The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-05-13

of military training like Switzerland
we never would have a war. The train
ing itself would be of incalculable
value to our young men. 1t would
teach them the lessons of discipline
and obedience. and, above all things. it
would impress upon them the suprem-
acy of the law. 1t would promote
democratic equality and remove class
prejudices. In the same tent would
be the son of the lawyer and the me-
chanic. the son of the college professor
and the farmer. "Comrade." with all
that means of mutual understanding.
mutual help. mutual regard and mutual
devotion to each other and the COM
mon welfare. would insure the safety,
peace and progress Of the republic.
Next to Washington. Lincoln is more
quoted in this great crisis than any
statesman in any country. His name is
frequently heard in the house o. COM
mons and in the French Chamber of
Deputies. AsQuith and Lloyd George
have both fortified their position by
Lincoln. and so has BRAND in France.
The most influential Of the serious
publications of Great Britain has con-
densed it's views and it's advice to
Lloyd George on becoming practical
dictator by re-publishing the letter so
wonderful in it's frankness and human
nature of President Lincoln to Gen.
eral Hooker when he placed Hooker in
supreme command. There is no hui.
man document like it,
We are dangerously idealizing Lin
coin. His last birthday a few months
ago was fruitful in alleged and impos-
sible utterances and action. These ut
terances and actions, If Lincoln were
alive, would make him fearful of his
fame and wonder who the authors and
speakers had in mind. knew Mr.. Lin
coin and with considerable intimacy
his surroundings. was secretary of
state of New York during part of his
administration and much in Wash
ington. l was a devoted adherent and
admirer of Lincolns secretary OF state,
William II. Seward. 1t was also my
privilege to know well his secretary OF
of the treasury Salmon p. Chase.
Lincoln A Miracle.
We can account as IA rule easily for
self-made men. but Lincoln was a
miracle. No man ever rose to such
great heights from such unpromising
beginnings and surroundings. He had
all the strength of character, the abil-
ity to resist temptation, the discrimi-
nation between right and wrong and
the inflexible loyalty to the right which
characterized the pilgrim Puritans of
Plymouth Rock. On the other hand.
he never rose above or got away from.
or tried to, contact with the plain peo-
pie among whom he was born and with
whom he passed his cary life. This
discipline and experience were of in
calculable value when he became
president of the United States, be-
cause he knew how the average
man and woman would think and
act in any conditions. The re-
suit was that he could always
appeal to the common sense of the
crowd and overthrow all his adversa-
res by putting his thoughts into words
and illustrations familiar to the ordi-
nary mind.
Nineteen hundred and seventeen
VIII live through the ages as the most
trasical and productive of years. 1t
includes the realization OF 10 centuries
OF hope and aspirations. Ideals have
become realities. The impossible Of
the past is the automatic function of
the present. The Easter of the Cross
was failure with the world in the
thraldom of autocracy, tyranny and
despair. but it's dynamic truth work.
ing through war, revolutions and sac
rifiees have made the Easter of today
the millennium of liberty.
1t Is glorious privilege to live now.