Qass. 
 
 Book 
 
 S 754 
 

 LINCOLN 
 
 as President 
 
 BY 
 
 JNO. W. STARR, Jr. 
 Millersburg, Pa. 
 
 • 
 
 
 

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Lincoln as President 
 
 AN ORATION 
 
 BY 
 
 JNO. W. STARR, Jr. 
 
 Delivered June 4, 1906, at his graduation from the 
 Public Schools of Millersburg, Pa. 
 
 lOO COPIES PRIVATELY PRINTED 
 JUNE 1910 
 
 
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 This is No. C/ / of an edition of 100 copies. 
 
 fno. W. Starr, fr. 
 
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Foreword 
 
 In printing this short oration, I do so chiefly for 
 my own gratification. It was written and delivered 
 four years ago, when I graduated from our public 
 schools. In explanation of the length, I may say 
 that each scholar's production was limited to seven 
 hundred words. 
 
 Jno. W. Starr, Jr. 
 
II 
 
 LINCOLN AS PRESIDENT 
 
 HENEVER in history some great step in the onward 
 march of civilization was about to be made, a 
 leader from out among the people arose to in- 
 spire and guide to success his followers. Napo- 
 leou, Washington and Cromwell were such. But where in 
 all history do we find one like our great Commoner, Abra- 
 ham Lincoln, who proved himself at all times to be ready 
 to lend his ear to the grievances of the people, whom he 
 represented. He truly was the man for the place and time. 
 In his handling of public questions, he was undoubt- 
 edly one of the most successful Presidents. In appointing 
 his cabinet — composed as it was of the ablest men of his 
 own party — he showed a keen appreciation of the situation. 
 Four of these men had been his chief competitors for the 
 nomination at the Chicago convention in i860. Seward, 
 the Premier of his whole administration, was the recog- 
 nized leader of his party in New York. Salmon P. Chase, 
 by his handling of the government finances during the war, 
 proved to be the best man for the position. Montgomery 
 
LINCOLN AS PRESIDENT 
 
 Blair, Postmaster General, represented the Blair family, 
 one of large political influence. The remaining members 
 of the cabinet, while not so prominent, were all men of 
 ability. Thus at the very outset of his Presidential career 
 we find him exercising that wonderful tact for which he 
 was noted. 
 
 But never did his statesmanship show to better ad- 
 vantage than in the manner in which he handled the Trent 
 affair. Only his calm judgment saved the Union from a 
 third war with England. After Capt. Wilkes had taken 
 the Confederate Commissioners, Mason and Slidell, from 
 the English steamship, the whole country rang with ac- 
 clamation. But Lincoln clearly saw the result of the reten- 
 tion of these prisoners, and by his orders they were freed. 
 
 In considering the emancipation problem, his good 
 judgment again asserted itself. From the time of his in- 
 auguration, his abolitionist friends demanded that he issue 
 an order freeing the slaves, but he saw that the opportune 
 time had not yet arrived, and withheld the order. Mean- 
 while he made every peaceful effort possible, but seeing the 
 futility of such measures, immediately after the battle of 
 
LINCOLN AS PRESIDENT 
 
 Antietam, in which Lee's advance was checked, he issued 
 the preliminary draft Sept. 22, 1862. 
 
 One of Lincoln's sorest trials was his search for a gen- 
 eral to command the Union forces. His first selection, 
 General McClellan, proving a failure, he tried successively 
 Generals Burnside, Hooker and Meade, none of whom 
 proved fully competent to meet the responsibility of handl- 
 ing such a large force of men as the Army of the Potomac. 
 Finally he determined to try a quiet little man by the name 
 of Grant, who had been winning victories in the west. 
 Lincoln's friends remonstrated, but he now saw that he had 
 the right man, and determined to keep him in command. 
 To find how Grant fulfilled his expectations, one has only 
 to turn to the annals of history, and read his record there. 
 
 One of the most remarkable traits of Lincoln's com- 
 posite nature was his ability to use the English language. 
 His Gettysburg address has been called the best piece of 
 prose ever written on this continent, and one of the best 
 ever written in any language. His Cooper Union speech 
 and his second Inaugural were both masterpieces. 
 
 His letters also show careful preparation, and stand as 
 
LINCOLN AS PRESIDENT 
 
 models for state papers. His communications to Horace 
 Greely, Governor Hodges, and others, showing his relation 
 to slavery, will always remain as good examples of English 
 rhetoric. 
 
 As a man of the people, he understood what was due 
 to humanity. During the war he was worried nearly to 
 death by delegations and others, asking for the pardon of 
 prisoners of war, deserters, cowards and the like. The 
 Secretary of War and Generals in command were frequently 
 much annoyed at being overruled. They thought the dis- 
 cipline and efficiency of the service was greatly endangered. 
 Though kind-hearted to a fault, he always endeavored to be 
 just, and tried to do what was right. 
 
 Thus in summing up his career as President, we may 
 say that as a ruler of men he had few equals and no su- 
 periors, and as ages come and go it is not improbable that 
 his name will stand at the head of the roster of the world's 
 great men, and as a leader among men his fame will 
 eclipse all others. 
 
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