The St. Joseph observer., 1920-04-24
IINCo1N's ADVICE Is coon now

IINCOL.N's ADVICE IL GOOD NOW
In the present period when labor
conditions are at their worst--when
industries are paralyzed from, or
through, the last great unneeded strike
when there is such labor unrest
as the world has never before known
when no employer of labor knows
what the next day may bring forth
il might be well to call to mind the
grand adviCe of the martyred presi-
dent Lincoln-the fifty-fifth anniver-
sary oc whose death was observed
last week-which he shortly before
his tragic end gave to the workmen
of this country, for to the mind Of the
humber folk Of all civilized lands he
perhaps typifies democracy in its
highest and best sense as no other
typifies it. In life he was a great
democrat not only: he was a great
Humanitarian as well.
Lincoln's words have always been
instructive and helpful. for he was a
man who held his finger on the ma
tion's pulse-and could feel the pull
sations Of the masses as keenly as a
tried physician could that Of his pa
tient. He was a man who had faith
in the common people; he was Of
them. he understood them, he sympa-
thized with their hopes and aspira-
tions, and he believed that it was their
duty 10 use all lawful means to better
their condition. He rejected, how
ever. the doctrine that, in a democracy
such as ours the poor should seek
redress Of their wrongs by resort to
force. The words he spoke to a depu-
tation of workmen that called upon
him at the White House in 1864 are
30 wise, so royal in their dignity, so
pregnant with logic. so illuminated by
the light OF a broad humanity" that
avery AHAarican woTAma AZ. III IN ss.e
days OF social and industrial unrest.
OF bolsheyism. of the red menace"
should carefully read them and take
their lesson to heart. He said:
None are so deeply Interested to
resist the present rebellion as the
working people. Let them beware Of
prejudices working dsunion and hos
tility among themselves. The most
notable feature Of a disturbance in
your city last summer was the hang
ing Of some working people by other
working people. 1t should never he
SO. The strongest iona OI human
sympathy, outside Of the family rela-
tiou, should be one uniting all work
ing people. OF all nations and tongues
and kiudrcds. Nor should this lead
% a war upon property or the owners
OF property. Property is the fruit of
labor; property is desirable is a posi-
tive good in the world. That some
should be rich shows that others may
l,come rich. and hence. is Just en-
C,urngcment to industry and enter
prise. Let not him who is houseless
pun down the house Of another, but
let him labor diligently and build one
FOR himself thus by example assur.
ing that his own shall be safe from
violence when built
No more humane advice could be
given 10 workngmen than this-no
social economist could or ever has
equalled it,
Through priyations and hardships
lincoln by his own force Of mind and
character had come up from the OK
treme depths Of poverty to the high
est place that any man could occupy
the presidency Of the United States
Full well he knew what it meant for
one TO earn his bread by the sweat
Of his face. lie knew what adyersi-
ties. what discouragemcuts, what sor-
rows the worlds toilers have to meet
IN their struggle for existence. And
yet were he living today ne would
have no sympathy with those who
seek TO overthrow by force the demo
cratic institutions Of the country he
loved so passiOnatyly and served So
we'll 40 man ever had deeper
sympathy with the poor and the op-
pressed. nor dii any man ever try
harder to better rho condition NJ those
who travail and are ho1yy-Tadcn. %
But he had a profound respect for the
rights of property and for the orderly
pr"ra=so- of governments and were he
living today ~" would rrpwu upon and
resist w.-f nU h.- NIGH. those who
preach the uu-Amorlna,u doctrine that