Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-06
LINcoLN's PREDICTION

N PEAKING to confidential friends in
the latter days of the War of the
~ Rebellion. President Lincoln said:
"I see in the future a crisis that un-
nerves me and causes me to trembleI
for the safety of my country. As re-
suit of the war corporations have beer.
enthroned, an era of corruption in high
places will follow and the money power
of the country will endeavor to prolong
its reign by working upon the preju-
dices of the people until all wealth
is aggregated in few hands and the
republic destroyed. I feel at this mo-
ment more anxiety for the safety of my
country than ever before, even in the
midst of war. God grant that my
suspicious mag prove groundless."
If you read this we'll authenticated
aictum of the great Lincoln with care
you will find that he does not indicate
or hint the possibility OF another fra
tricidal war. One in the history OF the
nation and three i'm the history of the
peoples that use the English language
had been enough. The thought of war
at the close of the great Civil War was
to most sane Americans preposterous.
It was not war he feared. He did not
predict that if a certain course OF
events were unchecked the republic
would perish by the sword. He said
that destruction would follow the ag-
sregation of wealth in a few hands.
The destruction of the republic can be
ACCOMPLISHED by rendering null and
void the first principles of American
ism. AS soon as this result has been
attained the United States will still
exist as a vast and powerful country
but it will not be, the "sweet land OF
liberty" and freedom will no longer
ring throughout its vast expanse. Kill
Americanism and America becomes
shell. a mere commercialism. That is
what Abraham Lincoln meant. The
truth of this has been demonstrated
directly and indirectly in many difrer-
ent ways. especially during the last
few years, when it did seem for while
as If the corporate interests that had
control of much of the wealth OF the
country would manage to control prac-
tically all of it and turn America into
a. huge money machine.
The patriotism of President Roose-
yelt william ]. Bryan and many other
good and true Americans took alarm
and there followed a remarkable
ava kening of public sentiment with re-
gard to the formation and existence
of trusts. President Lincoln did not
utter a warning with regard to wealth.
No great American and no ordinary
American who has studied the subject
could possibly confuse production ana
national wealth with the subject of the
control and distribution of the natlonal
wealth produced by the population OF
tho Tinted States. President Lincoln
had a logical mind and reasoned that
If n certain policy of production ana
accumulation not followed by distribu-
tion in proportion to the amounts pro-
duced were pursued, there would De
economical trouble. Henry georges
description of that trouble is well re-
membered. He said the rich would gro"
richer and the poor poorer. PRESIDENT
TincoIn's fears will not be realized II
in all its forms is
taken out of the national life. Anti
Americanism may be exhibited py an
anarehical fanaticlsm consisting OF ne
cations and political confusion, COM
bined with incendiarism, or 1t may De
exbibited In official but unamerican
fanaficism which would put vested in
terests first and patriotic Americanism
second. Americanism will protect and
foster all legitimate interests. 1t be-
lieves in liberty and the pursuit OF
happiness and thinks that the greatest
good for the greatest number of citi-
zens should be the chief end of the
republic. Every American enterprise
is protected by Americanism when that
enterprise does not become a usurper
and intervenes between the people OF
the United States and their God given
inherited rights-life, or nvlng'
square deal and a square meal; lib
ertv freedom of action and of speech
as long as laws are not broken or pro-
prieties outraged, and the pursuit OF
happiness, which means that every
citizen may shape his career In the
direction which, if pursued, VIII prlng
him the greatest possible happiness.
This the citizen does not always man
age to do and if other things were
equal that would be his lookout and
no one would be to blame excepting
himself. Are other things always
equal?