Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-02-12


II is a pertinent question, often
asked in the mind. privately and from
one to another. when is the war to
end? Surely feel as deep an interest
In this question as any other can, but
l do not wish to name n day. a month
or year when II Is to end.
We accepted this war for an object. a
worthy object. and the war will end
when that object is attained Under
God hope 1t never will end until that
time. This war has taken three years,
and Tor the American people. as far
as my knowledge enables me to speak.
l say We are going through IL It takes
three years more.
PEACE
Peace does not appear so distant
as 1t did. i hope 1t will come soon
and come to stay, and so come as to
be worth the keeping In all future
time.
From letter written August 20. 1868.
ON THE DRAFT
We are contending with an enemy,
who. as / understand, drives every
ranks, very much as a butcher drives
bullocks into a slaughtering pen. No
time is wasted. no argument Is used.
This produces an army which will soon
turn upon our own victorious soldiers,
already in the field, IL they shall not
be sustained by recruits, as they
should be. 1t produces an army with
rapidity not to be matched on our
side, If we first waste time to experi-
ment with the volunteer system al
ready deemed by Congress. and pal
pably, In fact, so far exhausted as to
be inadequate, and then more time
to obtain court decision as to
whether law Is constitutional which
requires part of those not now In the
service to go to the aid OF those who
are already in II, and still more time
to determine with absolute certainty
that we get those who are to go In
the precise legal proportion to those
who are not to 60. My purpose Is to
be in my action just and constitute
tional. and yet practical, In perform
ing the important duty with which I
am charged. of maintaing the unity
and free principles OF our common
country.
From letter to Governor Of New York.
August. 1858, refusing to suspend the draft
law in that State.
on ENFORCED SERVICE
do not say that all who would
avoid serving in the war are unpatri-
otic: but l do think every patriot
should willingly take his chance un-
der a law made with great care In
order to secure entire fairness. The
principle Of the draft, which simply is
involuntary or enforced service. is not
new 1t has been practiced in all
ages of the world. 1t was well known
to the trainers Of our Constitution as
one of the modes Of raising armies at
the time they placed in that instru-
ment the provision that Congress
shall have power to raise and support
armies" II had been used Just be-
fore in establishing our independence,
and it also was used under the Con-
stituton In 1912. Wherein is the Pc
culiar hardship now? Shall we shrink
from the necessary means to maintain
our free government which our grand
fathers employed to establish It and
our own fathers have already en-
poyed once to maintain it? Are we
degenerate? Has the manhood of our
race run out? With these views and
on these principles feel bound to tell
you 1t is my purpose to see the draft
law faithfully executed.
From a written speech never printed.
THE SOLDIER
This extraordinary war In which
we are engaged falls heavily upon all
classes Of people. but most heavily
upon the soldiers. For 1t has been
said all that a man hath will he give
for his life: and while all contribute
Of their substance. the soldier puts
his life at stake and often yields 1t
up in his country's cause. The high
est merit, then. is due the soldier.
March 10. 1854. at a fair for sick an,
wounded soldiers.
AN APPEAL TO PATRIOTISM
There Is enough yet before us re-
quiring all loyal men and patriots to
perform their share OF the labor and
sink all personal considerations for
the sake of .le country.
May. 1864. at white House after Bat
tie Of Wilderness.
THE REAL SOVEREIGN 20.
A majority hele in restraint by
constitutional check Limitation and
always changing easily with deliberate
changes of popular opinions and sem
timents is the only true sovereign of
free people.
From nrst inaugural address.
WAR BONDS
The public debt on the first day of
July last, as appears by the books Of
the Treasury. amounted TO $1.740.690,-
4S949. Probably should the war
continue for another year, that
b amount may be increased by not far
from $500, 100000. Held. as II is,
for the most part. by our own people.
II has become substantial branch OF
national, although private property
For obvious reasons the more nearly
this property can be distributed
among the people the better. To favor
such general distribution greater In
ducements to become owners might,
perhaps with good effect and without
injury, be presented to persons of lin
tied means. with this view I sug-
gest whether II might not be both
competent and expedient for Congress
to provide that limited amount Of
some future issue of public securities
might be held by any bona fde pur-
chaser exempt from taxation and from
seizure for debt under such restric-
tions and limitations as might be nec-
essary to guard against abuse OF so
important a privilege. This would
enable every prudent person to set
aside a small annuity against a possi-
BILE day of want. Privileges like
these would render the possession Of
such securities to the amount limited
most desirable for every person OF