one who has handled an oys-
ter shell must have noticed the success
sive layers overlapping each other.
These are technically named shots. and
each one marks a years growth. 40
that by counting them the age Of the