Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-10-25
GOVERNOR EDGERTON
AND
ABRAHAM LINCOLN

The following unsolicited tribute the venerable
Sidney Edgerton of Akron paid him by the
Great Falls tMontana) Tribune Contrast it, if you
please, with the attack brually made upon him by
the Dobson paper two weeks ago, because he had
announced his enduring faith in Lincoln Republicanism
at Assembly hall:
The old-timers in Montana know and respect
Governor Sidney Edgerton of Akron Ohio. He was
chief justice of the territory of idaho when Idaho
prised Montana. When the territory of Montana was
organized he it's first governor holding commits
sion from the hands of Abraham Lincoln whose
friend and strong supporter he He of the
fathers of the Republican party watching its in
fancy sharing in its struggles rumphing in its
and wearing worthiIy highest when its sue
complete. He is old man now, though still
enjoying health and intellectual vigor. He is of
few prominent personal friends and coaborers of
Lincoln who have not yet Joined the silent majority For
than forty he has been staunch Republican
1t takes most convincing and serious for
Ex-Governor Edgerons age and experience to wrench
himself from party associates of life time and repud-
ate the party whose hopes and fears and triumphs
has shared and whose honors he has That
the stern and uncompromsng old statesman has just
done in Ohio His action will be peculiarly interesting
to many people In Great Falls, because years
ago he visited Great Falls and became acquainted with
many of leading citizens here. He has daughter
living here, and niece teaching in public schools
He is also related to ex-senator Sanders of Helena.
Governor Edgerton has met with change of heart.
1t not strictly correct allude to him
the Democratic party. Or if it be technically
carries very wrong impression. Men of his age and
experience seldom change their principles Governor
Edgerton still holds the political principles of Lincoln
but to his he finds that the Republican party
wandered far from them and at the time he finds
the same living truths expressed in the Democracy
of Bryan. He sets forth these ideas in reply nvi
ation sent him to be present and act chairman
Democratic campaign meeting held in Akron, Ohio.
He says:
II am glad to be given the opportunity of rails
ing my voice in denunciation of Hannaism and
the corrupt party which Hanna and con-
trolls. helped to organize that party, but fear
that my days shall be numbered upon this earth
before that party returns to advocating the
of the common people, whose support the
strength of it's early days.
Nothing is more striking as measuring the length
and breadth of the gulf between the doctrines and sent
ments of Lincoln and modern Republicanism than the
fact that William J. Bryan quotes from Lincoln again
and again in support of his political principles while
great Chicago daily which enjoys the reputation of be-
ing President McKinley's personal organ under
took the other day to apologize for LncOns sentiments
the Mexican the ground that at the time he
uttered them he lacking in and experience,
and made fool of himself. You hear Republ-
orator these days quoting Lincoln. His sentiments
do not lend themselves present Republican politics
and keen weapons of ofense against McKnley-H Hanna
ism.
Governor Edgerton is right when he says in the days
of Lincoln the of the common people was the
of Republicansm and it found it's chief support
among them. He is equally right when he intmates
that today it is the of the wealthy classes
great monopoies the Illegal and lawdefying trusts
finds its chief support among these classes and those
they influence Added to this class is another who
follow regardless of the fact that it has long
ceased stand for the ideas that originally their
loyalty the loyalty of their fathers. How any
read the life and public utterances of Abraham Lincoln
and compare them with the present policies of the Re-
publican party, thoughtfully, and without prejudice
passion and be logically driven to the conclusion
reached by Governor Edgerton cannot understand.
The thoughtful man knows that party but
labels to indicate the principles which supposed
be within. When those principles changed, it is as
illogical and absurd for one to cling to the
would be insist that it his duty to drink
carboc acid of bottle labeled choice port wine be-
cause that label correctly described it's contents