Putnam County herald. (Cookeville, Tenn.) 1903-1922, 1915-02-11
LINCOLN
Man of Humanity, in War Time
BY J. A. eDGERToN


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.
Gus pardons 70 them his inability to
refuse requests was the one flaw 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
hberating a race. but even If it should
It could never forget bis sentiment,
with malice toward none. with char.
ity for ALL" Men never yet have meas
ured the conquering power of love-
There is nothing so strong as meek
ness. nothing so enduring as mere.
Inasmucb as Lincoln embodied these
principles. they will render bis memory
strong and enduring. The world will
consider him mightier for having saved
Life than were all those who destroyed
It; that his kindliness was more potent
armies conquered the south and freed
the slave. his humanity will be potent
In cOnquering the race and liberating
all nations. Sympathy wins men IN
awares. clemeDcy 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 artiicia lilies
about him. He was what he appeared
to be. even as the oak or rock is what
II appears to be His first characters
tic was love of truth He was plain
HAVING nothing to conceal, ne was I'M,
affected. He was willing to honor the
handiwork Of God by letting himself
shine forth as God made him He was
unpretentious. for pretense would but
have dimmed his luster He did not
accept mere authority. but ding to the
original sources Of knowledge for dim
self. He th0ught, mach and read little
but what be did read was of the best
and was thoroughly digested He was
% utterly logical that be bad to be
honest. for dishonesty is the most IL
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.
a n mi ID
compassion Put be could be immova-
bic when question .of principle was
involved Having made mp his mind
that thing was right, no power on
earth could pudges'him !" Where mo
moral issue wac at stake no man was,
more piiabie His heart was tender.
and he was easily mopeato laughter or
10 tears His sense Of justice was
strong. but his chaffty was stronger
vt. Loyal to his friends ,torsivinS to
his enemies. mighty IN mis- wrath. but
Dightier stih in,. sis patience and for
bearance. Abraham IApeoin was the
BERT exponent OF the .tearhines of the
Nasarene that has appeared 'in our
times .4 ,,.r ~ t,-i ~
In December. 1903. a ,aay called %
President Lincoln IN behalf H5f a Cap
tain Ross. grandson 4,f one WHOM, she !
termed the ''grpatess' nj American
piaeang @mpnasis on tbe
word "grpatpst u xl'l','lt+s thai the
Capta,n a+nac ,E..s~. freed
all his own >aave& and .seiH inpm to
II Jeria at great expense to himself !.
Al this the ,ad. recounted. dra wi0s
attention to the fact that Mr. ,LincOtn
was only freeing other peuples slaves
So far from beiaa offended at the
womans invidia.s comparisons. the
great war president eviDced the most
lively interest In the story. granted the
request and shaved great tsU'd uaturr
the incltient,
General Augur. when IN command 0f
The defenses AT Washington, caught a
spy whom he regarded as a peculiarly
specimen of his tribe There
was no question Of guilt. and quick
work was made Of court marti;l and
The spy was to I've hang
I'd the next morning. and t;eieraf Al
yur went TO the wat department to |
rave the papers approved II happen
ID that Lincoln and stanton were both I
lbsent from the city. and Charles A
Dana was left In charge He prOmpti,
igned the papers. and Augur and he
each other that this one /
py would trouble the Union cause no
more. The next morning Dana mel
Augur and asked about the execution
n disglsted manner the general said
here had been no execution.
Lincoln had reached home at mid
light and before he went to bed the
ccused mans friends got around the
resident and secured Il parduu Gen
raj Anguf could never refer to the in
itent without showing anger
SHOOTING MATCH
There viii be shooting match in
ry Valley, near J. L. Hills store, Sat i
rday before the third Sunday, Feb.