The Washington bee., 1909-02-27

! diAAy. 14C pdNSu the way IOE lIlS
unrestricted liberty of the citizens and
opened up possibilities which would
at the same time so multiply the cleo
torate as to properly provide for the
safeguarding the rights of all with
out respect to creed, class, condition
or race. AS has been so we'll said be-
fore, HE changed the auction block
into a schoolhouse," and vassals into
men. He believed with Mostesquieu,
the French philosopher, that "the ami
mating sentiment of a monarchy is
honor, but that the animating senti-
ment of a republic is virtue" He
sought to establish a civilization not
merely without a slave, but also
without a prejudice.
Under the magic of his constantly
widening influence the nation, recov-
ering from its terrible disast
wrought by war, began a new era of
prosperity and development, so that
thirty millions of people have grown
to eighty millions; our wealth has
been multiplied by FIVE; our inexhaus-
tible resources under wise and beneh-
cent laws have attained a development
which is the envy and wonder of the
world, while our public school system
has afforded an opportunity for the
development of the mind unequaled
by any nation on earth. Indeed, under
the stimulus of the rail splitter, a
new nation, under God, has found the
way to awaken a whole people to a
consciousness of their importance as
individuals.
His own views touching eligibility
for citizenship are so clear and posi-
tive as to admit of no kind of doubt
or controversy. They would cover
the whole subject now were he alive
and seeking a fair standard for the
exercise of suffrage. Said he, II go
for all sharing the privileges of the
Government who assist in bearing. its
burdens" Who are such today? If
you are able to meet the condition,
simple in itself, then the patriotic Lin
coin would have counted you worthy
of the highest privilege ever allotted
to men: the right to vote, "the right
of all rights"
The greatest two documents of the
past two centuries are the Declaration
of independence, by Thomas Jeffer-
son. and the Emancipation Proclama-
ton of Abraham Lincoln. The great
est and most enduring speech of the
past century is Lincoln's Gettysburg
address.
Abraham Lincoln loved and was
loved, because love begets love. He
loved his country supremely, and his
every impulse was patriotic. The
patriotic fire SO burned in him that
every sentiment of seIfshness OF self
seeking was consumed, and only the
dross of it remained. Every man
about him. whether General, Cabinet
Officer or Member of Congress, had
first of all to give assurance of his
loyalty to his country and its flag be
fore he could claim his confidence.
During the closing days of that ter
rible war that tried mems souls, many
men had risen to fame, honor and dis
tinction. Grant had fought his way
to Appomattox, beating back the
enemy with his invincible cohorts.
Sherman was marching without ser
ious obstruction from the mountains
to the sea. Sheridan had turned an
defeat into a glorious vic
tory by his twenty mile ride to Win
Admiral Farragut, in the.
rigging of his ship, had proved the
of the American Navy anew,
while Seward and Stanton and Chase
had directed the movements Of them
by providing the necessary means OF
warfare, but above them all, stands in
undimmed glory the majestic figure
Of the afterward martyr President
Abraham Lincoln, who, on the field
Of Gettysburg with his triumphant
soldiery, could declare that he held
malice toward none and charity for
all, and invoked the blessing of Al
mighty God on 4 nation which he
dedicated anew to universal liberty.
I stand here one Of the benefciaries