Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1912-06-14
LINCOIN'S PROPHETIC
SPEECH

Scrap of History" in which
reference was made to a prophetic
speech Of Abraham Lincoln.
Following arc r'Uio"s extracts
from the speech. 1t makes mighty
good reading in these days of
Rooseveltism:
All the armies of Europe, Asia
and Africa combined could
not by force take a drink from the
Ohio or make a track in the Blue
Ridge in a trial of a thousand
years.
Al what point then is the
approach of danger to be ex.
pected? | answer. If it ever
reaches us it must spring up
amongst us; it can not come from
abroad. If destruction be our lot,
we must ourselves be its author
and inisher. AS a nation of free.
men we must live through all time
OF die by suicide.
hope | am overwary: but if |
am not, there is even now some
thing of i'll omen amongst us.
mean the increasing disregard for
law which pprvades the country
the growing disposition, to sub.
lieu of the sober judgement Of
stitute the wild and furious pas
sions in lieu Of the sober judge.
ment of the courts and the worse
than savage mobs for the executive
minister's of justice.
ministers of justice.
know the American people are
much attached to their govern.
ment; / know they would suffer
much for its sake; | know they
would endure evils long and
patiently before they would ever
think Of exchanging il for another,
vet Notwithstanding all this if the
laws be continually dcspised and
disrcgardrd, if their rights to Ia
secure in their persons and
property are held by 10 better
tenure than the caprice O. a mob,
the alienation f their affection.
from the government is tie
natural consequence; and TO that.
sooner or late, it must come.
When ! so D~rcssrngIy urge a
strict obscr vance of all the laws
let me not ne understood as saving
there are no bad laws or that
grievances may not arise from
the redress Of which no Iega.
provisions have been made.
mean to say no such thing. But
do mean to say that although bad
laws, if they exist should he
repeale as soon as possible, still
while they continue in force. for
the sake of example, they should
be reIigiOusly observed. E
There is no Grievance that is a fl
object Of redrcssb mob law.
But may be asked. Why suppos,
danger to our political institu.
tons? we hope there is M
sufficient reason. We hope that al
danger may he overcome: but tc
conclude that n" danger may eve
arise would itself toe extrcmcI,
dangerous. There are now, and
VIII hereafter he, many causes.
dangerous in their tendency. which
have not existed heretofore, and
which are not too insignificant Ia
merit attention That our
govcrnmet should 5c maintained
IN its original form, from its
establishment until now is much To
he wondered nj. II had many
props to support it through that
period, which are now dccoyrd
and crumblcd away. Then
all that sought celebrity and FAM,
and distinction expected to find
tfem in the success Of that cxpcri-
ment. Their all was stakcd up,n
1t; their destiny was i~nseparabIv
linked with it.. II tbev sro-
ceeded. they were immortaIizcd.
their names we're to be trans.
t 'rred 10 counties and cities md
rivers and mountains, and Ia br
revcred and sung, toasted tbroupb
all time. II they failed. they
were to be called knaves. and fools
and fanatics Of q ncctiny hour.
tnen to sink md be forgoticn
lhey succeeded. The cxpcrimcn,
Is successful and thousands hove
won their dcathlcss names IN
making it so. But the game is
caught. ' = This field NJ oI,,,