The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-02-19
ABRAHAM LINCOLN
AND GEO. WASHINGTON

Editor Advertiser: In your issue of
this morning (Feb. 12) you say: "'To-
day is sacred to the memory of the
First American-George Washington
was born British subject and had
been an officer of the British Army;
and all the worthless of the Revolution
airy period had similar derivation.
But Abraham Lincoln was born under
the Stars and Stripes and no one in
the American Hall of Fame stands up
on so high a pedestal"
If, sir, Abraham Lincoln s own APP
probation of Washington was correct,
it might appear that the two great
characters OF Washington and Lincoln
could, in any Hall of Fame, well oc-
cupy corresponding positions. The
mere accident of birth cannot be
brought to bear upon the question. Let
me, Mr.. Editor, give words of the
great President, the lover of humanity,
spoken at Springfield, Illinois. Some
may have forgotten them. other some
may even not have seen them, but all
at this particular time will be glad to
read them. Lincoln said;
''This is the one hundred and tenth
anniversary of the birthday of Wash
ington. We are met to celebrate this
day. Washington is the mightiest
name of earth-long since mightiest in
the cause of civil liberty, still might
lest in moral reformation. On that
name an eulogy is expected. 1t cannot
be. To add brightness to the sun, or
glory to the name of Washington is
alike impossible. Let none attempt it..
In solemn awe pronounce the name,
and in its naked deathless splendDr
leave it shining on.'
If, Mr.. Editor, it is claimed that
Lincoln stands upon the highest pedes-
tai in the American Hall of Fame,
then it must be in view of supposed
fact, viz: that he, Lincoln, has taken
the place of .'The Father Of his Coun-
try" Washington, and has become
% first in the hearts of his country
men,. This will certainly not be ac-
cepted by millions of citizens of this
Republic. / have lived, sir, among
Americans close on to sixty years and
| think the American heart is large
enough to hold well in remembrance
all that their country owes, nay, that
the whole world owes, to the deeds of
intelligent valor and uprightness, of
both Washington and Lincoln, without
desiring or ever thinking to give pre-
eminence to the one or the other of
their illustrious countrymen. The first
nf hot n tn
call of duty, and in answering how
absolutely different their tasks. The
one made his countryi The other saved
it!
In an address delivered by Lord
Rosebery at the Cromwell Tercente-
nary celebration he said: Every one,
7 think has in his heart of hearts
a shrine in which lie the sacred
memories of the past, of the best and
noblest of born men," Let me close
by saving, in such shrines, not only in
the American Hall Of Fame. but in the
hearts of men the world over, will for
ever be engraved the indistinguishable
merits of the two men whereof | now
write. Monuments may crumble to
dust, but the precious records of great
deeds wrought from sense of duty,
are written and established in the
consciousness of passing generations,
| and perish not I urge in conclusion
| that magnanimity forbids the drawing
| Of any comparison between the two
| great historic characters of George
| Washington and Abraham Lincoln.
CHARLES F. HART.
Honolulu, Feb. u, 1909.