Central Washington University - Hyakem / Kooltuo Yearbook (Ellensburg, WA)

Page 19 text:

people. While the aristocracy of Europe was laughing at the state pa¬ pers of the backwoods graduate he always answered, “The people will understand,” and he was never mistaken. Ills deep sympathy was one of his chief qualities. While going down the streets of Springfield during the years when he was a prom¬ inent attorney, he saw a young woman crying. He paused and learned that the train she wanted to take was due in five minutes, and the drayman had failed to come for her trunk. Lincoln placing the trunk cn his shoulder bade the young woman hurry and with Lincoln In the lead she made her connections. Lincoln ' s energy is no less noticeable. He was twenty years old when he had read four books:—Weems Life of Washington, The HiHtory of the United States. Pilgrims Progress, and the Bible. It was hiB energy that caused him to overcome his many diltlculties. Paul said emphatically. “This one thing I do ; Lincoln with equal energy made clear the purpose of his life when he said, “The Union must be preserved.” The honesty of the first American is quite prominent. It is not generally known that Lincoln took back $250.on which he said was an overcharge, although his partner claimed it was paid willingly. Douglas said before beginning the debates, “Lincoln is as shrewd as he is honest, and if I beat him my victory will he dearly won.” Caesar lived, and we have a Roman Empire; Socrates lived, and we have a Uraecian philosophy; Napoleon lived, and liis footstep caused Europe to tremble; Washington lived, and with a handful of troops he laid the foundation of a great nation; Lincoln lived, at a time when seventy million people were separated into contesting groups, state against state, family against family, and he united them Into the greatest nation on the face of the earth. Had the chief executive of this nation been a man with flexible will or with less strength of purpose we might not be enjoying the luxury of a united people as we do today. When Sherman had completed his march to the sea; when Grant had surrounded Lee at Appomatox and after receiving his sword returned it with the statement, Let us have peace;” when the stars and stripes that had not been unfurled to the breezes for four and one half years were again floating over Fort Sumpter unmolested; when the war cloud had been lifted and the sunshine of universal love and peace was spreading its benediction over all the earth, then It was that the shot at Ford ' s theatre sent a chill of horror through the whole nation. Willing hands lifted the first American and bore him across the street to a house that still stands in Washington, where he lingered all night. When the bright rays of the sun on the following morning had kissed the hilltops and was scattered on the grass in the valleys, then it was that the spirit of the Man of Sorrows crossed over the river to rest under the shade of the trees. Stanton, who stood by his bedside, turned from the scene and with tears in his eyes exclaimed. “There lies the man of the age. is Lincoln dead? Ask the Grand Army of the Republic, whose hats come off at the mention of hiB name. Is Lincoln dead? Ask the three million slaves whose shackles fell at a stroke from his pen. Is Lincoln dead? Ask the thirty million school children who will appreciate his great achievement in the future more than we do today. Our purpose should be to take a new inspiration from the life of Abraham Lincoln and Be noble and the nobleness in other men, sleep¬ ing but never dead will rise in majesty to meet our own.” lng but never dead, will rise in majesty to meet our own. —E. J. Klemme. [ 18 ]

Page 18 text:

THE FIRST AMERICAN Any cne in thU land of the free and the home of the brave who re¬ serves the above title mentioned by Lowell In one of hia poems must have strength in many lines. He must be strongly Intellectual. Hamil¬ ton. cf whom W ebster once said. He touched the dead corpse of public credit, and it sprang upon its feet, waa a thinker, yet he was not the first American. He must be a statesman. George Washington showed his ability in this line, not only on the battle field, or as chief executive, but even at Valley Forge. Yet Washington from Lowell ' s point cf view does not deserve the title. He must be a man of faith. Nathan Hale was so faithful to his country that he was willing to die for it Hear him as he says, I regret that I have but one life to give to my country. Still Nathan Hale could not be considered first among Americans. He must be a soldier. Montgomery, who turned to his men. before the battle or Quebec and said. Men of New York, you will not fear to follow, where your commander leads.” was a true soldier and patriot. I«ee ana Pickett, and even Arnold, could be classed as American Bpldlers, yet none of these could he given the title The First American. Who is the first American and irom whence does he come? He is not found In Massachusetts with William Llayd Harrison. W endall I hlllips or James G. Whittier. Not from New York with her Horace Greeley or her Peter Cooper. Not from Louisiana with her Zachary Taylor; not from Tennessee with her Andrew Jackson; nor from California with her Le- lan t Standford; nor from the Mother of Presidents with Madison and Monroe- not even from the great state of Ohio with the names of the iamented McKinley and Garfield; but from the state that gave us a John A. Logan, the Black Eagle cf the Rebellion, that gave us a Grant, who by his indomitable will broke the hack bone of the Rebellion, from the Prairie state of the West. Illinois, we have our first American— Abraham Lincoln. ‘Cn the record of thy years Abraham Lincoln s name appears. Grant and Logan and our tears. Illinois, Illinois. Abraham Lincoln was a writer of choice English. Edward Everett lad delivered a two hour oration on the Battlefield of Gettysburg, but after he had heard Lincoln ' s ten sentences he said. I would he Slad »o exchange. This and many other examles could be given of his ability ar a writer hut this has not given him the first place. Lincoln was clever in the use of wit. Douglas once said that Lincoln reminded him of the scripture which says, “O, Lord, how long. Un ™ ' ” answered by saying that Douglas reminded him of the passage which savs. “The wicked shall he cut short 111 his day. e are sadly mis¬ taken If we suppose that Lincoln was a hurmorist. He was serious. He often said, I must tell stories or I shall explode. When he was asked to indulge in stories while debating Douglas, lie said, I cannot, the occasion is too serious.” Lincoln Is often called the emancipator, and there can be no question about his hatred of slavery, yet his paramount thought was the preser¬ vation of the Union. He was not first because or his policy of the emancipation of the slaves, but rather because of his determination in I reserving the Union. In an effort to learn the qualities of his life that made him so strong as a man and executive, students of history scarcely agree. Many, however, agree on four characteristics that stand out prominently. Thev are simplicity, sympathy, energy, and honesty. These are simple virtues, yet they will make famous any one who bears them worthily. The simplicity of his birth is well known. Born as he was In a rude hut in Kentucky, which had the ground for a floor, a thatched roor for a covering, one could expect to find in such surroundings no one but a person who enjoyed the simple life. This simplicity won the common [ 17 1

Page 20 text:

t 19 1