The Sauk Centre herald., 1909-02-11

! ograpners Of the martyr president who
knew him well state that he did not
materially change his views till the
day Of his death.
| 1t was in the political domain, how
ever, where Paine Influenced Lincoln
most profoundly. AS one was the
author Of the Declaration Of Inde-
pendence, SO the other became its
defender and apostle. One Of the
greatest pieces Of eloquence that ever
fell from the emancipator's lips 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 more 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 a 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
unmodified 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 a casing of such environment
and such heredity.
But there has been a vast amount of
unintentional running down Of Lin
coins 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 leaven
which leaves poverty not one-half SO
| bitter. Lincoln was born in log
house with one room and dirt floor,
but so was almost everybody else who
first saw light ON the Kentucky from
| tier of that day. Ida Tarbell indig-
| nantly denies that Thomas Lincoln,
Abraham's father, was the lazy loafer
he has been pictured, and as that is the
more charitable view and as Miss Tar
bell is woman l am going to side
| with her. Miss Tarbell also takes up
| the cudgels for Lincoln's mother, and
| as there are two women in this case
side with her more than ever. More
over, fair investigation shows that
| the charitable view Is the right one.
Thomas and Nancy Hanks Lincoln
were an honora BILE, self respecting and
Industrious couple fully up to the aver
age or above the average Of the time
In which they lived.
The same thing applies to Lncoln's
| environment. 1t was not bad; it was
only crude. All these things are COM
parative. Besides, there is whole
lot of unnecessary fuss made about
the early accidents that surround
great men. An acorn will grow an
| oak If the soil is anywhere near to
| being half decent In which it Is drop
ped. One of the immortals cannot be
explained by the presence or absence
| Of plush carpet on the floor Of the
bedroom in which he Is born. Neither
! bank credits nor their effects can make
| or seriously mar q real genius who in
herits their command. Poverty could
not overwhelm Lincoln any more than
wealth could spoil Roosevelt.
The worst that can be said Of the
Kentucky of Lincoln's day is that it
! was new. but it was also wholesome.
AS for the hard life, the simple fare,
the primitive surroundings. what worth
, ,, while man was ever retarded by things
| such as these?
Man is not a slave Of things. He is
| In the image of the Maker Of things
| therefore he is ruler Of things by
divine right.
All Of Abraham Lncoln's life was a
! proof Of this principle. By the sheer
greatness Of his heart his intellect
and his soul he overcame an adverse
environment. He had few Of the helps
| that are regarded as essential by most
| men. He was without the assistance
| Of family or wealth, early training or
influential connections, the prepared
steps Of the stairway to success. He
had to climb the heights alone.
Mr.. Line oln said and did many great
things, but was greater than anything
he said or did. He was In the fore.
front Of ore Of earth's fiercest strug-
gles and yet is known chiefly as an ex-
ponent Of liberty, brotherhood and
I peace. He was the largest figure in