The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-05-03
A LESSON FROM LINCOLN.

Mention was made some time since
in these columns of the success of the
plans to purchase the old Lincoln
homestead in Kentucky and restore it
to the conditions which existed when
the great commoner wandered as a
barefoot boy over its wooded hills and
unproductive fields.
The old cabin in which the immortal
Lincoln first saw the light of day is to
be taken from New York where it has
been stored for some time, and will
be set up on the old foundations The
entire farm is to he converted into a
national park to be preserved for all
ages as a shrine at which those who
love liberty and human rights may pay
tribute. not to the memory of the man
whose humble birth the place will so
elOquentlv commemorate, but to the
undying principles which he instilled
into the nation whose destinies he
was chosen to guide in the hours of
its darkest perils
The spirit of Lincoln will breathe
forth anew the love of liberty in the
soul of every man whose feet press the
soil now consecrated to his memory.
1t will again tell him, not of the man,
but of the new baptism which he gave
to the principles of liberty and demo-
crazy.
Lincoln is without a parallel in the
history of the world, and the times
in which he lived were without an
antelope. Called to power at time
when divided nation stood with
bayonet in hand awaiting the word
which meant the beginning of the
struggle for supremacy, he was con-
fronted with foes in whom ranked
the bitterest hatred. The fury of the
south was as much against the presi-
dent because of the principles which
he represented as it was against the
attempt to overthrow the institution of
slavery, for it must be remembered
that in the beginning of the great
struggle there was no open or de-
clared intention of taking from the
south the property rights invested in
the slaves
In the beginning of his task he was
surrounded by jealousies that would
have driven many from the noblest
purpose. Men whose ambitions were
far more conspicuous than their brains
were willing to chance the nations
future in order to crafty their inor-
dinate lust for power The south was
arrayed in arms and the north was
filled with traitors. Those who were
jealous OF the success of the man who
had arisen from the ranks of the COM
mon people to be the head of the ma
ton were DESTROYS to place every OBJ
stacie possible in his way. They lit
tie cared what might become of the
nation. only that success to the cause
which they pretended to espouse
might not come to the hand of the
one by whom success had been made
possible. They were disruptionists
who cared for nothing save the sue
cess of their own selfish ends.
Amid the malignity of the one and
the deception of the other he set his
face to- the star Of hope and held
unfalteringly to his course.
When disasters fell thickest around
him. and when the sinking hopes of
even those who were most faithful
to his cause reached the point of dis
pair his fidelity to duty and to the
trust which had been committed to
his care were as mistaken as when
success shone with the brilliancy Of
the MONDAY sun.
Had he been tempted to turn aside
for a moment from the course he had
marked out the result might have been
the ruin of liberty and the fall of free
governments.
This was not Lincoln. however. as
an individual. He was the living en-
bodiment of the principles Of the re-
publican party. He recognized the
fact which is as old as civilization
itself that certain principles of poll
teal economy incorporated. in the laws
q q country work either for it's veal
or woe. That there is always in a
free government a party whose prin-
.ciples are the elements Of prosperity
and happiness. He also recognized
the greater truth that a political party,
in order to serve the purposes which
called 1t into existence. must live and
ct for the future. and that 1t must ac-
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