The morning journal-courier., 1908-02-14
LINCOLN DAY ORATORY.

LINCOLN DAY ORAToth.
 There is satisfaction as well as a relief in the celebration of the great Lincoln's birthday as a means of let ting loose the flood of oratory which might never otherwise achieve an ex- pression. The satisfaction comes in the loosening of thoughts struggling to be free; the relief that it takes even more radical man than this country of ,many impulses has yet produced to not feel the restraining influence of Lincoln's sobriety of mind. With George Washingtons natal day used for eagle flights and Lincolns for the calmer consideration of the ills and remedies of the hour. the country can look forward to each recurring year with larger confidence in the power lessness of our public speakers to do much harm.
 The public speeches on Lincoln's birthday this year were necessarily H. luminated by thoughts of national concern and on the whole were admir- able in tone and expression. Secretary Taft spoke in Michigan, and in mod crate and reassuring language brought his hearers face to face with an indis- putable fact: we are upon the inter national stage We must play some part. We can no longer occupy the po- sition of isolation" And then. as if in spired by the spirit and philosophy and patience of Lincoln, added; Let us then see to it that the part we bear is of sufficient dignity and force to be worthy of the intelligence, the wealth and the moral tone of our people and the extent of our possessions" As MT. Taft would manifestly have the people of this great country under stand, it is not enough to realize that circumstances have thrown us into the worlds arena; it is essential to our ra- tional progress and stability of mind that we do the work required of that condition with deliberation and justice While Secretary Taft was thus dealing with one phase of our national re- sponsibility under the inspiration of the Lincoln spirit, Governor Hughes of New York was telling the people of his own State that only injury would come to those who undertake to oppore their forma;oyy movement which has for its settled purpose the correction of wel'-known evils in the life of the Try. Said he: "The American peo- pie will advance step by step surely and inevitably to a realization of their Ideals. and rothing whatever vii strnd in the way. in the course of .ime, of that equality of opportunity and O equal rights before the law which the declaration of Independence announced and which ;he constitution was intend- ed to serve"
 These are what may be called steady views, views called into expression by a profound faith in and love of coun- try, and of especial importance at this time when too many of the political leaders of the country find it 10 their fancied advantage to destroy what others have built up with such care when too many of the commercial leaders have lost confidence in the great consuming power of the people and when too many of the preachers to men cry down instead of up. Rather in sharp contrast, too, with the pitch of these speeches is that delivered ir Michigan by Governor Guild of Mas. sachusetts. Either unable or unwilling to catch the serene hopefuiness of Lin tDlll, llt Cdilltu hNottio pt III imagination to a point where federal ism in it's most, offensive form awaits them State rights, he told them, died at Appomattox. which may have re. minded some of them of the flamboy. ant assertion of another, who declared that the Monroe Doctrine sank to thu bottom of Manila Bay with the dis mantled Spanish ships of war-pretty phrases but not necessarily designed tC stand the test of close analysis ol application to the possible needs of tho country. What died at Appomattox wa: the right of q State or a group o States to disrupt the union of States The right of every State to control it. self in all ways not especially reserved to the national government as nationa rights still lives and will continue to
 Representative Foster of Vernon undertook to explain to the good peopl' of Portland, Maine, that the prevailing business depression is due to the in ah,litv of the American people t stand prosperity. Nor did he stol there. Evidently Mir Foster is a mal of original ideas. He said tafthef .The small manufacturer wa
 ;,r ,f tbe large manufaCtur CT. the man without wealth was envi