Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1916-02-26
TWO STATESMEN
BY Angeline Zelibar.

A great similarity of character eX-
listed between Americas greatest pa
triots - Washington and Lincoln.
Both were conscientious workers for
her welfare and, in the execution of
their duty TO their country, suffered
very much. Washington, though OPP
posed to a secession from Britain
felt that it was his duty. to lead the
revolution for the abused rights OF
his fellow colonists, and being his
work, though an unpleasant one, he
did not hesitate to discharge faithful
ly its hard and trying office. That
one noble sense of duty kept up Wa
shington's spirit during the terrible
winter at Valley Forge, and other
critical places where fortune appa-
rently had left him. Being brave,
prudent, God-abiding and above all
persevering in all his undertakings
it was but natural that he influenced
his followers to be likewise, and by
so doing terminated successfully the
war for independence. 1t was Wa
shington who founded and moulded
into its primitive form, the Republic
of which we are now so justly proud
and TO whom no other nation dare
bid defiance. Washington it is true,
had many advantages. He was quite
well educated, considering the times,
and of an aristocratic family of very
comfortable means, thus atfording
the first president the oppor tunity of
minglng with people of consequence
from whom he could gather ideas.
The chief factor of his success during
the war as well as in his terms as
chief executive of the United States
was that his countrymen had unlimi-
ted confidence in him, and his labors
being for their common good. they
served him and shared his failures
and successes.
In marked contrast with Washing
toms environment. were those of the
preseTyer of the nation, which the
other had built-Lineoh. Born Of
extremely poor parents and afforded
only the scant rudiments of COM
mon education, it was for this patrI-
OF to act upon his own limited resour-
ces to become what he did in history.
He, when young, realized the poor
condition of las country, better than
most men of his time, and resolved to
remedy it. He made good his resolve
though after severe hardships: for
unlike Washington, he had for enc
mics the majority of the citizens, who
opposed him not for his personal qua
lities, but for the cause he espoused
that OF preserving the Union which
could not be done under existence of
slavery. 1t was evident to Lincoln
that his duty lay in preserving the
Union by ent4rely abolishing slavery
or so moderstiGg 1t, that all states
would be satisfied. As Washington 8
ability. prescience and perseverance
made his life successful, so too. did
the same qualities in Lincoln bring
him 10 the zenith of a statesman =
magnanimous ambition Unlike the
end of Washington career was that
of Lincoln. The former died nat
ural death surrounded by friends, the
latter died by the weapon of IA ruffian
who, being himself a villain could not
appreciate the virtues of honesty,
perseverance and industry in one.
who was by birth. man to man. equal
to him, but in character by far his
superior.
Both men were great. Neither was
greater. Each lived and did his du-
ty, though according to the different
periods in which they lived. they did
it in . different way. What is great
err than the doing of ones duty?
Though one was an aristocrat, and
the other common man. both are
loved by the succeeding generations
with the strongest affection that can
be bestowed upon departed uuSelfish
self-sacrifieing statesmen.