The New York herald., 1920-01-28
Revolution or Rebellion.


This country, with it's institutions,
belongs to the people who inhabit it.
Whenever they shall grow weary of
the existing government, they can ex-
ercise their constitutional right of
amending it or their revolutionary
right to diSmember or overthrow it.
From Lincoln's First Inaugural
In the discussion of the social and gov.
ernmental problems arising out of war
conditions and world unrest much is made
of the above extract from Mr.. Lincoln s
first inaugural 1t is quoted by the de-
tenders of what might be called the doc
trine of "new freedom" or personal lib
erty" or constitutional rights" Mr.. Lin
coins words-"or their revolutionary
right to dismember or overthrow it'-are
seized upon as a justification of any con-
duct by citizen or group of citizens and
denial Of the right of established gov
ernment or the majority to interfere.
| It is dangerous to extract one sentence
from a writing or speech without refer
ence to the context or surroundings, and
| draw conclusions therefrom. Mr.. Lin
coins statement taken by itself Is true.
The right of people to engage in revolu-
ton is sacred. Three revolutions, great
and successful-the American, English
and French-testify to this inherent right.
Mr.. Lincoln was dealing with rebellion,
not revolution--two very different things.
In the same inaugural from which the
above extract is taken Mr.. Lincoln said
In view OF the constitution and the
laws the Union is unbroken and to
the extent of nv ability I shall take
care that the laws of the Union be
faithfully executed in all the States.
If the minority will not ac-
quiesce, the majority must or the
government must cease Plainly
the controlling idea of secession is
anarchy. +" - Rejecting the ma
jority principle, anarchy or despotism
in some form is all that Is left
In later message to Congress Mr..
Lincoln said
1t presents the question whether
discontented individuals, too few in
numbers to control administration ac-
cordipg to organic law in any case,
can always, upon the pretense made
in this case, or any other preteuses, or
arbitrarily without any pretense,
break up this government and thus
practically put an end to free govern
ment upon the earth. Must govern
ment. of necessity, be too strong for
the people or too weak to maintain
its own existence?
1t is worthy of serious consideration
Reds" or Radicals" or "Bolshevists'
or Communists or left Wing Social
lists" as they are variously called, is a
revolution or rebellion. Revolution is
"a change in the form of government or
constitution, or change of rulers other
wise than as provided by the laws Of
succession, election, &C." A rebellion is
deliberate organized resistance by
force of arms to the laws or operations
of government by those who owe it
obedience"
A revolution, IL successful, Is the act of
n majority. A rebellion is the act of a
minority. The one is an inherent right
yet must be sustained by majority The
other is violation of the rule of the
ajority and should be suppressed. That
was Mr.. Lincoln's doctrine. The right to
engage in a revolution is not denied. The
right of forcible opposition to such revo-
luton cannot be denied. Usually revo-
lutions do not succeed unless it is clearly
shown that the minority is attempting
unlawfully and unjustly to rule the ma
jority.
Is not the present crisis rebellion
rather than n revolution? Is it not "a
deliberate organized resistance by force to
the laws and operation of the government
by those who owe ii obedience?" If so,
Mr.. Lincoln's whole life stands ont in pro-
test. IL so, no loyal American can defend
the sort or personal liberty" and CON
stitutional right" demanded by the rebels.
The loudest proclaimers against the gov
ernment, against its laws and institu-
tions, are those who have sworn allc-
glance to it-who owe it obedience.
If rebellion is at the door Of America
there is just one way to handle 1.-THE
Lincoln way.