The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-02-12

II Zh4.==s1 charged to Grim
THAT ONE WORD WAS inals who pre-
UNION" tended to be pol
atfcians 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 under US. 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 a
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 a politician. but
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
II 70 nd in Of
good. His associates looked only to
the election Immediately involved
He gazed beyond that to future cleo
lions. They desired only to win the
nearby victory. He kept his eye on
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 in
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 power of the general
government over the subject of slav-
cry in the territories. His whole atti-
tude during the war was for nation
atty 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 presi-
dent his insistence was that self pres
ervation and continuity is the basic
law of any nations existence There
fore no state could withdraw from
the Union without the consent of all
the other states. His cry was for
saving the nation in the form in which
It was turned over to him. When he
met Alexander h 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
'fUnion." He expressed the same sen
timent to Horace Greeley and others
To Abraham Lincoln the United States
of America was distinctly and eternal
~ a nation, not a confederation of
states. 1 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 pub
lie improvements and public improve
ments made by the state. He was in
favor OF a tariff He was for govern
ment issue Of money-a government
man all through.
People who looked only at the sur
face of things accused President Lin
coin of lacking a policy. They were
mistaken He had a policy. a very
large but a very definite policy. he
never shrank from carrying it out
He was no stickler on small things,
but none could be firmer 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 1t was
that the nation must be preserved in
tact. This was his pole star. He
steered by it without varying. When
Seward and others would have tenn
porized he kept steadfast to that one
fundamental ideal.