McKINLEY’S EULOGY OF LINCOLN.
In self-sacrifice and patriotism, President McKinley reflected many
qualities of Abraham Lincoln. How closely he had studied the character
of the great Lincoln is shown in an address delivered by Mr. McKinley on
Lincoln’s Birthday anniversary, February 12, 1895, before the
Unconditional Republican Club of Albany, N. Y. Mr. McKinley said:
“A noble manhood, nobly consecrated to man, never dies. The martyr of
liberty, the emancipator of a race, the savior of the only free
government among men may be buried from human sight, but his deeds will
live in human gratitude forever.
“The story of his simple life is the story of the plain, honest, manly
citizen, true patriot and profound statesman who, believing with all the
strength of his mighty soul in the institutions of his country, won,
because of them, the highest place in its government—then fell a
sacrifice to the Union he held so dear, and which Providence spared his
life long enough to save. We meet to-night to do honor to one whose
achievements have heightened human aspirations and broadened the field
of opportunity to the races of men. While the party with which we stand,
and for which he stood, can justly claim him, and without dispute can
boast the distinction of being the first to honor and trust him, his
fame has leaped the bounds of party and country, and now belongs to
mankind and the ages.
“Lincoln had sublime faith in the people. He walked with and among them.
He recognized the importance and power of an enlightened public
sentiment and was guided by it. Even amid the vicissitudes of war he
concealed little from public review and inspection. In all he did he
invited rather than evaded examination and criticism. He submitted his
plans and purposes, as far as practicable, to public consideration with
perfect frankness and sincerity. There was such homely simplicity in his
character that it could not be hedged in by the pomp of place, nor the
ceremonials of high official station. He was so accessible to the public
that he seemed to take the people into his confidence. Here, perhaps,
was one secret of his power. The people never lost their confidence in
him, however much they unconsciously added to his personal discomfort
and trials. His patience was almost superhuman. And who will say that he
was mistaken in his treatment of the thousands who thronged continually
about him? More than once when reproached for permitting visitors to
crowd upon him, he asked, in pained surprise, ‘Why, what harm does this
confidence in men do me?’
“In all the long years of slavery agitation, Lincoln always carried the
people with him. In 1854 Illinois cast loose from her old Democratic
moorings and followed his leadership in a most emphatic protest against
the repeal of the Missouri Compromise. In 1858 the people of Illinois
indorsed his opposition to the aggression of slavery, in a State usually
Democratic, even against so popular a leader as the Little Giant. In
1860, the whole country indorsed his position on slavery, even when the
people were continually harangued that his election meant the
dissolution of the Union. During the war the people advanced with him
step by step to its final overthrow. Indeed, in the election of 1864,
the people not only indorsed emancipation, but went far toward
recognizing the political equality of the negro. They heartily justified
the President in having enlisted colored soldiers to fight side by side
with the white man in the noble cause of union and liberty. Aye, they
did more; they indorsed his position on another and vastly more
important phase of the race problem. They approved his course as
President in re-organizing the government of Louisiana, and a hostile
press did not fail to call attention to the fact that this meant
eventually negro suffrage in that State.
“The greatest names in American history are Washington and Lincoln. One
is forever associated with the independence of the States and formation
of the Federal Union; the other with universal freedom and the
preservation of the Union. Washington enforced the Declaration of
Independence as against England; Lincoln proclaimed its fulfillment not
only to a downtrodden race in America, but to all people for all time
who may seek the protection of our flag. These illustrious men achieved
grander results for mankind within a single century, from 1775 to 1865,
than any other men ever accomplished in all the years since first the
flight of time began. Washington engaged in no ordinary revolution; with
him it was not who should rule, but what should rule. He drew his sword
not for a change of rulers upon an established throne, but to establish
a new government which should acknowledge no throne but the tribute of
the people. Lincoln accepted war to save the Union, the safeguard of our
liberties, and re-establish it on ‘indestructible foundations’ as
forever ‘one and indivisible.’ To quote his own grand words: Now we are
contending ‘that this Nation under God shall have a new birth of
freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the
people, shall not perish from the earth.’
