New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-30
New York. Oct. p. 1881.
L1NCOLN's WORDS GUIDE NOW.
SOME APT QUOTATIONS. FROM HIS COOPER uNio'
SPEECH THAT ARE APPLICABLE TO THE
PRESENT CAMPAIGN.

PRESENT CAMPAIGN.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir. Abraham Lincoln. In his memorable Coope'
Institute speech in February. 1860 to the oeceS
sionsts who then threatened the dissolution 0,
the Union # IN that year RepuoHcah f'eSiue"
should be elected replied
But YOU viii not abide the election OF Repuo
lican President In tha supposed enen[, you oY ,S
great crime Of having destroyed VIII os upon "
That IS cool hghwayman holds p,o, 20 a my
deliver or shall Kill you. and then you VIII oe
,o he snre what the robber demanded OF me-my
monoy--was my own: and had clea! rlght :,
keep It. hut # was no more my own ,na nj my 'e
.ort nv money and the threat Of destruction %
the Union to ex,oTi my VOTE ca" S'A''cH 10
To one OF many sophisms OF the organization Re
pubicans in the pending election In Greater Ne"
York this reply by Mr.. Lincoln 10 the sece'son''''
| ls equally pertinent
The Republican organization demands tha' ne
publican supporters OF Seth Low shall .uppor'
| General Tracy In default OF compliance with thi
demand the organization Republicans threaten tn
| uncomplyng Republicans that II In consequence
| Of their non compliance George or Van ycK
| elected they IN common with oil supporters O.
| Seth Low will be guilty OF the great crime o.
! having prevented the establishment OF good gov
ornroont"-the good government" that 80 beren
centlv Ros. Platt seeks establish-in Greater
| Sew-York ITO be sure as Mr.. Lincoln SAID O.
| his vote. the votes OF all voters, fepuoh'"hs o.
| what rot are their own" Nj Lincoln hsset'e'
| his right 70 his vote TO be no less clear thar
his right 10 his money. Alike. with respect 20 NJ
! r,gbt 10 both his vote and his money. vas Included
Inseparably the right 70 cast the one and 20 'peho
~. other as he pleased The right. politically. tha
| Mr. Lincoln claimed for himself, indispu'aby NJ
recognized az belonging equally 10 others Iha'
would consider no less cool the threat OF the o.
| ganization Republicans 70 "eXiort the votes o.
| Reputlicans and other supporters OF Seth 10"
compared with the threat Of the Secession Is ahd
40 little 10 be distinguished In principle from the
| Illustrative threat OF the roooer. can hArdy o.
doubted
| Furthermore In the same speech. OF tho incon
ceivabe difference OF opinion on the subject OF
slavery between Southern advocates and Northern
opponents of that institution AR. Lincoln said
An they ash we could readily grant Il W
tho1sH' ssHsTy shsy a thoSsht Il wrong The
thinHing is night. and our thinking Is wiohs IL u, IN
tersy Thinking II right as they do, they are no
to blame for desiring ils fun recognition as benz
| rigbt. but thinking II wrons. as we do, can W.
Yield to them? Can We cast our votes with thel
view and against our own in we" OF our 10 T hs
Substituting for the Issue OF slavery the issue o.
National politics In municipal elections. and SUB
stituiing also for the advocates and the opponent
of slavery the advocates and opponents OF par
| usansbip IN municipal elections and we have In
disputably what Mr.. Lincoln terms the precise
| fact upon which depends the whole controversy
in the pending election In the enlarged metropolis
As utterly irreconcilable Is the difference OF opm
| ion in the latter Instance was the difference o.
cpinIon in the former instance. Thinking partisan
slim in municipal elections 10 be wrong. knowing i
N he In violation Of the State Constitution AM
contrary TO the explicitly stated intention or tn
trainers Of that instrument, can the opponent
G "veld' to the advocates OF such partsansh!p
y can they cast their votes with the view Of tn
advocates Of such partnership. and against thci
own view? In view OF their moral social and 20
: utical responsibilities. they do this?' Evi
!, IDENTIFY Mr. Lincoln would say they cannot. AM
| Than Honest Old Abe who is bettor Republican
| authority?
In the peroration OF this memorable speech MI
Lincoln. addressing the opponents Of slavery ex
tension said:
8 II our sense OF duty forbids this (passlve sub
v mission TO the extension OF slavery then let u
| stand by our duty, fedrlcssly ana exec lively. L.
US be diverted 10y none OF those sophistlcaI cor
| trivanCes whereWitn We are so industrOusly Pile
| and observation-disclosures such as Rroplng 10
SOM middle ground between the right and ~
wroug vain a. the search for who ,noul
he neither a living man nor a dead man-such as
uolicv Of don't care" a que zion about whc
An true men do cdrc-such a. CriOn appeals b,
secchnG true Union men TO y.ed 10 Dsunoni-t
reversing the divine rule. and calling, not the II
d n,Ts. but the righteous. 90 repentance.
J. Neither let Us be siandcTcd from our duty b
- false accusations against us. nor frightened froi
n nor Of DUNGEONS to ourselves Let Us have flit
~ that right makes might and. In that faith. i
l | us 10 tho end dare 10 DO our duty as we undel
stand H.
TO opponents Of partisanship in municipal Gle
tons not less than 1t TO opponents OF SLAYER
extension is addressed this noble exhortation
Abraham Lincoln. Let them dutifully heed it. l.
r;