Thus Spoke Lincoln

There is much said concerning Lincoln—yet not too much for so great a subject. He is one of the great, even on the list of now immortal men.

As to some of his qualities of character, these were among the many: love, courage, integrity, humility—and there is no real greatness without any of these.

When he visited fallen Richmond, but a few days before he died, some whose cause he had served bowed down to him, while others fell at his feet. “This is not right,” he said. “You must kneel to God only, and thank him for the liberty you will hereafter enjoy. I am but God’s humble instrument.”

In one of the debates with Judge Douglas he said: “Our defense is in the spirit which prizes liberty as the heritage of all men in all lands everywhere. Destroy this spirit and you will have planted the seeds of despotism at our own doors…Whether it is right or wrong to trample on the rights of others—that is the real issue…the eternal struggle between the two principles of right and wrong throughout the world.”

This he said in an appraisal of the dignity of people: “It is difficult to make a man miserable while he feels he is worthy of himself and claims kindred to the great God who made him.”

And this he said to the nation for which he gave his life: “Beware of rashness, but with energy and sleepless vigilance go forward…” “devoutly recognizing…Almighty God in all the affairs of men and nations…It is the duty of the nations as well as of men to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God, to confess their sins and transgression in humble sorrow…and to recognize the sublime truth…’that those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord’…It behooves us then, to humble ourselves…and to pray for clemency and forgiveness…All this being done in sincerity and truth…that the united cry of the nation will be heard on high.”

Thus spoke Abraham Lincoln, who lived and died with this prayer and purpose: “That this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom…and…shall not perish from the earth.”

God bless his memory, and ever preserve in righteousness the nation for which he was made a martyr.