Henry Watterson paid this tribute to Abraham Lincoln in his speech on Lincoln's Birthday:
"His was the genius of common sense. Inspired as truly as were Shakespeare, Mozart and Burns, he was surely inspired of God. Born as lowly as was the Son of God, without training, he was snatched from obscurity in a moment and entrusted with the destiny of a nation. This fantastic figure was led to the front by a divine power. He was surely inspired of God. From no other source could have come the marvellous power which marked every step of his pathway."
