Lincoln's EarlyFame His death seemed to have marked a step in the education of the people everywhere. It requires years, perhaps centuries, to build the structure of a reputation which rests upon the opinion of those distinguished for learning or intelligence; the progress of opinion from the few to the many is slow and painful. But in the case of Lincoln the manyimposed their opinionall at once; he was canonized, as he lay on his bier, by theirresistible decree of countless millions. The greater part of the aristocracyof England thought little of him; but theburstof grief from the English people silenced in an instant every discordant voice. It would have beenasimprudent to speak slightingly of him in London asit was in New York. Especially among the Dissenterswas honor and reverence sho…