The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-02-14

Majority Rule or Anarchy.
After his election as president, when
confronted by threats of secession, Lin
coin refused to apologize or explain
away any of his platform. In letters to
those who wrote to know his policy. he
quoted the platform on which be was
elected and said that was his commits
sion from a majority of the electorate
I'm his speeches on his way to Wash
ington to take the oath of Office he re-
affirmed his position: I reiterate that
the majority should rule said he at
Steubenville, Ohio. IF adopt a wrong
lcncy the opportunity for condemna-
ton will occur in four years time.
Then 1 can be turned out and better
man with better views put in my place.
I'm his first inaugural address he
said: Plainly the central idea of seces-
sion is the essence of anarchy. A ma
jority held i'll restraint by constitu-
tional checks and limitations, and al
ways changing easily with deliberate
changes of public opinions and senti-
meftS, is the only true sovereign of
free people. Whoever rejects it does
q. necessity fly to anarchy or to des-
potisrn. Unanimity is impossible The
rule of 4 minority, as permanent ar
rangement, is wholly inadmissible; so
that. rejecting the majority principle,
anarchy or despotism in some form is
all that is left
And this dependence upon the voice
coins political phiIosophy-that in
government of the people there could
be only one command to the man. in
responsibility. the voice of the major
ity at the polls: and that command
should be needed until another COM
mand came from the majority.
LAS president. while firmly upnololng
the voice of the majority as expressed
in the Republican PLATFORM. Lincoln
was patient and considerate, just and
tactful.
1T is one of the strange incidents of
history. that just at the dawn of the
civil war, which destroyed slavery, that
institution received the largest recog-
nition and concession eVer given by the
American congress. In the very last
days of Buchanan's administration,
congress adonted constitutional
amendment (article 49,, which declared:
g No amendment shall be made to
the constitution which will authorize or
or interfere within any state with the
domestic institutions thereof, including
that of persons held to la Dor Or service
Ky the laws of said state.
THAT amendment passed the house
by the necessary two-thiros vote, Feb
ruary .28 1861, and the senate. March
3. In his inaugural address Mr.. Lin
coin referred to it. saying:
:" Holding such a provision to now
be implied constitutional law, l nave
no objection 10 It's DelnS maze express
and irrevocable.
THE administration Of Lincoln trans
rnitted this amendment to the states for
action, but those who had decided to
resist Lincoln at all hazards had al
ready begun their war on the Union,
and the 18th article to the constitution
was heard of no more. until hVe years
later an amendment bearing the same
number, forever abolished slavery
throughout the whole United States.
Results From Iincoln's Policies.
1.-THE territories, which Lincoln
sought to save from slavery, have sur
passed the widest speculation and
prophecy in 1860, and the homestead
act, passed in Lincoln's admlnlstra-
ton, on his recommendation, has con-
verified the staked plains and the great
American desert into an agricultural
empire that has not parallel any
where, with the most independent, the
most prosperous and the richest peo-
pie per capita to be found on this con-
tinent The newer west has today
double the total wealth of the United
States at the time Lincoln was elected,
and one-third the whole wealth of the
country today, which is one-th1rd Inc
wealth of the whole civilized world.
But even more than this, the poll
cies of Lincoln have brought new
life to the south that rebelled against
the Union. In the last decade that
section has had the most remarkable
development that has been recorded by
the census office-greater than New
England, greater than the middle At
lantic or the middle states, and even
greater than the west, which was the
special care of Lincoln-untll in its
prosperity the south is almost ready
to admit that the stone rejected by
the builders shall become the chief
cornerstone of the temple
'"They have found prosperity and
happiness in Lincoln's policies. The
scars of war have disappeared. Fur
naces and factories spring into exist
ence as if by magic. There are few
admit that Lincoln's policies saved the
south from it's own errors and started
that section of the country on the real
road to prosperity.
White and Slave Freed.
"They have seen the light, and this
achievement of a united country, with
the same interests, making it a homo
geneous country as it never was be-
fore, justifies my assertion that the
Republican party and what has been
wrought under its policies in this half
century make the most fitting monu-
ment to Lincoln, under whose lead
ership the slave was made free, and
of far greater Importance, the white
man was set free.
Lincoln fidelity to the responsibility
put upon him by the American peo-
| pie was no better illustrated than when
reverses first came to our armies. In
| the most trying hour, when treason
threatened anarchy, Lincoln stood
practically alone as the leader of the
people. other men who posed as lead
ers had various suggestions for an ad-
ministration policy. but Lincoln said
My policy is to have no policy His
one ambition was to save the Union
He stood in the midst of a perfect
babel of advice, admonition, demand
| and denunciation
Everybody was for promptness
vigor, action and advance. Everybody
| denounced delay. and accusations o.
| incompetency and treachery were free
ly circulated. Some organs of public
| opinion boldly advised the immediate
resignation of the cabinet, and sug,
| gested that the president might bt
superseded.