The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-10-31
..1f lincoln Were Alive Today,

;
Mr.. William Jennings Bryan contrib
uted to the Sunday New York Journal
an extended article unde= the exclama-
tory heading IF Lincoln Were Alive
To-day" The apostle of free silver and
the leader Of the antl-expanslon forces
quotes quite literally from LIncoln's
public utterances in 1858, which he
lmaglnes, comfortably sustain his con-
tentions. II is not at all unlikely that
Mr.. Lincoln, II he were alive to-day.
and had lived through the progression
Of the late eventful years in our history
would be in entire accord with the pres
emit administration! Mr.. Lincoln was a
wise man, and like all men endowed
with wisdom modified his views to suit
the changed conditions OF affairs.
1t was some time before Mr.. Lincoln
could convince himself of his right to
issue the emancipation proclamation.
In those days men were railing at him,
and coteries called Copperheads were
lnvelghing against the so-called frac-
lures OF the constitution. Every act of
the administration was characterized US
unconstitutional, and the parrots in
these times are crying out with loud
voice about the alleged subversion OF
the Declaration OF Independence, an
echolng wall of the CopperheaGs Of
1861 OF the consent of the governed"
What was the vital question in the late
war of the Rebellion? Did the south
ern states give their consent to be gov
erned until forced to acknowledge the
sovereignty of the Nation in armed con-
flct?
III Lincoln were alive to-day" we are
pretty sure he would not agree with
Mr.. Bryan. II he insists on going into
ancient history, why does he dlscredit
the views of one of the patron saints of
his party, Thomas Jefferson, by de-
nouncIng expansion, and designating
as criminal aggression" the operations
Of the United States army in the Phil
ippInes in defending the honor OF the
flag and in contendIng with armed
rebellion against the rightful sovereign
ty Of this country?
II the murtyred President were alive
to-day and Mr.. Bryan came buzzing
around infllctlng such vIewsup himhe
is now fairly drenchlng the people with,
he would in all human probability an
swer him IN the same terms he once ad
dressed to Carl Schurr In 1862. In a
letter to that carpIng critic he said: ~
have Just received and read your letter
OF the Goth. The purport Of 1t is that
we lost the late election and the admin
istratlon is falling because the war is
unsuccessful, and that must not fiat
ter myself that am not Justly to blame
for 1t. l certainly know that II the war
fails the administration fails, and that
/ will be blamed for II whether de-
serve 1t or not. And ought to be
blamed II could do better. You think
1 could do better, therefore you blame
me already. think could not do bet
ter. therefore l blame you for blaming
me. / understand you now to be will
ing to accept the help OF men who are
not Republicans, provided they have
'heart in It," Agreed. want no
others. But who is to be the judge Of
hearts, or Of heart in it?" II must
discard my own Judgment and take
yours I must also take that Of others;
and by the time should reject all
should be advised to reject, should
have none left Republican or others
not even yourself, for be assured, my
dear sir, there are men who have heart
in 1t" that think you are performing
your part MS poorly as you think I am
performing mine"
These words apply as well to the sit
uatIon to-day ms they answered the
pcsslmlsm of 1862.