The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1902-02-15
THE MEMORY OF LINCOLN,

The birthday of Abraham Lincoln,
the sixteenth president of the United
States, was celebrated last Wednes-
day throughout the republic over
whose destines he presided during the
Civil Wharf.-The most perilous period of
it's existence. He was a most extra
ordinary man. His early life was one
of extreme poverty, and his whole
schooling did not amount to more than
one year; yet by self-study he acquired
a good education, and at the age of
twenty-five was elected to the Illinois
legislature in which he served for
four terms.
Meanwhile he had studied law as op-
portunity presented, and was sent to
Congress in his thirty-seventh year to
associate with such giants as Web
ster, Clay, Calhoun, Benton, and a
host of others whose names were
household words at the time. In 1853
he ran against Stephen A. Douglas
for United States senator, and though
defeated he attracted national atten-
ton by the speeches made by him dur
ing the campaign on the slavery uues-
ton. In 1860 he was nominated for
the presidency by the Republican par
ty, of which he was the founder, and
was triumphantly elected.
Though many of the foremost states
men had no high opinion of his ability
and thought he-would be unequal to
the responsibilities of the office, they
soon changed their minds and ac-
knowledged their mistake. His repu-
tation as patriot, statesman and lead
er has not been surpassed by any other
president before or since, and it is be-
coming greater with the passing
years.
1t is meet and proper that Lincoln's
birthday is celebrated by his country
men. If not first in their hearts, he
certainly is second. His tragic end
has contributed in large degree to
the kindly feelings in which his men,
DRY Is held. Black and white honor
his name. He freed the slave and
saved the Union, and lost his life in
the noble achievement. Well has he
earned the crown of immortality. No
other country but America could have
produced him, and America is proud
of it's emancinator
Americans of all shades of politics
can unite in honoring the first MARTYR
ed president Of this great republic
Both Republicans and Democrats vie
in paying loving tributes to his mem
DRY. His Gettysburg speech will live
as long as the English language, and
future generations will rank it with
that masterpiece of eloquence deliv-
cred by Patrick Henry before the
Virginia assembly. "Give me liberty
or give me DEATH" and "a government
OF the people, for the people, and by
the people, shall not perish from the
EARTH" are patriotic expressions which
will never be forgotten by all lovers
OF freedom the world over, but especi-
ally by those in the United States
who freed themselves from British
tyranny and broke the shackles from
OF the limbs Of four millions of slaves.
While the memory of Lincoln is
kept green by the American people.
they will never permit their servants
In brief authority to fasten the yoke
OF slavery upon alien races in the east
ern hemisphere. Those who have
been waging war of conquest in the
Philippines and attempting to govern
the Inhabitants against their consent
are no true followers of Lincoln.
whose principles they have abandoned,
and in the not-distant future they will
be hurled from power by an indignant
people whose confidence they have be-
trayed.