CONTENTS. His first Protest against Slavery.. Resolutions on the Mexican War... Acceptance of the Chicago Nomination.. Farewell Address at Springfield..... Second Inaugural Address, March 4, 1865. 49 Oration by Hon George Bancroft. Progress of the Funeral from New York to Albany. HE filled the Nation's eye and heart, His towering figure, sharp and spare, His changing face what pen can draw? Pride found no idle space to spawn Her fancies in his busy mind; His worth-like health or air-could find No just appraisal till withdrawn. He was his Country's-not his own! He had no wish but for her weal; Nor for himself could think or feel But as a laborer for her throne. Her flag upon the heights of power, Charles G. Halpine. I. LIFE OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN. THERE is perhaps no point in which all human history, and the records of inspiration, are more clearly illustrative of each other than this-that Providence, in working out the great and mighty revolutions in the civil and social, no less than in the religious order, chooses the unknown, the lowly, the apparently unfit. But though drawn from obscurity, these instruments in the Mighty Hand are always intrinsically great-great in clearness of thought, great in calm deliberation, great in earnestness, in unaffectedness, in unselfish devotion to duty. Thus viewed, Abraham Lincoln was truly great. Raised suddenly to the station which Washington was the first to fill, his sudden elevation sent a pang to the hearts of many, as though a sad degeneracy had fallen on our times; while others shuddered at the unequalness of the man for the most critical position which had yet arisen in American affairs. Four years have so changed all this, that his name is uni versally revered; the great qualities which he really possessed, his knowledge of men, his uprightness and honesty, his kindliness of heart, his extreme caution in the unnumbered difficulties that daily arose in the constant civil and military emergencies, with a firmness that was never swerved by flattery or fear-all these, and the great results effected under his administration, have given him in the heart of the people a place second only to that of the Father of his Country. The sudden and terrible assassination which so suddenly cut short his second administrative term, has embalmed his memory, and in its very suddenness convinced men of all opinions and all parties of the extent and greatness of the national loss. |