The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1915-02-09
BY j. A. EDGERTON.
Copyright. 1915. By American Press

Copyright. 1915. by American Press Asso-
citation.
nj is one of the anomalies of his
tory that the thing which was
z 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
liberating 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.
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, his humanity will be potent
in conquering the race and liberating
all nations. Sympathy wins men IN
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 artificialities
about him. He was what he appeared
to be, even as the oak or rock is what
it 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 un
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
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 be 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 it
His second quality was love of man
He could not resist an appeal to his
compassion. But be could be 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 pliabie. His heart was tender
and he was easily moved to laughter or
to tears. Els sense of justice was
strong. but bis charity was stronger
yet. Loyal to his friends. forgiving to
bis enemies. mighty in his wrath. but
mightier still in bis 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 Cap
tain Ross. grandson of one whom she
termed the greatest" of American
emancipa tors, placing emphasis on the
word greatest" 1t appears that the
grandfather. Captain Isaac Ross. freed
all his own slaves and sent them to