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history；Henry IV。 of France。 The career of the latter may be more
picturesque； as that of a daring captain always is； but in all its
vicissitudes there is nothing more romantic than that sudden
change； as by a rub of Aladdin's lamp； from the attorney's office in a
country town of Illinois to the helm of a great nation in times like
these。 The analogy between the characters and circumstances of
the two men is in many respects singularly close。 Succeeding to a
rebellion rather than a crown； Henry's chief material dependence
was the Huguenot party； whose doctrines sat upon him with a
looseness distasteful certainly； if not suspicious； to the more
fanatical among them。 King only in name over the greater part of
France； and with his capital barred against him； it yet gradually
became clear to the more far…seeing even of the Catholic party that
he was the only centre of order and legitimate authority round
which France could reorganize itself。 While preachers who held the
divine right of kings made the churches of Paris ring with
declamations in favor of democracy rather than submit to the
heretic dog of Bearnois；（1）much as our *soi…disant* Democrats
have lately been preaching the divine right of slavery； and
denouncing the heresies of the Declaration of Independence；
Henry bore both parties in hand till he was convinced that only one
course of action could possibly combine his own interests and those
of France。 Meanwhile the Protestants believed somewhat
doubtfully that he was theirs； the Catholics hoped somewhat
doubtfully that he would be theirs； and Henry himself turned aside
remonstrance； advice and curiosity alike with a jest or a proverb （if
a little *high；* he liked them none the worse）； joking continually as
his manner was。 We have seen Mr。 Lincoln contemptuously
compared to Sancho Panza by persons incapable of appreciating
one of the deepest pieces of wisdom in the profoundest romance
ever written； namely； that； while Don Quixote was incomparable in
theoretic and ideal statesmanship； Sancho； with his stock of
proverbs； the ready money of human experience； made the best
possible practical governor。 Henry IV。 was as full of wise saws and
modern instances as Mr。 Lincoln； but beneath all this was the
thoughtful； practical； humane； and thoroughly earnest man； around
whom the fragments of France were to gather themselves till she
took her place again as a planet of the first magnitude in the
European system。 In one respect Mr。 Lincoln was more fortunate
than Henry。 However some may think him wanting in zeal； the
most fanatical can find no taint of apostasy in any measure of his；
nor can the most bitter charge him with being influenced by motives
of personal interest。 The leading distinction between the policies of
the two is one of circumstances。 Henry went over to the nation；
Mr。 Lincoln has steadily drawn the nation over to him。 One left a
united France； the other； we hope and believe； will leave a reunited
America。 We leave our readers to trace the further points of
difference and resemblance for themselves； merely suggesting a
general similarity which has often occurred to us。 One only point of
melancholy interest we will allow ourselves to touch upon。 That
Mr。 Lincoln is not handsome nor elegant； we learn from certain
English tourists who would consider similar revelations in regard to
Queen Victoria as thoroughly American in the want of
*bienseance。* It is no concern of ours； nor does it affect his fitness
for the high place he so worthily occupies； but he is certainly as
fortunate as Henry in the matter of good looks； if we may trust
contemporary evidence。 Mr。 Lincoln has also been reproached with
Americanism by some not unfriendly British critics； but； with all
deference； we cannot say that we like him any the worse for it； or
see in it any reason why he should govern Americans the less
wisely。
（1） One of Henry's titles was Prince of Bearn； that being the old
province of France from which he came。
People of more sensitive organizations may be shocked； but we are
glad that in this our true war of independence； which is to free us
forever from the Old World； we have had at the head of our affairs
a man whom America made； as God made Adam； out of the very
earth； unancestried； unprivileged； unknown； to show us how much
truth； how much magnanimity； and how much statecraft await the
call of opportunity in simple manhood when it believes in the justice
of God and the worth of man。 Conventionalities are all very well in
their proper place； but they shrivel at the touch of nature like
stubble in the fire。 The genius that sways a nation by its arbitrary
will seems less august to us than that which multiplies and
reinforces itself in the instincts and convictions of an entire people。
Autocracy may have something in it more melodramatic than this；
but falls far short of it in human value and interest。
Experience would have bred in us a rooted distrust of improved
statesmanship； even if we did not believe politics to be a science；
which； if it cannot always command men of special aptitude and
great powers； at least demands the long and steady application of
the best powers of such men as it can command to master even its
first principles。 It is curious； that； in a country which boasts of its
intelligence the theory should be so generally held that the most
complicated of human contrivances； and one which every day
becomes more complicated； can be worked at sight by any man able
to talk for an hour or two without stopping to think。
Mr。 Lincoln is sometimes claimed as an example of a ready…made
ruler。 But no case could well be less in point； for； besides that he
was a man of such fair…mindedness as is always the raw material of
wisdom； he had in his profession a training precisely the opposite of
that to which a partisan is subjected。 His experience as a lawyer
compelled him not only to see that there is a principle underlying
every phenomenon in human affairs； but that there are always two
sides to every question； both of which must be fully understood in
order to understand either； and that it is of greater advantage to an
advocate to appreciate the strength than the weakness of his
antagonist's position。 Nothing is more remarkable than the unerring
tact with which； in his debate with Mr。 Douglas； he went straight to
the reason of the question； nor have we ever had a more striking
lesson in political tactics than the fact； that opposed to a man
exceptionally adroit in using popular prejudice and bigotry to his
purpose； exceptionally unscrupulous in appealing to those baser
motives that turn a meeting of citizens into a mob of barbarians； he
should yet have won his case before a jury of the people。 Mr。
Lincoln was as far as possible from an impromptu politician。 His
wisdom was made up of a knowledge of things as well as of men；
his sagacity resulted from a clear perception and ho