THE HE angels of your thoughts are climbing still And have not reached the top, nor ever will, While this low life pronounces his high name. But yonder, where they dream, or dare, or do, The "good" or "great" beyond our reach, Thijstthe Pared Peyt ANDOVER, MASS., NOVEMBER, 1881. [xxi] INTRODUCTION. THE HE name of Abraham Lincoln is imperishable. His fame is world-wide. Born in comparative poverty, trained in obscurity, mingling with the sons of toil in early manhood, he yet rose to one of earth's proudest positions, and at his death the world was in tears. He was not born great, as the heir of a great name, or of an estate; yet he was born great in having a strong intellect and a noble heart. Without the surrounding of friends, without the influence of wealth, he rose slowly but surely. Step by step he ascended the great pyramid until he stood upon its lofty summit. As we read history, how few names survive. Multiplied millions pass away in every generation; a few hundreds only are honored by coming ages. In early history the names which live are chiefly those of warriors or founders of nations; but Lincoln was no warrior; he drew no sword; he fought no bloody battles; he had no stars upon his breast. Others, as the founders of schools of philosophy, have left a name; as Plato, and Socrates, and [xxiii] Aristotle. You hear of Croesus through his untold wealth; but Lincoln was neither teacher nor millionaire. First, his name lives through his honesty and unselfishness, in his business, in his profession of the law, and in all his transactions among men, he gained the grand title of honest. His word was not doubted. No man believed that he ever betrayed any trust. If an When in after life he had millions under his control, not even an enemy whispered a suspicion of his illegally or selfishly controlling a dollar of public money. honest man is the noblest work of God, then Mr. Lincoln's title to high nobility is clear and unquestioned. In his busiest moment, in his most anxious hours during the war, he was ever ready to listen to the story of distress; many a widow's heart was cheered by his words and acts of kindness. Secondly, he adhered firmly to what he believed to be right. Endowed with strong intellectual powers, which he had carefully exercised, he loved to study great principles. Deeply interested in the welfare of the nation, he inquired how it might become strong and be perpetuated. He followed not the crowd; he sought not personal popularity; he had faith in the ultimate triumph of truth and right. Perceiving the antagonism between slave labor and free labor, espousing the cause of equal rights and of human freedom, he early became INTRODUCTION. XXV the opponent of the encroachments of the slave power. He stood firmly with a small minority while others. quailed before an imperious and threatening majority. He risked his position as a leader, his reputation as a statesman, as he disputed the right of slavery to the territories, and championed the cause of freedom. In his speeches which he made through his State are embodied most noble sentiments and trenchant thoughts; and though unpopular for a time, his sentiments became the sentiments of the great West. Thirdly, when, in a season of great national excitement, he was unexpectedly called to the Presidency of the nation, he left his Western home with a presentiment that he would probably never return. The dangers of rebellion and civil war were before him. Threats of treachery and assassination were heard. But he determined, if needful, to lay down his life for the nation. He was not a warrior, but he was a hero. Through the weary years of that fearful war he bore anxieties and labors, and passed through perils that were exhausting and fearful. He lived to see the cause of the nation triumph, to behold the nation victorious, and coming peace smiled upon the land. Just at that moment the hand of the assassin sped the fatal ball. He died a martyr for his country. Fourthly, in that terrible contest he had the dis |