My friends - No one, not in my situation, can appreciate my feeling of sadness at this parting. To this place, and the kindness of these people, I owe everything. Here I have lived a quarter of a century, and have passed from a young to an old man. Here my children have been born, and one is buried. I now leave, not knowing when, or whether ever, I may return, with a task before me greater than that which rested upon Washington. With the assistance of that Divine Being, who ever attended him, I cannot succeed. With that assistance I cannot fail. Trusting in Him, who can go with me, and remain with you and be ever where for good, let us confidently hope that all will yet be well. To His care commending you, as I hope in your prayers you will commend me, I bid you an affectionate farewell. - President Elect Lincoln's Farewell Address at Springfield, Illinois, February 11, 1861

Gratitude, grief, humility, faith, trust, interdependence, love. It is all there. A sublime and inspiring bit of prose, from the President Elect of the United States. The sort of mastery of words and humility before a Higher power that guided our nation through civil war, inspiring us then and now to carry on, and do what needs to be done, regardless of the test, trial, or tribulation..

The Liberty Letters are written by NewsMax.com pundit Steve Farrell, and are a project of the Latter-day Center for Moral Liberalism. Please help support both of thee worthy projects by getting your copy of Steve's highly praised inspirational novel, "Dark Rose." Click here to read the reviews.