Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1860-07-18

ErHH 'f' 'NEG'h. Iff-. tuuff2'
Letter fc7m abraham L~i1o9ln.
The Republicans Of Boston celebrated
Tloa J,f,rs9u's Biryhd2y on tie I3th q
April. l-j9. Among those invited t. be
present VS. Tie Hau Abraham Lincoln.
who responded IN a letter of great power
and Of remarkable felicity of EXPRESSION
We thought at the time that Of all the po-
litiaql letters We had ever read, it was the
most pointed and most forcible, and our
great surprise is that up 10 this time. 50
far as we have observed, it has not been
republishcd.
After diligcnt search among some old
clippings we have succeeded in finding
it and with peculiar pleasure lay it before
our readers. 1t is a platform in itself,
worthy of the endorsement ofall who believe
in the fundamental doctrines of Free Gov
ernment as taught by Thomas jefferson
Here is the letter:
SPRINGFIELD. H.. April 6, 1859.
Gentlemen: Your kind note, inviting
me to attend a festival in Boston, on the
18th lust, in honor of the birthday Of
Thomas Jefferson was duly received. My
engagements arc such that 1 cannot attend.
Bearing in mind that about seventy
years ago two great political parties were
first formed in this country; that Thomas
Jefferson was the head Of on Of them, and
Boston the headquarters of the other,
it is both curious and interesting that
those supposed to descend politically from
the party opposed to jefferson, should now
be celebrating his birthday in their own
original seat of empire, while those claim
ing political descent from him have nearly
ceased to breathe his name everywhere.
Remembering. too, hat the Jefferson
party formed upon its supposed superior
devotion to the personal rights of men,
holding the rights of property to be second
airy only, and greatly inferior; and then as
Stunning that the so-cailed Democracy of
to-day are the Jefferson, and their oppo-
nentS the anti-Jeferson parties, it will be
equally interesting to note how completely
the two have changed ground as to tie
principle upon which they were originally
supposed to be divided.
The Democracy of to-day hold the E5er-
tn of one man to be absolutely nothing.
when in conflict with another mans right
Of property. Republicans, on the CONTRA
nv, are for both the man and the dollar;
but in case of conflict, the man before the
dollar.
remember once being much amused at
seeing two partially intoxicated men en-
gagged in 4 fight with their greatcoats on,
which fight, after a long and rather harm
less contest, ended in each having fought
himself out of his own coat and into that
of the other. If the two leading parties
Of this day are really identical with the
two in the days of jefferson and Adams,
they have performed the same feat as the
two drunken men.
But. sobcrly, ii is now no child's playto
save the principles of Jefferson from total
overthrow in this nation.
One would state with great confidence
that he could convince any n child that
the simple propositions Of Euclid are true;
but nevertheless, he would fail, with one
who should deny the definitions and AK
IONS. The principles of jefferson are the
definitions and axioms of free society,"
And vet they are denied and evaded. with
no small show of success. One dashingly
calls them differing generalitics-" An
other bluntly styles them '~'selEevident
lies" And others insidiously argue that
they apply only to superior races"
These expressions, differing in form, arc
identical in object and effeet-the supplant-
ing the principles of free government, and
restoring those of classification. caste. and
legitimacy. Thy would delight 4 conyo-
cation of crowned heads plotting against
the people. They are the vanguard, the
sappers and miners, of returning dcspo-
tism. We must repulse them, or they will
subjugate Us.
This Is a world of compensations and
h who would be no slave must consent to
have no slave. Those who deny freedom
to others, deserve it not for themselves;
and, under a just God, cannot long retain
it.
All honor to Jeferson-tot the man who.
l.. tie concrete pressure of a struggle for
nationa.. Independence by a single people,
had the cooiless, forecast and capacity to
introduce into a msre,,v revolutionary doc
ument an abstract truth, applicable TO all
men and all timeS and so 70 e@oaim II
there. that to-day and in all coming GaYs
it shall be a rcbuke and a stumbling block
to the harbingers of reappcaring tyranny
and oppression.
Your oIcdient servant,
A. LINCOLN.
NIor-rr III I p;nr,n aud nthars Sc