The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1921-02-10

ing near them, we see other peaks that
seem to be as high or higher, but as
we withdraw, the one preeminent sum
NIT pushes gradually up into the blue
and those about it shrink, until at last
we reach a point where doubt is no
longer possible and our estimate is first
and final. With men the great clariiier
of the judgment is time. Few men,
perhaps none, are valued at their true
worth by their contemporaries.
No better illustration of that truth
can be found than Abraham Lincoln,
In his lifetime, though he was reyered
and trusted and loved by those who
we're gifted above other men with
clearness of political vision, he was
also deprecated and revled by many
even of those who were ardent sup
porters of the cause he represented,
But year by year since his death, and
especially during the last decade, when
his life has been the subject of re
newed study by historians and students
of social conditions, his fame has
grown, until now there is no longer
any question Of his place as the great
est American; he is one Of the great
figures of the world, and of all time.
There is constant temptation, in
writing of him, to speak of the "mys-
terry of Lincoln" or the "mracle Of
Lincoln; for that man of his hum
bic birth, his crude and harsh sur
roundings and his lack of educational
facilities should have attained his place
in the great cycle of human events is
both mysterious and miraculous If we
Judge only by the lives of ordinary
men. Perhaps it is because we do so
Judge, or have SO Judged, that we
Americans have been slower than for
cgners to recognize the magnitude of
his greatness So long ago as 1868
there was a statue of him in Edn-
boro, the gift Of Scotch admirers who
raised the necessary fund by penny
subscriptions.
Scandinavian immigrants to Amer
lea gave a statue of him to their home
land, and last summer a replica Of ST.
Gaudcns' noble work was unveiled in
London bv the side Of Westminster
Abbey, in full view of the Houses Of
Parliament; and no one ever paid to
Lincoln finer or more feeling tribute
than did the British Prime Minister on
that occasion
"ln his life he was great Amcri-
can" he said, but he is an American
no longer. He is one of those giant
figures of whom there are very few in
history, who lose their nationality in
death They are no longer Greek or
Hebrew or English or American they
belong to mankind. | wonder whether
/ shall be forgiven for saying that
George Washington was great
American, but Abraham Lincoln be
longs to the common people of all
time. They love that haggard face,
with the sad and tender eyes. There
is worship in their regard. There is
faith and a hope in that worship"
And what of the "mystery" the
miracle" We shall find it, if we find
it at all, in the heart rather than in the
mind of the MANN his patience, his
humility, his kindness, his clemencE
his belief in democracy, his love for
and his trust in, the common people.
II was not the brain of Lincoln, great
and vigorous as it was, that pardoned
the little soldier boy who slept on his
post; that wrote the immortal letter to
Mrs Bxby; that penned the address
at Gettysburg, and all through the bit
ter struggle of the war did countless
other simple deeds that made him the
Father Fabraham" of half the coun-
try: il was the sensitive heart that
made the brain see true. There are
men in public life today who might be
Lincolns if they could rid themselves,
as he did, of partisanship and expcdi-
cncy and sclf-conceit and sclfshness
There are young men who will read
this editorial who may be Lincolns on
the same condition. The Open Road