The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1917-02-15
NEW LIGHT ON !.
GREAT PRESIDENT
Ex-eov. SHAW SAYS LINCOLN
WAS NOT HAoLlTioNIsT.
SAYS HE WAS CONSERVATIVE
Praise the Emanoipator at Lincoln
Memorial University at Cumber-
land Gap-Hoped For Ultimate
Adjustment Of Slavery.

i | 0umUeFlalu Zap, 1enn., req. H.
Leslie NJ. Shaw, former secretary OF
the treasury and former governor of
iowa, who spoke at Sundays ceremo-
MES in celebration of the twentieth
anniversary of the founding of the
Lincoln Memorial university, dis
cussed Lincoln in a new light. Mr.
Shaw, explaining that everyone who
attempts some revolutionary policy
claims some similarity between him
self and Lincoln, devoted his address
to pointing out what Lincoln, did not
believe, touch or do"
He was not an abolitionist," said
Mr.. Shaw. "He never belonged to
or affiliated with the abolition party.
The platform on which MIR. Lincoln
was elected was not an abolition
platform. Mr.. Lincoln set his face
EstrongIy against the spread of slay-
cry. and his party promised that all
free soil should remain free. Thus
| far, but no farther was it's position
( 1T is undoubtedly true that Mr..
Lincoln hoped for and expected ulti-
mate adjustment Of slavery, for he
expressed the opinion that the nation
could not continue part slave and part
| free. But, If he ever so much as in
! timated how that end might be at
! tanned, it has never been recorded. 1t
is noteworthy, however, that he sign
! cd the emancipation proclamation with
many misgivings and after much de-
/ lay. The abolition of slavery by pro-
clamation was a war measure and an
! incident of the war. The states
which sought severance from the un-
ion were quite as much disp!eased on
account of'thc protective tariff as up
on the issue of slavery, When the |,
constitution of the confedcracy was
adopted it expressly prohibited a pro-
tcctivc tariff and guaranteed slavery. |
Lincoln a Conservative.
Mr.. Lincoln believed in three CO
ordinate branches OF government, and !
he did not believe in any subordinate
branch. He did not believe that the
judiciary should advise the congress =,
or the executive. He did not be-
lieye that the congress should inter .
fere with the Interpretation or the
administration of the laws which it ,
saw fit to enact and he did not be-
lfeve the executive should attempt to
dictate to the courts or make ap-
pointments to the bench with a view
of securing certain interpretations
of statutes, nor did he believe that
the executive should coercc the con-
gress or lobby the enactment of
laws.
In other words, Mr. Lincoln was
4 conservative of the most pronounced ,
type, an uncompromising protection
list and an American. He believed .
in peace, but in peace with victory,
for he wrote to Charles Francis Ad-
ans, our ambassador to England, as
follows: ~ /
If the British government in any
way approach you, directly or indi-
rectly, with propositions which as
sumo or contemplate an appeal to
the president on the subject of our 9
internal affairs, whether it seems to
imply purpose to dictate, or to me
date or to advise, or even to solicit
or persuade, you will answer that you
are forbidden to debate, to hear, or in
any way to receive, entertain or
transmit any communication of the
kind.
1T requires somewhat more than
deep interest in man as man,
somewhat more than an abiding love
OF country, somewhat more than set
tied convictions, to establish a simil-
itude with Abraham Lincoln"
Lincoln, the Orator.
A score or more of FIVE minute adj
dresses modelled on the brevity Of /
Lincoln's Gettysburg address consti- i
tutcd feature of the celebration.
Lincoln, the Orator" was the sub
jcct Of one of these short addresses
by Congressman Charles II. Sloan OF
Nebraska, who said:
Lincoln was invited to speak at
Cooper, institute, New York City. in
1860. Again his fearing friends said;
DO not go to New York. 1t is the
home of Seward That speech made
at Cooper institute win defeat you,
Again he had confidence in himself
and his cause. He went. He made |
that memorable speech. That speech
made him the presidential nominee. !
He revealed new and strange powers
of oratory to the east. 1t was not the /
forid or trite utterance OF the south. !
II was not the keen classic analysis /
of the east. 1t was that direct and
convincing expression OF the west
proceeding from clear brain |
prompted BY good heart, that sway
ed the Judgment ana clinched con- |
viction Throughout all Lihcoln's !
speeches. either in debate with Doug
las. at Cooper institute. or laterin his
masterpiece at Gettysburg his ex-
preston was lucid and strong, his
establishment was through IDEAS
rather than words, These illuminr
|aiea rnihcr Than adorned his central
stsx,lsn4iffnn fln fhe fnaf fannfion ad :