The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-08-22
LINcoLy.s WARNING.
Uttered when Disregard foF the Law was
Rtfe, 10 10 Mest Pertinent Now.

Bife, IL 10 Nest Pertinent NOw.
TO THE EDITOR or THs SuN-Sir: In view
Of the depiorable scene witnessed q few days
ago o n the b. r. T. system. permit me 70
quote from the address made January ~,
1887, by the immortal Lincoln. before the
Young Mems Lyceum Of Springfield. ILL.,.
entitled "The Perpetuatlon OF Our POLITICAL
Institutions"
The speaker, after describing our heritage
Of q glorious country and splendid system OF
political institutions. said:
hope I am over wary; but, II ! am not, there
10 even now something OF III omen among us; i
mean the Increasing disregard for law which per-
vades the country; the growing dis 'os't'on 70 SUD
stitute the wild and furious passions In Hen oil inc
sober judg ment Of courts. and the worse than savage
mobs for the executive Einieteis OF justice. inns
disposition 10 awfuliy fearful In any community
and that II now exists In ours, though grating 70
our feelings TO admit, 1t would be q violation Of
truth and an insult to our Intelligence 70 deny. 80
But you sre perhaps ready 10 ask What has 'nls
70 do With the perpetuation Of our political insh-
tutonsf" I answer that It has much 10 90 win ~.
Its direct consequence s are, comparatively speak
ing, but 0 small evil, and much Of ITO danger CON
ststs In the proneness Of our minds 10 regard 10
direct 40 ito only oonseuuences.
know the American people are much attached
10 their Government: I know they would euneI
much for its sake: I know they would endure evhs
long and patiently before they would ever think
Of exchanging II for another; yet notwithstanding
oil this. II the laws DO continually despised ana
disregarded. II their rights 10 be secure In tnen
persons and properly are held by no better tenure
than the caprice Of Q mob, the alienation OF tnen
affections from tho Government 10 the naturai
consequence: and TO that. sooner or later, ~ must
come. Here, then. 10 one point OF which DANGER
may DO expected.
The question reours, How shall we fortify against
~ The answer 10 simple. Lot every American.
every lover OF liberty, every well wfeher 70 ms
postertty, swear by the blood Of the Revoiutlon
never 70 violate In the least particular the laws
Of the country, and never TO tolerate their VIOLA
tion by others. AZ the patriots OF Scventy'slx oid
TO the support Of the Declaration Of Independence.
% to the support OF the Constitution and lave iet
eycry American pledge his life. his property ana
his sacred honor. Let every man remember tnat
10 violate the law 10 10 trample on the blood OF ns
father and to tear the charter OF his own and MS
children's liberty. Let reverence for the laws 90
brsa thed by every American mother TO the lisplng
babe that prattee on her lap: let II be nught IN
schools, In eeminaries and In colleges; lot II %
written In primers spelling books and In almaneca;
let II be preached from tho pulpit, proclaimed IN
legislative halls. and enforced In courts OF justice.
And, In abort, let II become the political religion OF
the nation; and lot the old and the young. the ricn
and the poor. the grave and the gay OF all sexes
and tongues and colors and conditions. sacr,hoe
INCREASINGLY upon its affairs.
The words above quoted and their lesson
are respectfully referred for study to Bird y.
Coler, an elected representative Of the people
In the Borough Of Brooklyn. and to certain
other officials. DEMochAr'
ALBANY, August 81.