New Britain herald., 1917-02-19
urges PEOPLE TO
EMULATE LINCOLN
Former Attorney General Speaks
at Patriotic Gathering

John H. Light. former attorney
general of the State Of Connecticut,
spoke to representative gathering
of the patriotic orders of the city
yesterday afternoon at the South
congregational church on Lincoln
and Americanism.' Mr.. Light said
he considers Abraham Lincoln the
greatest man that the world has
seen since the time of Christ
Mr.. Light said that Abraham Lin
coin, the martyr, was a much greater
factor in the history of America than
was Abraham Lincoln the president.
If you can find the right side of a
mans nature you can tell what his
future will be. he claimed. No ma
ton or man can make permanent
progress who does not place emphasis
on the spiritual side of life. In both
the lives of Washington and Lincoln
emphasis was placed on the spiritual
side Of life, said the speaker. The
United States might suffer the same
fate that Rome suffered but the
names of Washington and Lincoln
would never be forgotten.
In comparing the two men. Mr..
Light said that they were both born
in the same month but Washington
was the father of the country while
Lincoln was it's saviour. Washington
could not have performed the work
that Lincoln did and neither could
Lincoln have performed the work of
Washington. Washington was
wealthy man and the early part of
life. lived under monarchy while
Lincoln was nearer to the people and
was born in the back woods.
Lincoln was a firm believer in the
Declaration of Independence while
Washington was more interested in
the Constitution, Mr.. Light said. The
political ideas of both men were de-
rived from their study of the respec-
tive documents. Both men were
large and the Almighty selected them
for the work that they accomplished.
Lincoln said the speaker, twas
a typical democrat while Washington
was an aristocrat. Lincoln had more
feeling for the needs of the country
than did Washington but neverthe-
less one was as great in his way as
the other
Lincoln differed from the average
man in that the average man never
acquires much after he reaches
twenty-fiv years of age. With Lin
always learning and gradually de-
veloping. He had less than a years
schooling but he was not an ignora-
nous; he was a learned man. Lin
coin was a man that absorbed know
ledge and was the most gifted man
in governmental history. w..
Lincoln was honest, affectionate
and q perfect Christian and there was
no place in his life where he let his
prejudices get the best of his better
judgment stated Mr.. Light. He was
born among men who had many vices
but he never contracted any of them.
While not a member of any church
he was{a perfect Christian.
''In these times when the patriotism
of Americans must come to the front
it is we'll to think of Lincoln and re-
member how he acted. Roosevelt
said that he met many big problems
during his administration but before
he did these things he thought what
would Lincoln have done?"
There are some who would have
peace at any cost but not SO Abraham
Linco1n-he wanted peace with
honor The men of today should up
hold the honor of the country as
there is nothing else in the world
that will take it's place. 1t is far bet
ter to die for a good cause than to
be Inundated"
! Mr.. Light said that he wished that
, every man could emulate Abraham
| Lincoln and then there would be no
need to fear for the future. eff Lin
coin made his day heroic why cant
we make today the same? The people
| can make it so if they imbibe the
spirit of Lincoln he concluded.
The proposed dear involving the