Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1899-12-15
WAS LINCOLN A GOOD REPUBLICAN
If He Was Then Mckinley and Hanna
Are Something Else.

mo MAN Is GOOD ENOUGH TO
GOVERN ANOTHER WITHOUT His
CONSENT. "-ABRAHAM LINCOLN. 4
This terse sentence can be found in
big black letters on the cover of the
Republican Campaign Book of 1892.
That was before Lincoln became a
back number-a moss back-an old
fogy. His utterances were sound doc
trine for the Republicans of the Har-
rison regime; those same declarations
are the silly chatter of senile old age
to the progressive Republicans of the
Hanna rule. In the good old days OF
yore, Lincoln's g exaltation of the Amer
ican workingman, and his denuncif
ton Of organized wealth, were proudly
quoted as patriotic sentiment. The
same talk in the Mckinley campaign
was denounced by his hired spellbind-
ers as anarchism. Lincoln, in his
great sense of right and profound love
of native land, was opposed to this ra-
tion doning its breast plate of unrlght-
eousness and going forth with the
marauding mOnarchies of Europe
seeking what it might devour OF the
smaller principalities and powers. And
this sentiment was deemed worthy OF
exalted exploitation in their hand book
by the Republicans of 1872; but the i'm
periaIistic cabal of McKinley's reign,
in their drugged dreams of empire, are
not confined by ancient safeguards OF
constitution or party precedent. un-
til after 1872 mo man, Republican or
Democrat), was good enough to govern
another without bis consent; but, be-
hold greater than Lincoln has come!
the latchet of whose political shoes
even the Great Comoner' would not
be worthy to unloose. An inspired
repository of heavenly commissions,
in comparison with whom the arrogant
claimants of the APOSTOLIC Succession
and pretensious assumers of the 'D1.
vine right are not in it. Jonah was
ordained and ordered to preach the
Gospel in Ninevah. but was not en-
dowed with goodness to govern the
Ninevites. The great Paul was sent
with the message to Europe, but Ro-
man iavelines we're in front of the
'Glorious Gospel of Peace instead of
behind 1t. Martin Luther. by elo-
quence, energy and inspiration, drove
the blackness of superstition and priest
iy plundering from benighSed age,
but he was not entrusted with spirit
ual Oh temporal dominion over the
souls of men. But the world is ever in
labor with greater efforts and events,
and 10 Mckinley is born Destiny
has Marked him for her oWnl From
the islands of the sea there comes a
cry. 'Ho ye capitalist seeking fresh
lands to loot At last man has arisen
good enough to govern another with.
out his consent; he has armies and
navies and the glad tidings of peace
on earth and good willto men is hew-
it's way through the Philippines. With
that sublimity of spartan patriotism
which held the ThermOpylaen pass
they have fled to their mountain fast
nesses and are dying for home and
native land. With that same love of
right. Justice and freedom which in
spired the splendid courage at Bunker
Hill, they are battling for their hum
BILE affairs and fires. But tie decedents
of the men of '76 are grown good
enough to govern the liherty-loving
without their CONSENT and the few
who escape shot and shell must submit
to this goodness.