The Detroit times., 1909-02-12
SECOND PRIZE, sI2.
By Bcrtha Lah~y. M. $40 Wabash-nv~.
nged ~; ~. Nincents Academy,
Twelfth Grader sister VI.
Benedieta, Teacher.

Exactly one century has passed since
| the birth Of Abraham Lincoln, Amer
icas greatest politician, statesman. and
\ small log cabin In Hardin county.
Kentucky. WAS the place OF his birth.
on Feb, - 1909. His father. Ken
lucky planter, was very ignorant Lin
coins mother was woman OF uncom-
mon force If character. and whatever
greatness Lincoln achieved, u.s. In u
measure. ascTtbed To hers
When Abraham was eight years old.
the family moved from Kentucky to
Indiana. Here. Injured tn the hard
ships Of a pioneer farm life, Lincoln
grew TO manhood. His educational adj
yantages had been few in quantity and
poor in quality. but Lincoln was pos
sessed OF a burning thirst for knowl-
edge. and the education which circum-
stances had denied him, he obtained by
his own unasded efforts
His earnest and self-denying work
finally gained him admission to the
bar. He practiced as lawyer for a
number ~of years. gaining reputation
FOR incorrupttble honesty and wise
Judgment. His tastes. however led
him to seek political advancement. and
he was several times elected TO the
state legislature and once To congress.
Upon the organization OF the Repuh-
iiCan party, ne became one OF its lead
ers. ana In 1860 was Its nominee for
the presidency. Bitter discussions IN
the Democratic party brought about it's
defeat and Lincoln was elected. The
secession OF the south followed. AMI
when Lincoln was inaugurated lie was
confronted with "A divided country, and
dcfied constitution.
The war which followed was one Of
the most extensive and disastrous on
record. TIL" central figure of this. the
darkest period OF American history. was
Abraham Lincoln. Toward him every
eye was turned. in him every hope
rested. and ne never failed. His cool
ness. courage. and Judgment never de
serted him. For every emergency. lie
was ready. and i'm the end gained the
victory and laid down his life upon
the altar or his country
such valuable services are not soon
forgotten by the nation for which lie
sacrificed So much. What wonder then.
If in solving the problems which con
front the national government today.
we turn back the pages Of history for
A. years. and once more become the
willing subjects or Abraham Lincoln,
this time confronted by the numerous
questions which today are agitating
tho country
For man who loved honor. duty and
uprightness; for one 40 perseverinG as
Mr.. Lincoln undoubtedly his first re-
form would be the adoption ~ uni
Versal ciNil service system Michigan's
own official history or late. shows the
adNisabilitV OF such a reform. Daily
gtaf scandals are being unearthed and
briberies discovered. whereas the adop-
ton OF the merit system would do much
To- secure tried and qualified appointCcS.
Lircoln's energies would also be Iii
rectcd toward the suppression OF un-
lawful corporations. though his enmitv
would not he so extensive as 10 include
all corporations. for not only would The
clause in the constitution. TO which Lin
coin was "A firm adherent, approving OF
Joint associations. deter him. but tho
fact that corporations are the life or
q country without which railroads
could not he built improvements made.
or the progress Of the country assured
Whet attitude Lincoln would assume
toward the action Of California ard
Nevada. in nassing the alien land ana
seclusion bills. is easy 10 ascertain. bat
what action he would take 10 prevent
such measures is more difficult To d.
eide II ~ generally believed. Japan is
acting in good faith. hut II cannot no
strain it, Deoplc under tho singing in
suits ~ Pacific state legislation. In
this case. the president IL powerloss.
and the nation can ONLY look on dos
perately while two small states threat
er the peace 81 the world Lincoln
would undoubtedly take tho ssmc
course a. our own Theodore Roosevelt
hold conferences reason with. and
appeal 20 the patriotism ~ these
stat"s. and also haV" tho power or
public oninion brought IN. 10 bear on
the Pacific coast. that tho TWO gov
errmcnts might not separate from the
national union.