New-York tribune., 1908-12-27
LLNCOLN ON THE STANPS.

Expressions of popular dissent from the de
cison Of the Posfofice Department to Danish
the portrait OF Lincoln from postage stamps
continue and indeed seem TO increase in num-
bers and earnestness and II must be con
! fessed that on both special and general grounds
they are not devoid of force. If it were de
sirabIe that the change should ever he made it
would still seem particularly infelicitous to
make il at the very time when the nation i
with notable unanimity cOmmemOrating the
centenary of Lincoln'S birth. There are those
who suggest that for the year 1903 instead of
being banished from the 5-cent stamps the po--
trait Of Lincoln should be placed upon all
stamps Of all denominations IA part of the
ma tional commemoration of the year We might
doubt the advisability of that, though of course
there have been numerous precedents set for 1t
in the issuing of special sets of stamps in COM
memoration Of other anniversaries and in CON
nection with various celebrations. But Ger
tainly il would be appropriate to have the pOr-
trait of Lincoln retained for the widest possi-
bic distribution during his own centennial year
The argument in favor of the change appears
10 be. that by excluding all portraits save those
of Washington and Franklin. the latter on the
1-cent stamps and the former on all others.
desira BILE uniformity and simplicity will be Sc
cured and return will be effected to the sys-
TEN which prevailed sixty-odd years ago. The
former consideration seems 10 have more
weight than the latter Simplicity and uni
forfnity are doubtless desirable. In some other
countries IL is the rule TO have precisely the
same design for all stamps. save in the numer
ais which indicate their value the different de-
nominations being distinguished by different
colors In Great britain the stamps bear the
portrait of the sovereign, in France an emblem
Of the republic, and in Japen-which country
has some Of the most attractive stamps in the
word-a conventional representation Of the
national flower In this country, however there
has never been unless for brief time in the
earliest years, any such uniformity but our
postage stamps have varied in portraits and
designs as well as in color and a still more
marked rule 10 the same effect has long been
observed in our paper currency.
If there were TO be only one portrait on all
our stamps, beyond doubt 1t should be that of
Washington; and II only two the second should
almost rs certainly be that Of Franklin But
there are many who cannot perceive any CON
yinrng reason for limiting them 10 two There
might be good reasons for having only one nor
trait and thus having our stamps as uniform I'm
design rs those Of some other lands But If
there are 10 be more than one the rule Of uni
forunY * no longer effective and there may
be as valid arguments for n third ms for
Second portrait There is certainly no danger
or eXagGerafon ia ranking Lincoln next 10
Washington among our Presidents in both orr
own ana ihe Who'll" worlds esteem because of
his achievements Of enduring benefit T., man
kind. We are moreover now far enough avav
from the occurrences of 1S6a'65 to hermit
correct estimate 80 he formed aud held IN all
parts Of the nation of that "one Of natures