Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-07
LESSONS OF LINCOLN
NEEDED BY AMERICA
]. y. OConnor, Speaking at Tomb
OF Emunctpator, Says Ills Spirit
Is Ever Present.
LEADS INNER Soul or NATION
No Difference Ia EnsIavement OF
Negro aud EnsIaycmeDt Germany
breaches and Practices In Rel
GUM, France, Serbia and Armenia.

SPRINGFIELD, ILL, Deco mbcr g.
Standing at the tomb OF Abraham Lon
coin to-day, r. T.. OConnVr. member
"f :lH British Parliament. declared ir
~ address that there never was II mo-
incnt In the history of this country
Since the death Of the illustriou3 man
~ whose ashes VIC stand to-day when
:hc inspiration Jnd lessons o. his life
we're more needed by his people and
his country"
AS man." declared Mir. O'Connor.
Lincoln stands as much alive as
though he were still among US. lie
Is d flaming torch which leads on the
inner soul of every American. whether
liz Is standing by tho homo: OF his
country in his work at home or march
Ing over barbed-wrc trenches; against
shell aud cannon. to wounds or death.
What American can be cowardly wacn
his courage inspires? What America
can be selfish when his utter UnSeltsh-
ness IS recorded in every page of his
history? What American can prefer
III" claims Of ambition or party in face
OF his forSctfu!nesS OF all personal
and partisan feeling before AN impcril-
Cd nation: What American can enter
tain or tolerate the very thought OF
divided ;tlleEiarcc in face OF his
passionate patriotism and OF the in
Ac3ibic resolution with which lie fought
Tor united nation?
Can am man doubt where he would
stand IL in the crisis through which
MS country is now passing he vas stiil
it's ruler: What was tho frs. and
'aoSt fundamental of Lincoln's convic-
lions? Vas it not passionate love OF
iihorty and passionate hatred 0! slave
~? Is there am difference in essen
tia!a between the cEslavc3rcnt OF tho
:teGro and such cnslavcmcnt As Ger
many to-day breaches in lie: gospel
or world Domination. and practices
While her sinister mastery lasts in
Sclsium. France and Serbia, al her
blood stained partner does IN the plains
and mountains of Armenia
To-day, as Lincoln said. Two p.in-
ciplos stand face to face and will ever
continue to struggle. the common right
Or humanity and the Giv!n" right OF
hi7s.. or, aa We would say tic Kaiser
and Tic liberty OF the world To-day
;t3 Lincoln said. there is bat QUO duty
to tight II Is true to-day. as il ,ras
IN Linco!na day, that though hitherto
n III: worlds history Nigh, made
tight. II is for Us and for our times
TO reverse the maIin, and 70 show thu;
right makes might.
81 know lie said, that liberty is
right and SO do We. Like hir,. VIC
hope that peace VIII como soon. ,ut.
IKE MIN. We wait il 80 10 cou,c "a
20 nc werth the keeping IN all fu,ur:
i!mc. Finally. can VIC do better than
obey the tni?crishablc appeal fror. Get.
iyaburg to Dedicate ourselves 50 tha,
'ho nattcn may have a new birth Of
i!c-dcIn.' and that the government OF
nc r.or!c by the peo3ic. and FOR us
nceplv. shall no: perish from TIC
c;,r,l'?
Sriri; Ut Li.coin. DO rot cal! upv-l
ecu {" come TO-DAY 20 ua from iii
'onb II yours. Ioi.r upiri, liza. never
Loft W. in hours Of aoiiti!dc r.hcr we
AZ" thrown bHcil on our Own sorIs.
that spiri, la; crcr whispered t. o..
inner car words OF comfort and appeal.
Rather. Let ne sa3 to YOU: paoprc that
II Is Tor tncr' IL hc Of and H. ana
With your spirit. 80 that, like .ou.
ih"% may bc worth" Of this c-ca, ho:-
N their history. and. like Jor, be read,
to ",rivo, and hope and suffer 10 tnc