The record-union., 1898-02-13

he who would be no slave must con-
sent TO have no slaves" This rule,
translated. to our day, plainly is that
he who would suffer no wrong from
society must. do no wrong to society.
Applied to certain questions the rule
would read. they who would enjoy the
benefit of association must not abuse
the powers of association, and they
who seek the protection of law must not
viofate law
Changing social conditions require
change and Improvement in laws, ani
Mr.. Lincoln has told us how this is 10
be Effected. Our Government, he says,
rests, in, public opinion. with public
sentiment nothing can fail. witllou. it
not hing can succeed consequently he
who snlolds public opinion goes deeper
than he who enacts statutes or pro-
nounces decisions He slnakes statutes
and decisions possible or impossible to
he executed AS a Consequence Mr..
against the insidioues influence Of Ease
doctrines. He courts honest statement
and correct logic. he scouts subterfuge
and evasion. He ceunsels fairness in
discussion, generous liberation in differ
ence of views, extreme moderation in
judgment, but inaexibie adherence 10
deliberately formed principles. Let
us have faith that right makes might,
he says, and in that faith let US dare
to do our duty as we understand it
John G. Nfcolay, formerly Private Sec
retary to President Lincoln.
HIS RUGGED HONESTY, MANLr-
NESS AND xCOURAGE.
That which Timpresses me most as l
recall Lincoln's character is his rugged
honesty He was the Cato of contem-
porary statesmen. The crying need
in political life to-day is for manliness.
Lincoln was thoroughly manly. He
combined candor, courage. self-sacrifice,
and these made him the idol of the
people Wes9have politicians enough
who are calculating and prudent. They
have shrewdness and insight to a de-
gree, but they are sadly lacking in the
sterner traits which win our unques-
tioning confidence. Many Of them are
known to be sschemers and charlatans-
Only here and there a man in political
life commands our esteem as wholly
trustw orthy This hollownesS at the
core is the bane of the Republic. 1t
bates our breath when we would euln-
gize our institutions. 1t sickens us of
democracy. 1t drives good people out
of politics. We cry in our haste, "All
men are liars" The God-fearing feel
more and more like seeking help from
God. for vain is the help of man. Now
and then a man like Lincoln appears
upon the stage and reassures us. He
has an ethical backbone. He is not a
churchman, it is true, but he believes
III God-honors and obeys him. He
never escapes a 'crowding sense of re-
sponsibility, nor does he wish to. He
believes himself man of destiny, the
man for the hour. This does not m-
fate him. 1t hunbles him. Boastirg
is excluded by the sense he has of the
real grandeur of the occasion in which
he is called to act. And 50 he never
poses or dramatizes or calls attention
to himself He is severely, humorous
ly natural He is the man of the peo-
ple-consciously so. He loves them
and lives for them in every thought ami
act. And the people love him, and.
what is even better, they trust him.
To them he is always Honest Abe. =
The renaissance we sadly need is a re-
turn to honest politics. We may be
thankful that We are not wholly bereft
of such In the more recent years
there have. been shining instances Of
guileless patriotism and honest service
in exalted places, but the exemplary
character of rare men only brings into
striking contrast the moral worthless