Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1906-02-13

kANtfA 80 VI AAAN MAAANf We AANN
in vain, and the kindly providence
who permits us TO impede the ways
of humanity should drive us as use
less drones from the worlds hive OF
activity. do not mean by this to
say that every young man should
strive to be a Lincoln, and that un.
less ne does so his life Is vain; but
do say that strife for the better and
higher things, moral. social. political
and in every way Of life. not only
brings the things sought. but eAel
Yates the seeker to a higher plane OF
thought and action. Such Is the great
lesson cleaned from the struggling
lie OF Lincoln from obscurity 20
world wide prominence and everlast.
ing fame The one purpose Of his
life was Right" spelled with a big
r. and his one rule to reach II was
'Modesty.' always and everywhere
written in big capitals on his whole
being and In his whole ufe Il is
true that there are incidents in his
early career among the rough and
rugged environments Of his frontier
nome which apparently contradict
these strong traits in his being. but
these were only boyish methods OF
impresing uron his opponents by
physical argument bis great sense of
the right. and all are forgotten in the
acts and declarations Of ais mature
years when. avowing a hrm belief In
The righteousness OF God. he declared
that In the cause Of union against dis.
union, right would make might"
The coarse elements that accom-.
panied his younger days and provoked
bis sympathetic nature to Yield 10
their vulgar influences AZ witnessed
by some OF the doggerel and Other
written expressions OF hla boyhood
gradually faded away before the ad.
vance OF an improved civilization.
and just a. tho higher and better
phase OF civil life drove back the low.
or and roughcr elements and brought
forth the newer and better conditions
OF every hnd. 90 aid the strong char,
aeter OF Lincoln remove the stains OF
earlier companionship and stand forth
rcsplendcnt Ia tho fullneas OF a new.
or and better manhood. rich IN human
sympathy. from having seon and on.
dured the wants and woes OF human.
ny, and strong IN lofty patriotlam
from having learned tho needs OF bet.
ter and more advanced civil eonll
tons.
In hia nrst deearation OF principles
as a candidate for tho legislature OF
Illinois, no advocated increase OF
transportation facilities both by rail
and water, and better means OF edu.
cation. Principles still advanced by
political aspirants. II we read their
declarations aright In his apeach
In this Initial campaign he closed by
saying. But II the good people In
their wisdom shall see ht 10 keep me
In the background. have been too
familiar with disappointment 10 b.
very much ehAgrined." Thus yoleing
his absolute confidence in the will OF
tho people and his willingness 20
abide by the decree OF fate. From
this declaration OF desire for OF !.
nee, he ever possessed and repeated |
~ announced an ambition for polit |
ioal honOrs. evidently realizing that |
his power FOR good lay along that /
line rather than along the line OF pro .
fessional or bushes pursuits. for IN
the latter be was a complete failure
and In the former only a partial sue.
cess.
The accommodating purpose OF us
ing his hat for a postofice delivery
box and his honest intent In making a
sock serve as a safety deposit vault
for his cash transactions anoTd
amusing examples Of the eceentrici
ties OF a great man. but warrant no
praise for his financial abilities In
the world OF business
In his practice OF the law he dis
played the prime requisite Of every
successful advOcate-an abundance OF
common sense. but was greatly de
aeienC in that wide reading and deep
study OF the Law which constitute
learning. the essential complement Of
sense in the general makeup
Of a great lawyer His knowledge Of
human nature and great sympathy In
All human causes. coupled with his
power to terse expression, and fund
1f aneedotal Illustrations, made him
/ great advocate. who won the favor
II iuries and wrested from them YER