“Each lived to accomplish his appointed task. Each received the
unbounded gratitude of the people of his time and each is held in great
and ever-increasing reverence by posterity. The fame of each will never
die; it will grow with the ages, because it is based upon imperishable
service to humanity; not to the people of a single generation or
country, but to the whole human family, wherever scattered, forever.
“The present generation knows Washington only from history, and by that
alone can judge him. Lincoln we know by history also, but thousands are
still living who participated in the great events in which he was leader
and master. Many of his contemporaries survived him; some are here yet
in almost every locality. So Lincoln is not far removed from us; he may
be said to be still known to the millions—not surrounded by the mist of
antiquity, nor a halo of idolatry that is impenetrable. He never was
inaccessible to the people; thousands carry with them yet the words
which he spoke in their hearing; thousands remember the pressure of his
hand; and thousands have not forgotten that indescribably sad,
thoughtful, far-seeing expression which impressed everybody. Nobody
could keep the people away from him, and when they came he would suffer
no one to drive them back. So it is that an unusually large number of
the American people came to know this great man and that he is still so
well remembered by them. It cannot be said that they were all mistaken
about him or that they misinterpreted his greatness. Men are still
connected with the Government who served during his administration.
There are at least two senators, and perhaps twice as many
representatives, who participated in his first inauguration—men who
stood side by side with him in the trying duties of his administration
and who have been, without interruption, in one branch or another of the
public service ever since. The Supreme Court of the United States still
has among its members one whom Lincoln appointed, and so of other
branches of the Federal judiciary. His faithful private secretaries are
still alive and have rendered posterity a great service in their history
of Lincoln and his times. They have told the story of his life and
public services with such entire frankness and fidelity as to exhibit to
the world ‘the very inner courts of his soul.’
[Illustration:
ARRIVAL OF THE FUNERAL PROCESSION AT THE EAST FRONT OF THE CAPITOL,
WASHINGTON.]
[Illustration:
SAILORS FROM THE BATTLESHIP ILLINOIS IN THE FUNERAL PROCESSION,
WASHINGTON.]
“This host of witnesses, without exception, agree as to the true
nobility and intellectual greatness of Lincoln. All proudly claim for
Lincoln the highest abilities and the most distinguished and
self-sacrificing patriotism. Lincoln taught them, and has taught us,
that no party or partisan can escape responsibility to the people; that
no party advantage, or presumed party advantage, should ever swerve us
from the plain path of duty, which is ever the path of honor and
distinction. He emphasized his words by his daily life and deeds. He
showed to the world by his lofty example, as well as by precept and
maxim, that there are times when the voice of partisanship should be
hushed and that of patriotism only be heeded. He taught that a good
service done for the country, even in aid of an unfriendly
administration, brings to the men and the party, who rise above the
temptation of temporary partisan advantage, a lasting gain in the
respect and confidence of the people. He showed that such patriotic
devotion is usually rewarded, not only with retention in power and the
consciousness of duty well and bravely done, but with the gratification
of beholding the blessings of relief and prosperity, not of a party or
section, but of the whole country. This he held should be the first and
great consideration with all public servants.
“Lincoln was a man of moderation. He was neither an autocrat nor a
tyrant. If he moved slowly sometimes, it was because it was better to
move slowly and he was only waiting for his reserves to come up.
Possessing almost unlimited power, he yet carried himself like one of
the humblest of men. He weighed every subject. He considered and
reflected upon every phase of public duty. He got the average judgment
of the plain people. He had a high sense of justice, a clear
understanding of the rights of others, and never needlessly inflicted an
injury upon any man. He always taught and enforced the doctrine of mercy
and charity on every occasion. Even in the excess of rejoicing, he said
to a party who came to serenade him a few nights after the Presidential
election in November, 1864: ‘Now that the election is over, may not all
having a common interest reunite in a common effort to save our common
country? So long as I have been here I have not willingly planted a
thorn in any man’s bosom. While I am deeply sensible to the high
compliment of a re-election, and duly grateful, as I trust, to Almighty
God for having directed my countrymen to a right conclusion, as I think,
for their own good, it adds nothing to my satisfaction that any other
man may be disappointed or pained by the result.’”