The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-02-14
FRIDAY. FEBRUARY Il, 1919.
EXIT JEFFERSON: ENTER LINCOLN.

EXIT dEFTERSDNs ENIER 11N&oAANF
Thomas jefferson is dethroncd. He is out of
fashion. Time was when he was proclaimed the
father of all cults Of all heresios, Of all isms,
Of all new things. Conservatives, reactonaries,
radicals and ultra.radicals proclaimed themselves
heirs OF the great eomuloner and filed the air
with their conflicting claims. Even the Repub-
lioan party, lineal descendant Of Hamiltons
Federaltst party sought to graft themselves upon
the fame of Hamiltons arch-foe and political
Entipode
All that is changed now. or all the changes
made and attempted to be made by Colonel Coffee
this Is the greatest He has pushed Tom Jeffer-
sons ghost ont Of fame's spotlight and that of
Honest Abe performs in his stead. AS the prolific
father of new theories and new cults Abraham
Lincoln has Thomas jefferson backed into the
far corner of spirit land. Roosevelt started it
when he framed the charter of his new democracy
and has kept # up necessarily Contradicting
himself as easily the shell game artist manipu-
Iates the elusion pea. he modestly gives Lincoln
credit for each new theory until, If ghosts are
subject 10 the headache, Abe Lincoln must be
In whirl and Jefferson must be congratuating
himself for his relief from service as official
father of all new ideas.
Not for long. however. did Roosevelt enjoy the
distinction of being the sole foster father of
Ldncoln's false heirs. La Toilette found that
LINCOLN was the father of many Of the plauks
i'm his platform. though Battle Bob, less modest
than the shrinking hero of San Juan, claimed
authorship of some OF them himself Nevertne-
less the original progressive forced on to a
sidetrack, while out of the Roosevelt class, still
qualities as foster father of pretenders, Some
OF his theories, ideas and policies bear some
slight resemblance to these of Lincoln 1t is true,
and for these reasons cannot hold up their heads
in the presence of the Third Termers' wards,
they pass muster when not subject to too close
comparison Cummins, Beveridge, Prizefghter
Jnhnson and Gun-toter Henry have all been driven
lately to a study Of Lincoln in order to learn
what the war president stood for so as to be
sure that their progressive pronunciamentos
would be is different as possible. They have sue
ceeded admirably Surveying the work of their
imagination and finding ii good they lost no time
in spreading the gospel widecast bearing the
cahaiiistfc symbols "A. L.
Comes now President Taft, titular leader of
the party which chose Abraham Lincoln It's rrst
leader and elected him president, painfully seek
ing to demonstrate the absurd theory that the
Republican party is the heir of Its builder. 1t
la enough to cause explosion Of sufficient force
to blow Oyster Bay into the Atlantic Ocean.
What in the name of Dear Maria mas the Re
publican party TO do with Lincoln? Lincoln?
The G. o. P. knows not his name, All fads and
heresfes can be hung upon HIS angular frame.
but this cannot be. Lincoln knew oniy pro-
gressive ideas, and only progressives with CAPT
taI "P'-always excepting Battle Bob Of Wis
consin--can claim to be his heirs Lincoln can
be forced into fatherhood of all ideas, however
contradictory OF themselves and OF Lincoln's
written word. but only party call him
author and that party is patented and owned
by one man and is yclept progressive It mat
tiers not what Lincoln said. thought or did. It
matters not that he fashioned the Republican
party and gave It strength wherewith to with
stand all the assaults of the rebels and sons of
rebels 1t matters not that an assassin's bullet
sst short his life years before the distributor of
tariff spolls had became an ohlcehoder and had
repudiated his free trade thsortas. The Pro-
gressives alone arc the representatives OF the
men of Ancolns day, who upheld the hands of
lincoln" None others need apply, though Battle
Bob may be admitted TO the aute-room.
II is use, Mr. Taft Wide IL the ded
cred by Lincolns all embracing mind and men OF
all opinions may occupy the limitess area pro
yided they brand themselves Progressives and
submit to "the logical leaders" but it is not
for camping ground for Republicans Demo
gratis any other. These must get off the earth
ard join Tom Jeifersons ghost in his corner,