Real grace in a time of defeat

When Governor Adlai Stevenson of Illinois lost the 1952 presidential election to General Eisenhower, he recalled a remark by another Illinoisian who lost an election, Abraham Lincoln: "It hurts too much to laugh," Lincoln said, "and I'm too old to cry."

Senator McCain and Governor Palin and their families and staffs and supporters must feel that way tonight. Fair play to Senator McCain for his gracious concession speech and call for Americans to rally behind the new president. God knows, he will need the prayers of every American willing to extend them.