The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-02-27
R abb GOLDBERG s
DELIVERS STRONG
ADDRESS ON LIFE
ABRAHAM LINCOLN

Rabbi David Goldberg, who visits
Ardmore once every TWO weeks. foi
the purpose of conducting services at
the local Jewish temple. recently de-
livered eulogy on Abraham Lincoln
touching that martyred presidents
life from new viewpoint, and bring
ing out many interesting facts. l1N
tracts from the sermon are as fol-
lows:
The Foremost American
February the Twelfth will forever
remain a momentous day in Ameri-
can history, for ON that day, one
hundred and eleven years ago, Abra-
ham Lincoln was given to the worll
in perpetuity. Friends of American
freedom everywhere will turn this
day into an occasion on which 20 re
affirm their allegiance 10 the splen-
did idealism exemplified in the life
and work Of Abraham Lincoln ano
reconsecrate themselves to the yindi-
cation of the larger Americanisan for
which he had fought.
OF Abraham Lincoln, as of no other
president in the past, it may be truth
fully said that, by his prodigious ply
sical strength, by dhe breadth Of his
moral vision, and by his readiness al
all times to sacrifice himself for the
viIidication-of right and justice he had
typifieds1he potential American nation
itself, 4 nation of small beginnings
% Iad fnnf
fibre. be had started out with
handful Of prosecuted Immigrants fu-
gitives from the oppression OF the old
world. but il has grown and expanded
and developed into the physical coios-
sus OF today. strong enough TO arbi-
trate the disputes Of a whole world.
And those who read the annals of his
tory Understandings will even say
that America OF today is what the gen
JUS OF Abraham Lincoln had willed II
to be in his own day.
Iimcolns position as a maker OF
American history can not be doubted
in the face of the fact that tho very
appellation United States Of America
owes its preservation of his lifelong
efforts. It was Lincoln who saved
nur country from the spirit OF sec
tioninn and localis1m that, in his days,
have threatened TO engulf the idea
of United States of America. For
that is what, in the last analysis, lay
at the root Of the Civil War; it was
not so much tho question of freeing
ayowed slaves, as It was tho question
more important question, of freeing
I. hn,,
degradation Of corrupt ideas of state
hood that have been encroachlne
upon our land and its institutions fol-
some decades prior to the Civil War
Had il not been for the genius of Lin
coin instead of United States ol
America, we would have at least two
but possibly even more dtSlnited Ut
tie commonwealths, an East and
South, West and North, Jealou:
and impotent little countries. instead
OF the One Nation Indivisible Of to
day. In other words. the history o
Europe would have repeated itsel
on this bright side Of the globe
history fhl Of inherent entanglemcnt
and inev table catrstrophies.
Abraham Lincoln had willed TO giv'
our history another direction, n bet
ter and safer course, no that w
might steer toward union, instead
disunion, and he thus saved US TO
all generations 10 come from IN
agencies OF the history of Europe
For IL was because Europe had neVe
been blessed with the guidance
n man OF the genius of Lincoln tina
its inhabitants, originally kin To on
another In blood and interests nav
been allowed, in the course of genera
Tons, 20 drift hopclessly apart fror
lille sovereign groups upon which IN
big sovereign groups could teed an
thrive, until Europe has thus bee
converted into standing batteieI
for ceaselcss wars--wars waged in IN
name O, artifcialH cultivated sepli
ale national interests, bIt as To ihel
origin. nothing but sublidated pF'
ylncallsm And America too !
the days OF Lincoln, was drifting. u
sheer inertia, as II were, towhi
separatlsm. 1t was running Win IN
tide OF Europe, and that tide woul
have indeed erguli,d the nation, wct
il not SO timely and so effectivci
stemmed by the sublime genius or IN
sublimest uf presidents.
Abraham Lincoln has given dire'
ton to the history of the Unite
states OF America, and he will thcr'
fore remain the grandest mstor
figure on cur annals. Should We
asked why II is that, year In year ou
Americans and lovers of freedom II
world over gather lo celebrate u
hhchday OF man who is no long
among the living we would reply
il because men Of the caiisre Ut
worth Of Abraham Lincoln, once 81
on to posterlty, are never taken aw'
from II. as the spirit that animate
them while on earth Is left 40 anima
generations TO come, Men Of the ca
bre and worth OF Abraham Limo
are given to pcstcrity in perpatuit
they thus have hrihday. hut'nes