were embodied in the draft made for permanent publication, afterwards, by Lincoln. As delivered and corrected by its illustrious author, the speech was as follows:

"Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

"Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting-place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

"But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember, what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us, the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us-that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom - and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

This wonderful address, so compact of wisdom and the simplest elements of eloquence, was received with becoming solemnity. But it must be admitted that the oration of the silver-tongued Everett, then one of the most admired of American orators, momentarily attracted greater attention. The very shortness of Lincoln's little speech caused it to be almost overlooked at the time. But in a few days, when the people of the country at large had fairly digested it, and its patriotic and human lesson had sunk into the minds of men, public opinion seized upon it and glorified it as one of the few masterpieces in oratory that the world has received.

A

CHAPTER XX

POLITICAL COMPLICATIONS

S the time approached, in 1864, for the Republicans to assemble in national convention, Lincoln made no sign of anxiety for a renomination by his party. In conversation with one of his friends he said: "I am only the people's attorney in this great affair. I am trying to do the best I can for my client the country. But if the people desire to change their attorney, it is not for me to resist or complain. Nevertheless, between you and me, I think the change would be impolitic, whoever might be substituted for the present counsel." To another he said, with his inveterate habit of putting a large truth in the form of a pleasantry, "I don't believe it is wise to swap horses while crossing a stream." In truth, after men had anxiously canvassed the names of all who were in the least worthy to be considered eligible to the presidency, succeeding Lincoln, they almost invariably returned to him as the only man to be thought of with seriousness.

One of the important military events of that winter was the appointment of General Grant to the rank of Lieutenant-General. Hitherto, the highest rank in the army had been that of Major-General. The title of General-in-Chief, borne by Halleck, was temporary, a mere expedient, and not distinctly recognized by

usage. The rank of Lieutenant-General was created by act of Congress, with the tacit understanding that it was to be conferred upon Grant, whose almost unbroken series of victories in the West had by this time convinced the people that here was at last" the coming man" for whom they had so long waited.

come.

Grant arrived in Washington, to accept his new commission, on the 8th of March. That evening there chanced to be a presidential levee at the White House. It was a public reception, open to all who chose to Thither went Grant, entering the receptionroom unannounced. He was instantly recognized by those who had seen his portraits printed in the newspapers and circulated by means of the photographs then becoming common. He was greeted very warmly, almost affectionately, by Lincoln, and it was speedily noised about that the hero of Vicksburg was in the rooms, and the pressure to see him was so great that the modest General was induced to stand on a sofa, where he rose above the crowd and was regarded with admiring eyes. When he bade the President goodnight, he said, “This is a warmer campaign than I have witnessed during the war."

Next day, by appointment, he waited upon the President, who, in the presence of members of the Cabinet and a few personal friends, presented him with his commission, saying:

"General Grant, the nation's appreciation of what you have done, and its reliance upon you for what remains to be done in the existing great struggle, are now presented with this commission, constituting you Lieutenant-General in the Army of the United States. With this high honor devolves upon you also a corresponding responsibility. As the country here intrusts

you, so, under God, it will sustain you. I need scarcely add that, with what I here speak for the nation, goes my own hearty personal concurrence."

General Grant accepted the commission in a few modest words expressive of appreciation of the high honor conferred upon him, and acknowledging his sense of responsibility, his dependence upon the valorous armies, and, above all, as he said, "the favor of that Providence which leads both nations and men." The General immediately visited the Army of the Potomac, of which General Meade still retained command. Then he returned to Washington where, without his knowledge, a dinner for him had been arranged by Mrs. Lincoln, at the White House. At the close of an important interview with the President, during which the General outlined his plan of military operations, as far as they could be arranged at that time, he announced his intention of leaving at once for the West. Lincoln told him of the expected dinner, but Grant quietly insisted that he must go. "Besides," said the General, "I have had enough of this show business, Mr. President." And the General left for the West without waiting for the dinner and the brilliant invited company. This incident greatly pleased Lincoln, who, up to that time, had not met any military officer who was so willing to forego "the show business."

Lincoln was not unaware of political movements against him, but he took no steps to counteract them. When he was told that some of his opponents were considering the name of General Grant as a possible candidate for the presidency, he said: "If the people think that General Grant can end the Rebellion sooner by being in this place, I shall be very glad to get out of it."