The Sauk Centre herald., 1909-04-01


THAT ONE WORD WAS inals who pre
CNloN. tended to be pol
iticians. We do not sufficiently dis
criminate. We are too sweeping in our
denunciations. Because some religion
lists are hypocrites is no reason we
should abuse religion. We might as
well refuse to accept money because
there are counterfeits in circulation or
resolve never to sit again If one chair
happens to break undeS u.s. Some Of
the best and most public spirited men
in our history have been politicians.
They have not been the criminal varie-
ty of politician, however. They have
been the sort of politicians that are
wise generals in political campaigns.
To this class belonged Lincoln.
Make no mistake about his shrewd-
ness, farsightedness and ability as O.
tactician. In the struggle with Doug
las he not only got the better Of his
opponent in debate. but outgeneraled
him. He was playing to beat Doug
las for the presidency. He did not
count on getting the senatorship for
himself or on gaining anything for
himself. Lincoln was politician, but
not selfish one. He looked the sit
uatiOn squarely in the face, decided
what was best for his party and the
country and fought for that, regard
less of the effects on his own fortunes.
The difference between Lincoln and
other politicians of his time. or of any
time. for the matter Of that. Is that
he saw further ahead. cared more for
principle and would not allow private
gain to stand in the way Of public
good. His associates looked only to
the election Immediately involved.
He gazed beyond that to future cleo
tions. They desired only to win the
the faroff greater victory. They dealt
with the ordinary campaign methods.
While not neglectful Of these. he
measured the effects Of principles and
used his unerring logical faculty III
determining the working of cause and
effect in the political world.
One other thing should be borne In
mind. In his political capacity Abra-
ham Lincoln was essentially Repub-
lican. His great fight was made to
maintain the rer Of the general
government over the subject OF slav-
cry in the territories. His whole atti-
tude during the war was for nation
,ality. Whatever may be our own
views on the subject of state and ma
ton, if we have failed to see this side
of Lincoln we have failed to see him
at all. His struggle against Douglas
was to maintain the traditions and
powers of the nation against any
vaguely phrased popular sovereignty
that was not properly safeguarded By
law and order. After becoming pres.
dent his insistence was that self pres
ervation and continuity Is the basic
fore no state could withdraw from
the Union without the consent Of a.!
the other states. His cry was fer
saving the nation in the form in which
it was turned over to him. When he
met Alexander III. Stephens at the
Hampton Roads conference, he told
Stephens that he would write only
one word and the south might have
everything else. That one word was
Union" He expressed the same sen
timent to Horace Greeley and Others
To Abra ham Lincoln the United States
of America was distinctly and eternal
ly q nation. not a confederation Of
states. ] feel bound to say this, be-
cause am trying to give a whole and
truthful view Of the man. He was
constructive, always and everywhere
constructive. He was in favor Of pull
lie improvements and public improve
ments made by the state. He was IL
favor of a tariff. He was for govern
ment issue of money! governmen-
man all through.
People who looked only at the SUI
face of things accused President Lii.
coin of lacking a policy. They wer
mistaken. He bad polAy, a YER
large but a very definite policy. H.
never shrank from carrying 1t our.
He was no stickler on small things,
but none could be frmer on great
things. His faculty of going to the
fundamentals. OF every question made
him settle on one thing at the begin
ming OF his administration. It was
that the nation must be preserved IN
tact. This was his pole star. He
steered by 1t without varying. When
Seward and others would have tenn
porizec he kept steadfast to that one
fundamental ideal.