part of the money value owned by the men who seem ready to devote the whole.  A debt of $600,000,000 now is a less sum per head than was the debt of our Revolution when we came out of that struggle; and the money value in the country now bears even a greater proportion to what it was then than does the population.  Surely each man has as strong a motive now to preserve our liberties as each had then to establish them.”  The message dwelt upon the encouraging facts “that the free institutions we enjoy have developed the powers and improved the condition of our whole people beyond any example in the world.  Of this we now have a striking and an impressive illustration.  So large an army as the Government has now on foot was never before known without a soldier in it but had taken his place there of his own free choice.  But more than this; there are many single regiments whose members, one and another, possess full practical knowledge of all the arts, sciences, professions, and whatever else, whether useful or elegant, is known in the world; and there is scarcely one from which there could not be selected a President, a Cabinet, a Congress, and perhaps a Court, abundantly competent to administer the Government itself.”  Finally, and eloquently, the message demonstrated the significance of the war in its effect upon the liberties and prayers of all mankind.  This message again illustrates Lincoln’s singular power of stating clearly and convincingly the nature and exigencies of the struggle for the Preservation of the Union.  Said he: 

This is essentially a people’s contest.  On the side of the Union it is a struggle for maintaining in the world that form and substance of government whose leading object is to elevate the condition of men; to lift artificial weights from all shoulders; to clear the paths of laudable pursuits for all; to afford all an unfettered start and a fair chance in the race of life.  Yielding to partial and temporary departures, from necessity, this is the leading object of the Government for whose existence we contend.  I am most happy to believe that the plain people understand and appreciate this.  It is worthy of note that while, in this the Government’s hour of trial, large numbers of those in the army and navy who have been favored with the offices have resigned and proved false to the hand which had pampered them, not one common soldier or common sailor is known to have deserted his flag.  Great honor is due to those officers who remained true, despite the example of their treacherous associates; but the greatest honor, and most important fact of all, is the unanimous firmness of the common soldiers and common sailors.  To the last man, so far as known, they have successfully resisted the traitorous efforts of those whose commands but an hour before they obeyed as absolute law.  This is the patriotic instinct of plain people.  They understand, without an argument, that destroying the Government which was made by Washington means