New-York tribune., 1912-02-08
LINCOLN HAD FORESIGHT
Roosevelt Picks Sayings That He
Fits to the Present.
"APPLIED DECENT POLITICS"
Points Out That Writings Were
at Time When Civil War Presl-
dent Was Being Vilified.

Theodore Roosevelt told a group of news
paper men who had been asking him for
some sort Of statement in regard to his
position in the present political situation
some days ago, that many things tha'
Abraham Lincoln said were applicable to
the present day. They took a copy OF LIN
coins letters to him yesterday. and ne SAT
down with them and read some OF the senu
ments OF the Civil War President and com
mented on them When re was done he
inscribed the following in the book:
''.To the first class in Applied Decent POLL
ties
Mr.. Roosevelt thought that a letter Writ
ten by Lincoln TO G. d. Prentice was par
ticularly applicable to-day lie read It,
part of which is as follows:
Your suggestion that in a certain event
shall write letter setting forth my W,
servative views and intentions Is certdlni
a very worthy one. But woulu " 90 ,,iS ',iJ
good? If | were TO labor a motlh "a ! IN.
not express my conservative views anu -,
tentions more clearly and strongly nc r.,
they are expressed in our PLATFORM an az" hn' ~
my many speeches already IN pIint az Az men
fore the public. But nay ua' Men
TO deal with. both North and South. ,.,,en men
who are eager for something new uphhn phn
which to base Misrepresentation "s "nst 20
would like to frighten me- or "a, a,tt,,V and
fix upon me the character or unlul,S 81
cowardice They would seize upon a'i' 80 :,
any letter | should write as p'"e
awful coming down ,hose oen-
intend keeping my eve upon theSv. an
,Iomon and 10 not unnecessarily put any
weapons IL their hands
Tho teacher" then reed letter on cap.
fol and labor in which Lincoln referred 'o
capltal rs tho fruit ~ labor but saIn u ,'"'
,,a r,,h,s uricr were as worthy OF protcc-
tion as other rights. ..,.
You see," commented Mr. hooSe,'''
that Lincoln was Progressive WIZ"
bride on"
Again he read this from a letter OF IAt-
coin to G. +. Mcneil:
have made this explanation to you a. as
a friend: but | wish 20 eNplahatloI, !.
To our enemies What they "ant ~ {,
squabble and fusS ana ineN &c. e !, n we
N We explain, and they can't have w. Il We
don't.
THAT, gentlemen" said the colonel 10
tho reporters. is an answer 10 'he mani
questions that YOU have te'n ASKING me
IIc added -
you must remember thst Ihn'"h
thon naing vlli1cd In a way tnat "o"'u
give POINTERS to the papers you represent
when they are discussing me. can speak
no stronger -,
The members OF the class were tesih-
ming 10 think that a statement was oe'hs
ecntIv conveyed To them that th'E h'eu
no, expert Mr.. Roosevelt tc max" any dec
Iaration as 10 his attitude toward the Pres
tdo,tiaI nomination. .yl.cn he suddenly re-
marked.
Il am reading those letters as apph"h
10 tho general political situation not IN
regard to any action that ! may OF may
not be about TO take
Mr. Roosevelt passed the Gettysburg ad-
dress and tho second inaugural as not beihs
necessarily pre-cminent OF all of Lincoln :
words and declared his belief that one oi
tho greatest uttcranrr9 of Lincoln was tnat
called Response 10 4 S,rcnade, November
10 lS5i" IIo read IT. II says In part:
I, has long been grave question
whether any government not too strohE
FOR tho liberties Of it's people can no Strol,e
enough 10 maintain its existence I'm great
.cn,oroopcIee We cannot have free
Cov.rpnlcrt without elections: aud " tne
rebellion could force ne 10 for"go or post
nnns a national election II might fairiy
claim 10 hayc already conquered and ruined
us Rut tho election. along with It's incl.
dental and undesirable suit", haS Hp..
rond ton II has boon demonstrated that
rcoplc's government can sustain na ma, !,
ional election In the midst of sr"at 'i'i'
war.
Amons tho visitors oC Mr.. Roosevelt yes
tsrdav was cN-Governor Franklin Fort NJ
New Jorsay. Mr.. Roosevelt will I've at his
offices with The Outlook to-day and to-
morrow and most OF next week.