Evening star., 1944-11-08
Nation Once Before
United After Election
For Victory in War


This is not the first time that
the Nation has had to forget the
bitterness of political campaign
and continue its efforts to win a
great war. A check through The
Evening Stars files today produced
this papers report OF what Pres
ident Lincoln said to a crowd that
gathered on the White House lawn
on the evening of Thursday, No
vember 10, 1864. The Star account:
Last evening, the various Repub-
lican clubs, according to the an
nouncement in this paper, formed
a procession on Ninth street and,
accompanied by several fine bands
OF music, proceeded to pay a con-
gratulatory visit to President Lin
coin and the various members of
his cabinet.
After the immense crowd had
gathered in front of the White
House, several pieces of music were
performed in superb style by the.
hands. and a spirited salute was
fired from the howitzers, and then !,
In response to the loud call from the
assemblage, President Lincoln APP
peared and spoke as follows:
Friends and fellow citizens: It
has long been a grave question
whether any government not too
strong for the liberty of its people
can be strong enough to maintain
Its own existence in great emergens
cies. On this point the present re-
beilion brought our Republic to a
severe test; a Presidential election
occurring in regular course during
the rebellion added not a little to
the strain.
IF the loyal people united were
put to the utmost of their strength
by the rebellion, must they not fail
when divided, and partially par
alyzed by a political war among
themselves?
THE election was a necessity. We
cannot have free government with
out elections; and if the rebellion
could force us to forego or postpone
a national election, it might fairly
claim to have already conquered
and ruined us. The strife of an
election is but human nature prac-
tlcally applied to the facts of the
case. (Voices in the crowd, That's |
so!'D
What has occurred in this case
must ever recur in similar cases.
Human nature will not change.
Compared with the men of this
time, we shall have as weak and as
strong, as silly and as wise, as bad
and as good.
Let us, therefore, study the Incl
dents of this, as philosophy to learn
wisdom from, and none of them as
wrongs to be revenged.
But the election, along with this
incidental and undesirable strife, |
has done good, too. It has demon
strated that peoples government
can sustain national election in
the midst of great civil war. en-
thusiastic cheers)
Until now, it has not been
known to the world that this was
a possibility. 1t shows also how
sound and how strong we still are.
1t shows he who is most devoted
to the Union, and most opposed to
treason. can receive most of the peo-
pies votes. Uong continued ap-
plause.)
1T shows also, to the extent vet
unknown, that we have more men
now than we had when the war.be- |
gan. Gold is good in it's place. but
living, brave, patriotic men are bet
ter tnan gold. (Applause.
But the rebellion continues: now
that the election is over, may not
all, having common interest, unite
in a common effort to save our
common country? (Cries of Yes"
and "Good.D
For my own part, I have striven,
and will strive, to avoid placing
any obstacle in the way. So long
as I have been here, I have not
willingly planted a thorn In any
mans bosom.
While I am deeply sensible to
the high compliment of re-
election, duly grateful as I trust, |
to Almighty God for having di-
rected my countrymen to right
conclusion, as think, for their
own good, it adds nothing to my
satisfaction that any other man
may be disappointed or panied by
the result. (Applause.)
May I ask those who have not
differed with me to join with me in
the same spirit towards those who
have.
Now, let me close by asking
three hearty cheers for our brave
soldiers and seamen, and their
gallant and skillfull commanders.
The cheers were given with a !
will by the vast crowd assembled
and were heartily repeated.