The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1916-02-11

at all This message was received
February 10 and a short discussion oc
Cured in the house. According to
Nicolay and Hay:
1T (the discussion) did not rise
above the level of an ordinary party
wrangle. The few Democrats who
took part in it complained of the presi'
dent for refusing an armistlce, while
the Republicans retorted with Jeffer-
son Davis conditions about the two
countries and the more recent declar'
atoms of his Richmond harangue, an
nouncing his readiness to perish for
independence. On the whole, both
congress and the country were graft
fed that the incident had called out
Mr.. Lincoln's renewed declaration OF
an unalterable resolve to maintain the
Union. Patriotic hope was quickened
and public confidence strengthened by
noting once more his singleness OF
purpose and steadfastness Of faith
No act OF his could have formed a
more fitting prelude to his second in
auguration, which was now rapidly APP
preaching, and the preliminary steps
Of which were at this time consum
mated"
| This feeling throughout the country
and in congress was becoming evident
| to the president on his last birthday
so much so that he commented on il
to his friends and advisers. 1t showed
him that the nation was behind him.
and that he would be supported to the
completion of his work of cementing
the Union.
Almost in the. nature of a birthday
gift came the formal announcement to
President Lincoln that he had been
elected president of the United States
On the very day of I,incoln's birth.
day the first of the cotton ships Sher
man had sent from Savannah put into
New York and Newport, X. The
newspapers Of February IS featured
the dispatches announcing the arrival
of the vessels and commenting with
favor on the prospects of getting great
cargoes of cotton from the newly
opened ports of the South.
The dailes were also filled with dis
patches telling Of the progress of
Grants campaign against Lee, which
was beginning so to formulate itself
that Appomattox should end the war,
and that Sherman had completed his
march to the sea None viewed the
approach of peace with greater gratl!i
cation than did Lincoln, and 1t was
with the spirit of this period of his
last birthday upon him that he wrote
his second inaugural address, which
is fraught with human sympathy, so
expressive OF the character OF the
man.
The sad story Of the great presi'
dents death is familiar to all. That
it was to follow so closely on his last
birthday, so lightened by hope and
gratitude for the success OF the Union
cause, none could foresee unless, as
some writer's declare, the president
himself had forebOdings of il.
In all events, it is pleasant to con
template that the closing months Of
Abraham Lincoln's life were gifted
with feeling of peace which for long
he had not known 1t was during these
months that he conceived that closing
paragraph of his second inaugural ad
dress:
with malice toward none, with |
charity for all, with iirmness in the
right as God gives us to see the right
let us strive on to finish the work we
are in, to bind up the nations wounds
to care for him who shall have borne |
the battle, and for his widow and his |
orphan-to do all which may achieve |
and cherish a just and lasting peace |
among ourselves and with all nations.