Year: 1865

{
followed the great disaster at Chancel


lorsvllle, or the bloody repulse at Fred
erlcksburg, was equal to that of yester
day. The dreadful news came like a clal
of thunder In clear sky and overcas
the MONDAY Of our rejoicing with mid
night darkness Abraham Lipcoln-h
who through four long years of blood,
war has so faithfully and ably borne on,
standard, is no more Fallen upon tn,
ramparts of the last citadel of this ac
cursed rebellion, his legions of faithful
war-worn followers mourn him with al
lrreconcilable sorrow. In his honesty
integrity and ability, they reposed thu
most unreserved and childlike confidence


While Abraham Lincoln was their chic
magistrate and commander, they felt tina
all was well. Honest Old Abe will dc
what is best, was their proverbial anc
favorite sentiment His name was theil
rallying cry, and to them and then
cause was tower Of strength. Through
out the borders of our loyal land the
bravest and best rallied around their gIo.
rious republican chief as they would
have rallied around no other living man
The hardy, self made pioneer of the West
suddenly found himself raised up BIZ
Providence to be the leader of great
people through gigantic national trial
The vast responsibility would have con-
founded an intellect less clear, appalled, a
will less determined, crushed a spirit less
strong and manly than his. God gave us
Abraham Lincoln, and the same Infinite
Giver has taken him away.


Never can [ forget the occasion when |
first saw our dead and now immortal
President. 1t was at time of universal
gloom and espondency-whena an Amer.
lean citizen could scarcely say that he had
a country and government. Mr.. Lin
coin was then on his way to Washington
to assume the functions and responsible
ties of his Office. Upon him were the
eyes of the whole nation and of the civil
lied world The conspirators of the
South were having things all their own
way, having scarcely met rebuke or the
shadow of resistance in their treason
Encouragement was seizing upon every
Northern heart and the wisest and best
lovers of our liberty were preparing their
minds to give up the Union. Not SO
ABRAHAM LINCOLN. While all were de-
spOndent he was cheerful and hopeful.-
Politicians say that a crisis has come
upon the country, but think it altogeth-
er an artificial crisis, said he. In these
brave, manly, hopeful words patriots
found their cue. The gloomy incubus of
Southern treachery and Northern imbe-
cility began to be lifted from their hearts.
and they felt that they had even yet a Pres
ident, a Constitution and a countrv.-
Abraham Lincoln, with his own strong
right arm lifted this great people from
the pit of dependency and made them
feel their manhood, their patriotism and
their power. That they are not to-day
Inundated before proud Southern ar
lstocracy is, under God, owing to A bra
hon In, i 10 l.. L
INGTON established our free institutions
LINCOLN preserved them. The one is the
Father, the other the Savior of his eouu-
try.


When [ next saw the President It was
at review of one of the bravest and best
appointed armies In the world, and he the
reviewing officer. 1t was my privilege to
stand in the ranks of the nations defend
ers and to admire from that stand-p lint
the simple honesty, uprightpess, yet great
ness Of character marked in the manner
and bearing of our illustrious Chief On
that glorious gala-day hardly q soldier
bosom did not swell with pride at the
thought that it was part of the living bull
wark ofdefense of that constitution which
permits great and free people to call to
the highest place in their gift a man SO
humble in birth and fortune, but vet so
great in all the glorious qualities of man
hood as Abraham Lincoln, of Illinois.


When | next saw Mr.. Lincoln he was
an attendant at an entertainment for the
benefit of sick and wounded soldiers
His humane heart had not forgotten even
in the midst of his vast cares and respon-
sibilities to do an act of charity in behalf
Of the suffering ones who had sacrificed
health or limb in behalf Of the great cause
of which he was the chief representative.
This was the last time I saw him. nor
shall | see him again until the grand rally
Of victor souls on the plains of immortal
light | shall expect to see him there,
unfading wreaths, and greet
ed from the four quarters Of the world
by the hosts OF those who have perished
n behalf of human rights, singing, as of
Did, the rejoicing song,


''We are coming, Father Abraham, three hnnsred


thousand more.''


It is not yet determined whether the
asst OF the rebel armies this side the Mis-
3issippi will voluntarily surrender to our
5orces. johnson has asked time to CON
lult with the arch-rebel of rebeldom.-
w hat the result of this consultation viii
9e cannot be well conjectured. Nor is
here now much anxiety upon the subject.
Another campaign will afford the oppor-
unity, much coveted, to retaliate upon





lated IN the cowardly assassination of the
President of the United States. God pity
he country where this army moves if it
s once more let loose upon the wicked
md dastardly sustainers of rebellion
The dread word suJJugdtioR will have
Mid and acceptable meaning for this in
quitous people. Hereafter devastation.
and humiliation will be
he watchWords.


There is no style of warfare which can
)e too severe against a people so barbar-
'us, so lost to all sense of honor as to
mploy the fendish torpedo, insidious
'oison, inhuman starvation of helpless |
aptives, and the bloody, treacherous
-nife Of the assassin as means for the |
destruction of their antagonists Let
hem beware how they give one more op- |
to hundreds of thousands of
eteran soldiers, exasperated almost to
MADNESS. These whipped, conquered |
raiders in human flesh will be made to |
7ofully rue the day when they introduced |
he bloody barbarism of the French Rev |
luton and the stealthy, unmanly treach-
ry of the Mexican guerilla into Ameri- |
an warfare.


But enough. Let us leave all venRe-
al feeling to Him to whom it rightfully |
elongs. The events of this war and the |
estiny of this nation are controlled by |
n ADLER, wiser hand than that of man
Whatever else may happen the right |
aust ultimately triumph,


'For right is right, since God is Cod


And right the day must win


To doubt would be dlsoyalty


To fAlter would be sin :"


There is yet hope for our country and |
Let us not despair. Follow
ng the example of our illustrious martyr