The independent-reporter., 1910-02-17
TWO GREAT STATESMEN
COMPARED
Very Interesting Debate Monday Ev-
ening.


in the vestry OF the Centenary Metho-
dist Episcopal church on Monday ey-
ening. the President II. A. Dinsmore
In the chair. Business transacted.
the debate of the evening was an
nounced. Resolved, that Washing
ton was a greater statesman and citi-
zen than Lincoln" The affirmative
in debate was opened by DR.. Leitch,
who said In part: Great men and
epochs are related as cause and eff
feet, ideals and principles, movements
and men In the social organism can
not be separated. The names OF Luth-
er and Wesley and Washington are
synonymous with Reformation, Re-
vival, Revolution. These names and
epochs touch and react upon states,
no one man stands alone. When we
discuss a Washington, Lincoln, We
discuss the ideals and epochs and men
around which these names center.
Washington. the man first in war.
first in peace, and first in the hearts
of his countrymen stands for Ameri
can independence and the Constitu-
ton of the United States, the finest
piece of constructive craftsmanship in
the world, built on the basis of how
much can / put into my country, not
ON how much can / take out. 1t Is
one thing for colony to declare it
self free and Independent end it is
another thing to wrest that indepen-
dence from one of the great world
powers.
The task fell upon Washington and
with no central government, no Or
ganized army, no military headquar-
ters, no credit, no commissary depart
ment, he proceeded to attain by force
of arms, to wrest the colonies from
| the mother country and establish or
der and peace. How well he succeed
ed let history and subsequent events
narrate.
| With Washington and the establish
ment of a Republic are associated
such men as Franklin, Hamilton JET
ferson, Adams, etc. These illustrious
statesmen stand out as binary stars
in the constellation of eminent men
who give lustre to our country's ideals
and institutions.
The speaker maintained that in
making degrees of comparison among
so eminent statesmen and citizens as
Washington and Lincoln that that
man is greatest whose constructive
genius whether in military tactics or
in the diplomacy of statescraft
lays the foundation of nations
greatness in government which sub
sequent generations defend and sus-
istence and welfare. This Washing
ton and his day established and we
today find what he represented then
in laying the foundation of Republic
in constitutional law and national
ideals cannot be overthrown or sur
passed in constructive statesman
ship.
John w. Fogler opened the negative
side of the debate and sustained his
arguments of Lincoln's superiority by
outlining his career and development
his conception of fundamental princi-
pies of government; his almost super
natural comprehension of the essen
tials of the vital principles that I'M
derlay the great questions that were
agitatng the nation and subsequently
lead to a civil war which shook the
foundation of the republic.
In Lincolns debates with Judge
Douglas he grasped the vital princi-
pies at issue and on constitutional
ground contended for national sover-
eighty against so called squatter
rights and the extension of slave ter
ritory. In his address at Cooper In
stitute in New York he at once sprang
to the front as a leader OF national
renown. His ideals, his principles
his putting of the great questions OF
the day electrified the nation.
Elected President, his diplomacy
and craftsmanship were Immediately
recognized Throughout the civil war
his magnanimity, his superior judg-
ment, his answering loyalty to the
cause of Union and Liberty, his
knowledge of men and the nation s
needs together with his trust in a
higher power that guides nations.
makes Lincoln man among men with
scarce a peer in American history.
Lincolns superiority to Washington is
seen throughout his entire career ris-
| ing from humble surroundings to the
highest office In the gift of the nation
and at time when the fabric OF
government was being tested in every
department. He held the helm of state
firmly until the assassins bullet cut
of his splendid career.
The subject was then thrown open
to discussion and eloquence and ar
gument on both sides were forthcom-