The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1909-02-12

worst enemy of man is that very habi
Of separating ourselves from others
! because we think we are better than
they. Because of conduct or conyen-
ton or blood or dollars or some other
purely external or accidental thing we
exclude somebody. BY so doing we ex-
clude God, who is universal and has all
In his image. By so doing we exclude
our own complete and higher natures,
for in us is a correspondence to all
other beings. Caste Is Il prison to those
in 1t and an insult to all others. 1t
dwarfs the individual and divides the
state. 1t is artificial and denies the
universally of Gods love. 1t is DOOM
cd to die with the other lies of an out
worn age. Such souls as Lincoln have
given the race Il new and broader out
look. We now see he is greatest not
who is most exclusive, but who is most
Inclusive. He is highest who has most
completely and adequately what is In
all other men. Common sense thus
becomes the most precious kind of
sense. 1t is the wisdom derived from
lll ~ DtIl tI1Ct. TIA III ID
common is most universal and that
which is most universal is most divine.
If we get deep enough into this philos-
ophy, we shall have explained the
homely anecdotes, the unaSSuming
clothes and manners and the demo-
cratic attitude of Abraham Lincoln,
likewise his love for the plain people.
We have not had democracy as yet.
He was the prophet of the democracy
that is TO be.
\ kindred trait in Lincoln is like
wise i~lluminative. He IA the clear
distinction between private and pub
lie. He was most charitable to private
faults the while he fought public ones.
With the first he had little or no ON
Germ. They were none of his business.
With the last ne had every concern,
for, he being a part of the state, the
public faults to that extent were his
faults. He was responsible for them,
along with all other citizens. This at
titude he carried through life. Rigidly
opposing every public wrong, he was
most lenient and merciful to the indi-
vidual WrongdCer. He parGOned such
whenever he could do so without in
jury 10 society.
The same tendency was shown in an
other way and brought on Lincoln
criticism from his old Illinois friends
and relatives. He refused for the most
part to appoint them to office, holding
that tho npiI-otn 1tt1nhmnntS of in
coin the Individual should in nowise
influence the acts of Lincoln the presi-
dent. He believed his old friends and
neighbors to be incompetent for the
offices they asked for. However much
he wanted to accommodate them, how
ever much their ill feeling would hurt
him. he could not allow personal feel
ings Of this nature to govern his acts
as Il public official. That would be
akin to treason to the state. Nepotism
was impossible to this pure minded
man, and graft, private gain at public
expense, would have seemed the great
est of crimes because a crime against
society.
Just as he would not appoint his
friends to office if he thought them
Incompetent, SO he would not refrain
from appointing his enemies if he
thought the state needed their serv-
ices. 4 conspicuous example is found
in the naming of Edwin NJ. Stanton
for secretary of war, at the time the
most important place in the govern
ment second to that of the president
himself. Stanton had been criticising
Lincoln in the most persistent and Of
fenSive fashion. He had called him
ape and other names quite as uncom-
plimentary. Once in a lawsuit in Gin
cinnati he had snubbed Lincoln and
hurt him cruelty. But Stanton vas a
Union man and one of great energy
and acknowledged ability. Mr.. Lin
coin believed him the man to place at
the head OF the war department. Not
withstanding Stanton's irascible en-
per and other faults the step has been
approved by history. What other pres
ident, with the possible exception of
Washington, was great enough to
place a personal enemy in his official
family on the sole ground that the ma
ton needed him? Where was there
ever Il more perfect example of divid-
ing private from public concerns?
On the circuit Lincoln rode at first
an old horse and afterward drove a
dilapidated looking buggy. He car
ried a faded umbrella and We're for the
most part Il hat that had Sem better
days. He was one of those meek and
accomplishing men that landlords and
other like important persoDages i'm
posed III. In the presidency he was
open to access by everybody. His de-
sire to meet people amounted to a
passion with him all his lifes He
would stay out on the circuit Sun
days or wander around the streets of
evenings to meet people and tell sto-
ries. He called his receptions in Wash
ington his public opinion baths" He
genuinely loved all kinds and condi-
tons Of men. What wonder that they
love him.
MIR. Lincoln's typical democracy is
happily Illustrated by q story: