Pioneer press. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1882-19??, 1914-04-11
LINCOLN ON THE
EQUALITY! A | |. ! Of D men
AND the SUI !.
FRACE.

cal fence who quote Mr.. Lincoln "a
speeches, to show where he stood or the
question Of the equality of all men
under the Declaration Of independence
and the constitution of the United
States. for some reason pass over a
speech which he delivered when can-
didnte for the u. 8. Senate in opposition
to Stephen A. Douglas. when he said :
These communities (the thirteen colo.
niee) by their representatives In old
Independence Hall. said to the WHOLE
WORLD Of MEN: We hold these truths
o be self evident: that all men are Gre
ated equal; that they are endowed by
their Creator with certain inaliena-
BILE ri9ht.; hat among these arc life,
liberty and the pursuit of happiness :"
This waa their majestic Interpretation
OF the economy Of the Universe This
WAS their lofty and wise and noble un-
d-rs,aniing of the JUSTICE IF tho GRE
Aroato HE creatures.
Yes vent.emen TO ALL his Creatures-
to The WHOLE great FAMILY OF MAN. 10
their enlightened belief with the Divine
image and likeness was sent into the
world to be trodden on, and
d eHr q ed and m ru t q
by It. f. eilnws They grasped not only
the whole rnce Of men then living. but
they reached for ward and seized upon
the farthest posterity They created q
beacon to guide their children and their
children's children and the countlces
mvriads " wbo should inhabit the earth
fn other ages.
= Wise statesman rs they were, they
knew the tendency OF prosperity to
breed tyraDts. and 80 they established
these great self evident truths, that
when in the distant future some man.
some faction some interest should set
up the doctrine. that none but rich
men. Or none but white men, or none
but Auglo.Saxon white men, were enti-
tied 10 life, liberty and the pursuit of
happiness, their .posterity might look
up again to the Declaration of Inde-
pendence and take courage to renew
the battle which their fathers began
50 that truth, and justice. and mercy,
and oil the humane and christian vir-
tues might not be extinguished from
the land; 50 that DO man would her reaf-
ter dare 10 limit and circumscribe the
great principles on which the temple of
liberty was being built.
Now my couutryme if you have
been taught doctrines conflicting with
the great landmarks Of the DeoIarati ton
Of Independence, if you have listened
to suggestions which would take away
from it's grandeur, and mutilate the
fair symmetry Of it's proportions; if you
have been inclined to believe that all
men are not created equal in those
inalienable rights enumerated by our
chart Of liberty, let me eutreas you to
come back. Return to the fountain
whose waters spriDg close by the blood
OF the Revolution. Think nothing of
me-take no thought for the political
fate Of any man whomsoe but come
back to the truths that are in the Decla.
ration Of Independence. You may do
anything with me you choose, IL you
will but heed these sacred PRINCIPLES
You may not only defeat me for the
Senate; but you may take me out and
put me.to death. While pretending no
ind ference to earthly honors, 1 do
claim to be actuated in this contest BY
something higher than an anxiety for
Office. charge you to drop every pal.
try and insignifioant thought for any
mans success. 1t is nothing; am
nothing; Judge Douglas is nothing.
BUT DO NOT DESTROY THAT IMMORTAL
emblem Of HUNANITY-the Declaration
Of Indrpendence!"
This speech should occupy place
beside the famous utterancs at Gettys.