The Johnson City comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1916-1917, 1916-02-17


cost him something. We must feed
our most holy institutions as our he
roic dead fed freedom, with sacrifice.
Such was the offering of Abraham
Lincoln and we in the emulation of
the same will increase our devotion
to our country and our God Lincoln
lived as man of many sorrows. The
shame, the suffering, the hatred of
the period, fell upon him as no other.
The tragedy of the war staged itself
within his heart until his only relief
was in prayer, as it was with Wash
ington nearly a century before.
Some great men win respect, 9TH
ers claim reverence, a few induce
fear; but Abraham Lincoln captured
the love of the nation and of the
world. That is the highest of trib-
utes. 1t can be said of him that he
was a model in every respect save
one. 1t was a mistake upon the part
of this great and good man that he
never identified himself openly with
the church. | know what can be said
in favor of his position. 1t is how
ever, unsatisfactory. If all men were
to act in this matter as Lincoln did
there would be no church. This is
obvious. Hence the mistake which he
made. Otherwise as to his personal
habits; as to his confidence in God;
as to his faith in man; as to his con-
ception and use of the Bible; as to his
habits of prayer; as to his judicial
fairness; as to his sympathy with
men-in all these respects, as in many
others, Abraham Lincoln is charac-
ter to be studied and initiated. Born
as lowly as the Son of God, in no.
vel; raised in perjury, squalor, with
no CLEAN of light or fair surround
ings; without graces actual or ac-
CURED; without name or fame or of
fetal training; it was reserved for
this strange being late in life to be
snatched from obscurity, raised to
supreme command, at supreme mo-
ment, and entrusted with the destiny
of nation. The great leaders of his
party, the most experienced public
men of the day, were made to stand
aside; were sent to the rear whilst
this fantastic figure was led by I'M
seen hands to the front and given the
reins of power. 1t is immaterial
we were for or against him,
wholly immaterial. During four years
with them such weight of
as the world never wit
messed before, he filled the vast place
allotted to him in the eyes and actions
Of mankind is to say that he was in
5pired of God; for nowhere else could
ne have acquired such wisdom and
virtue.
Where did Shakespeare get his ge-
Mus? Where did Mozart get his mu-
SIC? Whose hand smote the Tyre of
he Scottish plowman and stayed the
life of the German priest? God, God,
md God alone; and as surely as these
we're raised up by God, inspired by
Iod, was Abraham Lincoln; and a
thousand years hence, no drama, no
ragedy, no epic poem will be filed
With greater wonder or be followed
" mankind with deeper feeling than
hat which tells the story of his life
nd death:
Had Lincoln lived
low would his hand so gentle, yet SO
strong,
lave closed the gaping wounls of
ancient wrong;
low would his merry jest, the way he
smiled,
ur sundered hearts to union have
beguiled;
low would the South from his Just
rule have learned
hnf nnnnjpa m naiOhhnrc ,,aox,
turned;
nd how the North, with his sagac-
ious art,
ave learned the power of trust
ing heart
hat follies had been spared us, and
what stain,
What seeds of bitterness that still
remain.
Had Lincoln lived!
With Lincoln dead,
IN million in substitute for one
ust do the noble deeds he would
have done;
ust lift the freedman with discern
ing care,
,r house him in castle of the air;
lst join the North and South in ev-
cry good,
lsed in cooperating brotherhood;
lst Danish enmity with his good
cheer,
ID slay with sunshine every rising
fear;
ke him to dare, and trust, and sac
riflce,
n million lesser Lincolns must
arise,
With Lincoln dead.