The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1909-02-18

which Lincoln was the most perfect
exemplar, had not this force been
back OF the divine hope to make this
nation OF free men, the freedom of
the slaves could not have been ac-
complished at that time
A nation Will ever rise to the height
of the average intelligence, patrio-
tism and sense of right and justice
OF its citizenship Lincoln was a per-
fest type of these attributes and when
he stood forth as Ne champion OF the
union forever, and human freedom
throughout the land, it is not surpris-
ing that brave and valiant armies re-
sponded spontaneously to his call,
and fought till victory perched tn
umphant upon their banners.
Thus was one form of slavery abol-
ished forever, but what intelligent,
reading American does not know of
other forms of slavery slowly but
surely eating at the vitals OF Amer
lean supremacy and the perpetuity
of it's institutions. There is not pos
slbly great city in the entire United
States today but what is cursed with
what is known as the white slave
trade, and with but few exceptions in
featuring and mining communities
there exists the curse OF child labor
slavery Some critical, faint-hearted
citizen may say, it is long step from
liberating four million slaves by a
single proclamation with armies to
back it UP, to meeting so complex
a question as white girl slavery and
child labor slavery Let OUR town
boards, our country officials, our city
alderman, our mayors, our legislators,
our governors, our congressman, our
President and the people who make
them the governing power, be as in
innate and deeply nnbued with the
character OF Lincoln as was Lincoln
with the character OF the divine
Christ, let them be men whose very
souls are as thoroughly permeated
with the principles OF the Sermon on
the Mount, of the Declaration of In
dependence and the Constitution OF
the Union as was Lincoln; let them
be men whose inner lives are fired
with Gods truths of right and right
eousness as was the inner life OF the
immortal Lincoln and these questions
will be solved quickly and peaceably
Lincoln lived long enough to see
the stars and stripes again planted
over Fort Sumter. This was on April
14th, 1865 He lived to experience
tle glorious consciousness that the
great struggle was nearing the end
with the union saved and .the battle
for human freedom won.
His second inaugural address on
March 4th, 1864 was also his fare
we'll address The closing words OF
this memorable address which to my
mind is as immortal as his Gettys-
OdilC d. d DCHCulNliOu
and solemn valedhtory ] quote
them as follows: with malice to-
ward none, with charity for all, with
hrmness in the right as God gives us
to see the right, let us strive on 10
finish the war we are in, to bind up
the nations wounds, to care for him
who shall have borne t1e battle and
for his widow and his orphans, 10 do
al which may achieve and cherish
lust and lasting peace among our
selves, and with all nations" May
this last message sink deep into nie
hearts of the American people today.
May we strive 90 finish our work in
ife's battle with malice toward none
with charity for all, with frmness in
the right as God gives us to see the
right, to care for him who shall have
borne the battle and for his widow
and his orphan, TO do al within our
power (which may achieve and cherish
a just and lasting peace among our
selves and with all nations.