News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1915-04-14

get him, but his public work was past
history, or so it then seemed.
Even before Lincoln was laid in his
tomb the nation was plunged afresh
! into the turmoil of war and war
alarms. General Sherman was viz
tually accused of treason in the matter
of making terms with the Confeder-
ates for the surrender of Johnston's
large army. Grant was sent to the
front to relieve Sherman. The fleeing
Confederate government was being
pursued for fear new stand would be
made in the mountains or beyond the
Mississippi. Andrew Johnson stepped
into Lincolns shoes and was instantly
at odds with his cabinet and col
leagues. Grant was "the man of the
hour upon whom the public relied to
restore order, but even Grant was
checked by red tape and a yelled
Jealousy and hostility which often tied
his hands.
The ink was barely dry upon Lees
treaty of surrender when Sheridan
was ordered to gather his forces and
proceed to the Mexican border and pre-
pare for new war with the forces of
Macmillan. For three years following
the end of the Confederacy and the
death of Lincoln anxiety and misgiv-
ings ruled the nation, not to be dissi-
pated until the election of Grant, ''the
man on horseback" to the White
House in 1868. Grants sword took
the place of Lincoln's wisdom and hon
esty as the guarantee of national life
and safety. Never was the saying 1.-THE
king is dead; long live the king" more
applicable than in the United States in
1865. Grant was the new king, though
unconsecrated and unenthroned. The
verdict upon Lincoln was that he had
wrought honestly and nobly, but time
alone could determine the enduring
value of his labor Not until the TWEEN
ty-fifth anniversary of his death was
there a national movement to COM
memorate his life work by celebrating
his birthday.
Lincoln's Closing Days.
The last six months of Lincolns ca.
reer in the executive chair were nota-
bly, eventful. In November, 1864. he
was reelected upon his record as war
president of three and a half years.
His reelection had not been foregone
conclusion. Such was the demand for
a military man that General Grant had
been impelled to declare that he would
not be a candidate. General McClel-
Ian ran on an anti-war platform, and.
although his electoral vote was light,
he drew surprising popular vote
That the people of the north were
tired of the war was evident in spite !
Of Lincoln's triumph at the polls on |
ringing war platform. In order to |
prove his desire for peace he yielded |
to the pressure of the hour and met |
Vice President Stephens of the Con-
states at Fortress Monroe, in
February, 1865, to arrange the prelimi-
laries of negotiations. His firm avow-
II that the basis of such negotiations
must be the submission of the south
ended the conference. and from that
line ON the problem of conquering
,eace and restoring the relations of the
sections absorbed his heart and mind
Ills thought, his hope, his conviction
we're epitomized in that marvellous in
Iugural address of March 4, when he
not only himself but all the
lassics of American political elo-
uence. One specimen suffices to stamp
IS tone and power:
with malice toward none, with
harity for all, with firmness in the
ight, as God gives us to see the right,
IT US strive on to finish the work we
re in, to bind up the nations wounds,
D care for him who has borne the bat
e and for his widow and his orphan
, do all which may achieve and cher
h a just and lasting peace among
urselves and with all nations"
While in Richmond after the fall Mr..
lincoln said that he believed that the
lnquered people would be "let up
lsy.' This was in accordance with
I'd met Confederate peace commits
oners. Grant states i'm his memoirs
lat at that time Mr.. Lincoln said
lat if the sOutherners would agree G
perpetual union and the abolition '
slavery he would be willing to hand /
EN- a blank sheet of paper with his I
ynature attached and let them state I
e terms themselves. These views, 4
Town to the Federal generals in the r
Ia. influenced the 4 in their stipula- b
ms for the surrender Of the Confed r
ate armies. u