New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1915-02-10
BY J. A. EDGERTON.

BY J. A. EDGERTON.
Copyright. 1915. by American Press Asso.
citation
is one of the anomalies of his
tory that the thing which was
81 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. To 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 his 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 mercy
lnasmuch 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. his humanity will be potent
IN conquering the race and Iiberating
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 artificialitleS
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. he was I'm
affected. He was willing to honor the
hand1Work of God BY letting himself
shine forth as God made him. He was
unpretentious, for pretense would nut
nave dimmed his luster 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. de was
so utterly logical that he had To be
honest. for dishonesty is the most H.
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 it.
His second quality was love of man
he could not resist an appeal to his
compassion. But he could be immoyn.
BILE when question of principle was
involved. Having made up his mind
that 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 he was easily moved to laughter or
to tears. His sense of Justice was
strong. but his charity was stronger
yet. Loyal to his friends. forgiv1ng to
his enemies, mighty in his wrath. hut
mfghtier 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. lady called on
President Lincoln in behalf Of a Cap
tain Ross. grandson Of ODo whom she
termed the greatest" OF American
emancipators. placing emphasis on the
word greatest" It appears that the
grandfather. Captain isaac. Ross. freed
al bis own slaves and sent them to