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or the despondent； there were reasons enough of settled gravity
against any over…confidence of hope。 A warwhich； whether we
consider the expanse of the territory at stake； the hosts brought into
the field； or the reach of the principles involved； may fairly be
reckoned the most momentous of modern timeswas to be waged
by a people divided at home； unnerved by fifty years of peace；
under a chief magistrate without experience and without reputation；
whose every measure was sure to be cunningly hampered by a
jealous and unscrupulous minority； and who； while dealing with
unheard…of complications at home； must soothe a hostile neutrality
abroad； waiting only a pretext to become war。 All this was to be
done without warning and without preparation； while at the same
time a social revolution was to be accomplished in the political
condition of four millions of people； by softening the prejudices；
allaying the fears； and gradually obtaining the cooperation； of their
unwilling liberators。 Surely； if ever there were an occasion when
the heightened imagination of the historian might see Destiny visibly
intervening in human affairs； here was a knot worthy of her shears。
Never； perhaps； was any system of government tried by so
continuous and searching a strain as ours during the last three
years； never has any shown itself stronger； and never could that
strength be so directly traced to the virtue and intelligence of the
people；to that general enlightenment and prompt efficiency of
public opinion possible only under the influence of a political
framework like our own。 We find it hard to understand how even a
foreigner should be blind to the grandeur of the combat of ideas
that has been going on here；to the heroic energy； persistency； and
self…reliance of a nation proving that it knows how much dearer
greatness is than mere power； and we own that it is impossible for
us to conceive the mental and moral condition of the American who
does not feel his spirit braced and heightened by being even a
spectator of such qualities and achievements。 That a steady
purpose and a definite aim have been given to the jarring forces
which； at the beginning of the war； spent themselves in the
discussion of schemes which could only become operative； if at all；
after the war was over； that a popular excitement has been slowly
intensified into an earnest national will； that a somewhat
impracticable moral sentiment has been made the unconscious
instrument of a practical moral end； that the treason of covert
enemies； the jealousy of rivals； the unwise zeal of friends； have been
made not only useless for mischief； but even useful for good； that
the conscientious sensitiveness of England to the horrors of civil
conflict has been prevented from complicating a domestic with a
foreign war；all these results； any one of which might suffice to
prove greatness in a ruler； have been mainly due to the good sense；
the good…humor； the sagacity； the large…mindedness； and the
unselfish honesty of the unknown man whom a blind fortune； as it
seemed； had lifted from the crowd to the most dangerous and
difficult eminence of modern times。 It is by presence of mind in
untried emergencies that the native metal of a man is tested； it is by
the sagacity to see； and the fearless honesty to admit； whatever of
truth there may be in an adverse opinion； in order more
convincingly to expose the fallacy that lurks behind it； that a
reasoner at length gains for his mere statement of a fact the force of
argument； it is by a wise forecast which allows hostile combinations
to go so far as by the inevitable reaction to become elements of his
own power； that a politician proves his genius for state…craft； and
especially it is by so gently guiding public sentiment that he seems
to follow it； by so yielding doubtful points that he can be firm
without seeming obstinate in essential ones； and thus gain the
advantages of compromise without the weakness of concession； by
so instinctively comprehending the temper and prejudices of a
people as to make them gradually conscious of the superior wisdom
of his freedom from temper and prejudice；it is by qualities such as
these that a magistrate shows himself worthy to be chief in a
commonwealth of freemen。 And it is for qualities such as these that
we firmly believe History will rank Mr。 Lincoln among the most
prudent of statesmen and the most successful of rulers。 If we wish
to appreciate him； we have only to conceive the inevitable chaos in
which we should now be weltering； had a weak man or an unwise
one been chosen in his stead。
〃Bare is back；〃 says the Norse proverb； 〃without brother behind it；〃
and this is； by analogy； true of an elective magistracy。 The
hereditary ruler in any critical emergency may reckon on the
inexhaustible resources of *prestige；* of sentiment； of superstition；
of dependent interest； while the new man must slowly and painfully
create all these out of the unwilling material around him； by
superiority of character； by patient singleness of purpose； by
sagacious presentiment of popular tendencies and instinctive
sympathy with the national character。 Mr。 Lincoln's task was one
of peculiar and exceptional difficulty。 Long habit had accustomed
the American people to the notion of a party in power； and of a
President as its creature and organ； while the more vital fact； that
the executive for the time being represents the abstract idea of
government as a permanent principle superior to all party and all
private interest； had gradually become unfamiliar。 They had so long
seen the public policy more or less directed by views of party； and
often even of personal advantage； as to be ready to suspect the
motives of a chief magistrate compelled； for the first time in our
history； to feel himself the head and hand of a great nation； and to
act upon the fundamental maxim； laid down by all publicists； that
the first duty of a government is to depend and maintain its own
existence。 Accordingly； a powerful weapon seemed to be put into
the hands of the opposition by the necessity under which the
administration found itself of applying this old truth to new
relations。 Nor were the opposition his only nor his most dangerous
opponents。
The Republicans had carried the country upon an issue in which
ethics were more directly and visibly mingled with politics than
usual。 Their leaders were trained to a method of oratory which
relied for its effect rather on the moral sense than the
understanding。 Their arguments were drawn； not so much from
experience as from general principles of right and wrong。 When the
war came； their system continued to be applicable and effective； for
here again the reason of the people was to be reached and kindled
through their sentiments。 It was one of those periods of
excitement； gathering； contagious； universal； which； while they last；
exalt and clarify the minds of men； giving to the mere words