The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1910-02-12
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.


might, with great profit to themselves
and to their country, spend few
hours February u, 1910, in reading
some Of the advice which this man
of the people gave to his countrymen.
"soberly," said Abraham Lincoln in
1859, 'it is now no ehild's play to save
the principles of Jefferson from total
overthrow in this nation"
In this year of 1910, fifty-one years
after Abraham Lincoln made this state
ment, it is now mo child's play" to
save the principles of Jefferson from
total overthrow in this nation.
Mr.. Lincoln was not man of one
idea. His thoughts were not entirely
centered upon the slavery question
He knew that, aside from the institu-
tion of slavery, there were other deep
er seated problems with which the peo-
pie of republic must grapple and his
writings and speeches are full of state
ments which have direct bearing upon
the great contest in which the Ameri-
can people are now engaged-a contest
wherein it is to be determined whether
laplutocracy or the people shall govern
in this great republic.
Il hold" said Mr.. Lincoln. "if the
Almighty had ever made a set of men
that should do all the eating and none
of the work, he would have made them
with mouths only and no hands; and
liz he had ever made another class that
he intended should do all the work, and
none of the eating, he would have
made them without mouts and with
hands Inasmuch as ne has
chosen to make men in that way, if
mouths are to be cooperative through
| life and not to be interfered with.
That they are to go forth and improve
their conditions, as have been try
| ing to illustrate, is the inherent right
given to mankind directly by the
Maker"
Many of the things said and writ
ten by Mr.. Lincoln seem to have been
written for this very time. 1t would
be well if every American citizen could
ponder upon these differences and pro-
fit by them. On one occasion he said:
"The resources, advantages and pow
ers of the American people are very
great, and they have consequently suc-
ceeded to equally great responsibilities
and it seems to have developed upon
them to test whether government
established on the principles Of human
freedom can be maintained against the
efferts to build one upon the exclusive
foundation of human bondage"
No statement made by Mr. Lincoln
is more appropriate today than his
definition of liberty. He said:
THE world is in want of good de-
finition of the word liberty. We ali
declare ourselves to be for liberty; but
we do not all mean the same thing.
Some mean that man can do as he
pleases with himself and his property.
With others it means that some men
can do as they please with other men
and other mems labor. Each of these
things is called liberty, although they
are entirely different To give an illus
tration: A shepherd drives a wolf
from the throat of his sheep when at
tackled by him, and the sheep of course
thanks the shepherd for the preserya-
ton of his life; but the wolf denoun-
ces him as despoiling the wolf of his
liberty; especially if it be black
Sheep"
On another occasion he declared:
''I have never had a feeling, politically
that did not spring from the senti-
me1ts embodied in the Declaration OF
Independence" On another occasion
he rebuked those who. in the discus
sion of public questions, gave no con-
Germ whatever to the rights Of men.
He said
"Why this deliberate pressing out of
view the right of men and the auth
ority of the people? This is essential
ly a peoples contest. On the side of
the union, it is struggle for main
tanning in the world that form and sub
stance of government whose leading
object is to elevate the condition of
man; to Int artificial weights from all
shoulders; to clear the paths of laud-
able pursuits to all; to afford all an
unfettered start and fair chance in
the race of life"
He pleaded for the preservation of
the constitution, declaring: "The peo-
pie of these United States are the
righffn1 n1aeters of congresses and the