The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1909-02-11

ographers " the martyr president who
knew him well state that be did not
materially change hts views TIL the
day Of hts death.
It was tn the political domain, bow
ever, where Paine Influenced Lincoln
most profoundly. As one wns the
author Of the Declaration Of indie
,pendence, 80 the other became its
defender and apostle. One Of the
greatest pieces Of eloQuence that ever
fell from the emancipator's tips was in
support Of this charter OF the rights
Of man.
Indeed both Jefferson and Lincoln
were pupils Of Paine, whom the world
will some day recognize as the founder
Of modern democracy. Jefferson
sullied his work by trying to, steal
the honor due his teacher Lincoln
was the truer and moae honorable
soul and practiced the teachings OF
the new political gospel with more
fidelity.
When Lincoln was born Paine was
about to take his deathbed and Jeffer-
son in three weeks would relinQuish
the presidency. In Europe Napoleon
had reached his zenith and In few
years would begin his downfall. The
steam engine was invented, and the
steamboat was launched, but nobody
knew what either meant The world
had not awakened to modern progress,
but was stirring in Its sleep.
The particular corner Of the earth in
which Lincoln saw the light was al
most virgin wilderness. Kentucky at
that time was not only frontier, but
raw frontier at that 1t was nature
unmodlfled and unadorned. 1t was
good fundamental stuff out of which
to make man, provided the man was
fundamental enough and strong enough
to build himself out of such material.
1t takes bright soul to shine out
through casing Of such environment
and such heredity.
But there has been a vast amount Of
unintentional running down Of Lin
Ncoln's surroundings. His parents, rela-
tives, neighbors, education, associates
and even his wife have come in for a
share Of the indirect abuse. This
course is both unnecessary and unjust
Lincoln does not need to have his cir
cumstances or his people minimized In
order that he may seem great Prob
ably they do not show well by the con
trast, but that Is not their fault They
were fully as good as the average cir
cumstances and people Of that time
The ordinary hill may look very insig
nificant beside mountain, but the hill
cannot help that. -
The Lincolns were poor, but SO was
everybody else. Equality Is a leave1
bitter. Lincoln was born In log
house with one room and a dirt floor
but so was almost everybody else wht
first saw light on t .e Kentucky from
tier Of that day. Ida Tarbell indig
nantly denies that Thomas Lincoln
Abraham's father, was the lazy loafe
he has been pictured, and as that Is tn
more charitable view and as Miss Tai
bell Is woman | am going to sid
with her. Miss Tarbell also takes VI
the cudgels for Lincoln's mother, an,
| as there are two women in this case
side. with her more than ever More
over, a fair investigation shows tina
the charitable view is the right one
Thomas and Nancy Hanks Lincoll
were an honorable. self respecting an,
Industrious couple fully up to the aver
age or above the average Of the tim
in which they lived.
The same thing applies to Lincoln
environment. 1t was not bad; 1t wa
only crude. All these things are CON
parative. Besides, there is a Who'll
lot of unnecessary fuss made abou
the early accidents that surroun
great men. An acorn will grow a.
oak If the soil is anywhere near t
being half decent in which it is DROP
ped. One of the immortals cannot
explained by the presence or absenc
of plush carpet on the floor of til
bedroom In which he is born. Neithe
bank credits nor their effects can max
or seriously mar real genius who II
herits their command. Poverty coul
not overwhelm Lincoln any more tina
wealth could spoil Roosevelt.
The worst that can be said Of tn
Kentucky of Lincoln's day is that
was new, but it was also wholesome
AS for the hard life, the simple fart
the primitive surroundings. what wort
while man was ever retarded by thing
such as these?
Man is not slave Of things. He
in the image Of the Maker of things
therefore he Is ruler Of things b
divine right.
All Of Abraham Lincoln's life was
proof Of this principle. By the shee
7 greatness Of his heart. his intellec
and his soul he overcame an advers
environment. He had few Of the help
: that are regarded as essential by mos
. men. He was without the assistanc
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