The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1893-10-05
ABRAHAM LINCOLN'S ENCES-
TRY.
Aim St B7rn in n rth Car Dina.

| To rdifor Charlotte Observer.
| The following editorial in the New
| York World OF the 3rd inst, not onl,
attracted my attention, but suggested
| some historical facts which involve oul
State The article is as follows
when a monument to Abraham
Lincoln has been u~-~;'nd IN Edin-
bugh,. orsn Anaer,csns
who have the time, to stop and think
It means a good deal.
"This is the first American from the
West who has been thus recognized
! across the Atlantic. OF course Abra-
ham Lincoln needs no such recognition
TO round our his fame. He has gore
into Immortality for what he was. Moth
ing can take from him what he was or
add to it,
But this Fdinburg monument is 4
monument to the new Democracy.
George Washington, the stately and
polished gentleman, to whom all vul-
garity was shocking, thought himself a
Democrat. Thomas Jefferson, scholar
and statesman, the greatest politi-
cal thinker of his age, felt himself a
Democrat, though his svmpathies with
the common people, from whose ignor-
ances and prejudices, his education and
mental habits had removed him far.
But this man who now stands in
the capital of the Bruce's kingdom was
a Democrat if ever there was one. He
came from the vulgarest of the vulgar.
He was so far from having claims to
long descent that he was never certain
IF his own paternity. He had bad
habits that illustrated the low traits OF
practical politicians. He had upon
some subjects the coarseness Of mind
that belongs to those who have been
bred il the lowest strata of society.
ain site of it all his sympathies
with the "unwashed" and ignorant
masses, from whom he sprang, gave
him a tremendous power, and, though
he sometimes abused it with the most
Iarnentable consequences, he so used it
On the whole that he advanced the
welfare Of the human race in spite OF
the miseries which the struggle over
slavery brought on America
THE time IL coming in England and
America when Lincoln will be great
er power than he was in his lifetime.
Wherever his statue stands, there is
menace to aristocratic tyranny.
Wherever his life and work are under
stood, there the people are understood,
there the people are not hopeless un-
der oppression. Wherever man
arises who like him incarnates the
strength Of the great, dumb masses,
there injustice is once more doomed
to a mighty overthrow.
With the comparison between Wash
inyton. jefferson, and Lincoln, [ have
nothing to do or say. But the state
ment "he was never certain of his own
psternity," invites this article, because
North Carolina is concerned ; and as
suggest by the head-notes. history Is
history. no less in the life of a man
than the life of nation with big n.
While North Carolina has furnished
by way Of paternity. several Presidents,
the paternity of only one can. or Is
claimed to be straight.
Andrew jackson was born in the
TERRITORY. according to history, now
known as Union county. Polk wae
born. think, in Wake. Andrew John
ston. was admittedly, born in Wake.
Abraham Lincoln was born in Ken
tucky, but begotten in Jackson county.
North Carolina.
Years ago, Abram Enloe, with his
family, left Lincoln county and settled
in jackson county. this State. Among
his household :vas :. young girl named
Nancy Hanks. During the year Miss
Hanks showed signs of, not known then
to be a coming President. but what IS
-. g. ,ra sovereign or sover
eigness. IS The case may have been.