Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1903-02-19
Llncoln's Solemn Warming.

LlncOln's Solemn Warning.
In the mad scramble for office, in
the petty dickering for votes, in the
presence Of trickery and the effort to
foiSt men into high places by small
and mean methods, it will do pOliti-
clans good to take an occasional
glance at the lofty patriotism of the
great Lincoln. Half a century ago in
the midst OF the memorable debate
between Lincoln and Douglass the
great emLncipttOr uttered profound
and inspiring truths worthy Of our at
tentiOn today. The extract quoted be
low was his reference to the Decara-
tiOn Of Independence in his speech at
BeardStOwn, Illinois, Aug r. 1858.
After abiding to the suppression of
the slave trade by the fathers Of the
republic he says;
"TheSe by their representatives in
old Independence hall said to the
whole race Of men. we hold these
truths to be self evident; that all men
are created equal; that they are en-
lowed by their Creator with certain
inallenable rights; that among these
are life, liberty and the pursuit Of
happiness"
This was their majestic interpret
alton of the economy Of the universe
This was their lofty, and wise, and
noble understanding Of the justice Of
the Creator to his creaLures-yeS,
gentlemen, To all His creatures, to the
whole family of man. In their en-
lightened belief, nothing stamped
with the divine image and likeness
was sent into the world to be trOd-
den on and degraded and imbruted by
its fellows, They graSped not only
the whole race Of man then living, but
they reached forward and seized upon
The farthest pOSterity. They erected
a beacon to guide their children, and
I their children'S children, and the
countless myriads who should inhabit
the earth in other ages.
wise statesmen as they were, they
knew the tendency OF prosperity to
/ breed tyrantS, and SO they eSta bliShed
these great Self-evident truths, that
when in the distant future some man,
some faction, some interest, should
set up the doctrine that none but rich
men, none but white men, or none
but Anglo Saxon white men were en-
titled to life, liberty and the pursuit
Of happiness, their pOSterity might
look up again To the Declaration Of
Independence and take courage to re-
new the battle which their fathers
began, 50 that truth and Justice and
mercy and all the humane and Christ
ian virtues might not be extinguished
from the land; 50 that no man would
hereafter dare to limit and clrcum-
scribe the great principles on which
the temple Of liberty was being built.
"NOw, my cOuntrymen, If you have
been taught doctrines conflicting with
the great land marks OF the Declara-
tiOn Of Independence: II you have
listened to suggestions which would
take away from its grandeur and
mutilate the fair symmetry Of It's pro-
portions; If you have been inclined to
believe that all men are not created
equal in those inalienable rights
enumerated by our chart Of liberty,
let me entreat you to come back Re-
turn to the fountain whose waters
spring close TO the blood Of the RevOl-
utiOn. Think nothing Of me, take no
Thought Of the political fate Of any
man whOmSoever, but come back to
the truths that are in the Declaration
or Independence. lou may 90 any
thing with me you choose, If you will
but heed these sacred principles.
You may not only defeat me for Sen
ate but you may take me and put me
to death. While pretending no in
difference to earthly honOrs, do
claim to be actuated in this contest
by something higher than anxiety for
Office. ! charge you to drop every
paltry and Insignificant thought for
any mans success. IT. Is nothing: !
am nothing: Judge Douglass is moth
INK. But do MT destroy that immor-
tai emblem OF humanity-the Decla-
tiun Of American Independence. -
Topeka Herald.
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