Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 15.pdf/89

which he always obeyed. When it was re the advancing years, it is insisted that Lincoln membered that this "sainted mother," as he ami his work have become better understood, chose to call her,, passed into the shades the unselfishness of his motives better appre while her son was in his ninth year, one can ciated, the loftiness of his patriotism and the form some estimate of the great force of wisdom of his policy better fixed in the pub character, deep religious feeling and practical lic mind, and the integrity of his purpose and common-sense possessed by her. Only such the doggedness of his zeal to do the right as a mother would be able to leave an impress he understood it, more clearly indicated by on the young life of her devoted son at such contemporaries, with the progress of the a tender age. What wonder is it, then, that years. These, and a multitude of parallel such a life should become great so soon as considerations, induce us finally to believe, the occasion came to develop its latent not that the light of the fame of Washington powers? Why marvel that a mere "rail- has grown dimmer, but that the fame of Lin splitter" and flat boatman of the Mississippi coln has grown brighter, has become greater, should be the chosen guardian of a great and as the truths of history have become devel free people? oped and understood, as the clear sunlight of Not only was Lincoln the best type of unprejudiced investigation has been let into which American soil and atmosphere was some dark historical corners. capable of producing, but he was, in spite of Some one has said that there are two any and all other considerations, inherently classes of men whose life-work is the most great, great as a man, great as a lawyer, enduring monument—the great writers, and great as a reformer, and great as a statesman. the men of great achievement. The same au And what is greatness, as applied to the in thority places Lincoln in both categories. dividual? Undoubtedly, it is a relative term, Few of us would have been inclined to place which has various and varying significations, Mr. Lincoln in the lists of the great writers, according to the time when, and the place and it is doubtful if Lincoln would have ever where, and the circumstances to which, it regarded himself as a man of letters. And may be applied. But a somewhat general yet Emerson ranks him with Л£вор in his lighter moods. He says: The weight and and not too technical definition may be ex pressed in this wise: Greatness, as applied penetration of many passages in his speeches, to men, is that quality of head, and of heart, letters and messages, hidden now by the very and of soul, as exemplified in thoughts, in closeness of their application to the moment, acts, and in deeds, wherein one person towers! are destined to wide fame. What pregnant immensely above the common mass, one definitions, what unerring common-sense, whose qualities fit him to be, essentially, a what foresight, and on occasions, what lofty, leader of men, and not a blind follower. and more than national, what human tonel Greatness, as thus defined, places the name of His brief speech at Gettysburg will not easily Lincoln in the first and highest position on be surpassed by words on any recorded occa the American escutcheon. This estimate sion." These words are found in Lincoln's Second will be questioned by the admirers of Inaugural: "Fondly do we hope, fervently the "father of his country." There are do we pray, that this mighty scourge of war many who believe that the name of Wash ington cannot yet give way to that of may speedily pass away. Yet if God will that Lincoln. And while there is no claim it continue until all the wealth piled by the made that the illustrious name and fame bondsman's two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil sh*H b« sunk, and until every of Washington has grown any less with