OT: Lincoln

[etaoin]

In honor of Abraham Lincoln's birthday, I offer this piece written by my grandfather in the late 1800's.  He was in his 20's and a member of the U.S. Legislature.  Later he was a Kansas Supreme Court justice and at the time he wrote this, was editor of the weekly newspaper our family owned for 125 years.

LINCOLN

           There is no new thing to be said of Lincoln.  Nor is there a new thing to be said of the mountains or the sea or the stars.  The mountains ever tower in solemn majesty above the drifting clouds, the mysterious sea ever sobs upon the shore, and the silent stars ever keep holy vigil above a tired world -- but to mountain and sea and star men turn forever in unwearied homage.  And thus with Lincoln.  For he was mountain in grandeur of soul, he was sea in deep under-voice of sadness and mystery, he was star in steadfast purity of purpose and of service.  And he abides.  With the name of Lincoln tears are called from old men’s eyes, and with the name of Lincoln childhood learns to lisp a patriot’s devotion.  And there is no new thing to be said of him -- what need, for such as he!  But while the republic stands on whose altar he laid his great mind and heart, while liberty is cherished, while civic virtue and service and sacrifice are honored in the earth, the name of Lincoln will be spoken in undying love by the sons of men.

[pendragon]

Both delightful and timely. Thank you for sharing those most insightful words.

Harv

[krissel]

Thank you for an insight to the acknowledgement of his greatness within a different era. We understand how important he was from a historical perspective but it is heartening to know that his generation truly appreciated him.

[RogerF]

Thank you for that. In my opinion, Lincoln, was the single reason the United States is the country it is today. Had his life not been cut short, true reunification might not have taken another century.
Truly the most important man this country has ever produced.

(now if he could only learn how to finally make a truly superior luxury car - that could be something today's America would identify with)
 
 [ 02-13-2003, 04:53 AM: Message edited by: RogerF ]

[RogerF]

by the way. During the build up to what became the Civil War, politics were a bit more bare knuckled than they are today.

The slanders tossed about would make most peoples hair curl now and since the printed word was the medium of the day, each camp had it's own. (sortta' like the Fox channel today)

A magazine was created for the sole purpose of supporting Lincoln the candidate. That magazine is still around today. It's Harper's and they do a weekly review via eMail @  join-harpers-weekly@pluto.sparklist.com
 
 [ 02-13-2003, 06:54 AM: Message edited by: RogerF ]

[jepinto]

Just wanting to bump this up, in honor of a great man.

(Yes....I'm working on archiving older posts...and ran across this.)