[From the Glasgow Herald, Monday morning, May 1, 1865.]
The profound and universal impression which the assassination of Mr. Lincoln has made upon the public mind leads us to believe that the people of Glasgow would be glad of that opportunity, which is likely to be afforded them, of giving utterance to the horror and indignation with which this diabolical act has inspired them, and of expressing the profound and painful sympathy which is felt in this dark moment for the people of the United States, on whom this terrible event has fallen as a national calamity. It is a dark and portentous event for the South as well as for the North. It is almost impossible, indeed, to conceive anything that could have occurred more disastrous to southern interests. Southern and pro-southern people will probably shudder at the deed, and execrate the doer as much as we do ourselves, and as we see they have already done to some extent in Liverpool. But, unfortunately, the act connects itself by an inevitable link with the political situation; the simultaneousness of the murderous assaults on Mr. Lincoln and Mr. Seward indicates a conspiracy; and it is difficult for such deeds done on behalf of a cause to be entirely dissociated from that cause itself. We can only pray God that in the present case it may be done, and that the people of the North, who have, even in the exultant hour of triumph, displayed such a spirit of noble and unexampled magnanimity, may be able to withstand the exasperating influence of this accursed deed, and not allow it to change the voice of kindness and conciliation into a cry for indiscriminate revenge. Much will depend on the way in which the deed is regarded by the people of the South. Were it for a moment conceivable that the southern people would accept it as their own—nay, that they would regard it otherwise than with utter detestation and abhorrence; then, indeed, their cause would deserve execration, and their conflict—beginning with slavery and ending with assassination—would go down to future ages branded with an infamy that all the genius of its champions and all the devotion of its advocates would do nothing to remove. This, however, is inconceivable. We [Page 376] are perfectly satisfied that the South will repudiate this foul deed with indignation, and that southern sympathizers here would be prompt to participate in any public act which would express the abhorrence with which it is regarded in this country by people of every class and of every shade of political opinion.
Under these circumstances, we are not disposed to take such gloomy views as many are taking of the probable consequences of this sad event. The conduct of the North during the whole course of this long and desperate struggle inspired us with a strong and unwavering faith in her good sense, in her self-control, and in the moral grandeur and beneficence of her aims. Mr. Lincoln was not the leader so much as the fit representative of the great nation that elected him. When he did his best, as he ever did, to preserve the most frank and amicable relations with this country, even under provocation and abuse, of which we believe the authors to be now heartily ashamed; and when, in the very hour of federal triumph, his language was full of mercy and conciliation, he was acting, not upon his own sentiments alone, but upon the magnanimous sentiments of the whole northern people. That people, inspired by the same generous and friendly feelings, still remain, though Lincoln, who represented them so nobly and so well, is gone. His fall is a loss to the world; it is a loss inflicted under most exasperating circumstances to them; but it will not—we are satisfied that it will not—change their policy. They have already shown themselves most ready to forgive in the very moment when they were most able to avenge; and, therefore, we are not without a strong and earnest hope that, even should the South regard the assassination of Mr. Lincoln with more callousness than we anticipate, the people of the North will crown their recent acts of magnanimity and forbearance with a moral victory grander and more triumphant than the capture of Richmond itself.
In the mean time let us unite in expressing our deep and genuine sympathy with the people of the United States in their bereavement, and the indignation and horror with which we look upon the act that has deprived them of their constitutional head. Since the death of Prince Albert, we know of nothing that has filled this nation with such deep and universal sorrow. Poor Abraham Lincoln—” honest Abe “—the simple, the noble, the true hearted; as blunt and unaffected, as simple-hearted, kindly and playful in his high position as President of the United States as ever he had been when, in earlier days, he drove his team through the forests of Illinois! The people of this country had all come to love him. Even those who could or would see nothing in him at first but the quondam rail-splitter and mule-driver, came in the end to recognize the native grandeur and simplicity of his character, and the fitness there was in this blunt unassuming man to head a great people in passing through a national crisis, and doing battle for a higher civilization. There was not, we believe, one true British heart in these dominions that did not feel a pang of deep and unaffected sorrow mingling with the horror that was excited by the intelligence of Mr. Lincoln’s violent death.
If there ever was a moment when we as a people could unite with deepest sincerity in expressing our sympathy with the people of the United States, it is now. Let us have an address of condolence prepared, in which the deeply agitated feelings of the community could find expression. Were such an address prepared, and a proper opportunity afforded, we believe it would be signed by the whole population of this city. Let something of this sort be done before the time for it is gone. Let us join hands with our brethren in America, and mingle our tears with theirs over the grave of this simple, heroic man, who has brought the two nations nearer to each other than they were, and who has now fallen, honored and lamented by them both.