East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1922-02-13
LINCOLN, AMERICAN

M hundred and thirteen years ago yesterday, in a little,
rude hut on a frontier farm in the primeval wilderness of
Hardin county, Kentucky, was born the babe destined to
become the most honored of American national heroes.
On February IL, 1909, Abraham Lincoln made his obscure
entry into this world and today we like to acclaim him the ideal
highest exemplifcation of the greatness to which a citizen Of
this country may attain, no mater how lowly his birth or how
barren his family Of wealth, position and influence.
The career of the Great Emancipation is recorded into history
as an everlasting monument to the truth and ~rightness of a gov
eminent founded on the principle that all men are created
equal. When men of radical persuasion point to flaws in our
political system, when they draw attention to evils which are
apparent to all, and, because of these things, condemn the form
of government in the United States and brand it a failure, let
others point to Abraham Lincoln as the answer and ask, Where
is there another government which would permit of such a ca
reer, where else in all this wide world could a man, born in ex-
IRENE poverty, surrounded by the darkest ignorance and handi-
capped by every difficulty and obstacle which attach to poverty
and ignorance rise by sheer might of personal effort to the high
est office within the gift OF a people?
The life of Lincoln testifies abundantly to the possibilities
which open to a citizen of the United States, and a study of his
life will yield the fullest knowledge of the essentials to success
in this country. The constitution does not guarantee success to
any man, does not insure that every citizen shall mount to an
equality of estate and circumstances with all other citizens. 1t
simply recognizes the equality of his birth and secures for him
certain inahenable rights and liberties and an opportunity to
seek happiness and welfare without unnatural and artificial re-
strichons.
1t presents opportunity but leaves it to the individual to take
advantage of that opportunity. 1t says to every citizen, ON
this country you can become Just what you can make of your
self. The opportunity is offered to you to develop to the fullest
whatever genius, whatever abilities, whatever qualities of lead
ership lie dormant in you. But the energy for attaining this 4
velopment must come from within yourself. The determining
factors are your own aspirations, your own initiative and your
own application"
Iincoln's steady progress from h~umbleness and obscurty to
fame and immortality furnishes irrefutablc evidence of what
can be accomplished when to American opportunity is added
human energy. No citizen of this country, who takes his in
SEPARATION from the career of Lincoln, who adopts the standards
of Lincoln, who adopts the standards of Lincoln as his guide
posts, who learns from a study of his life the lessons of thrift, of
perseverance, of simple honesty, of unremiting toll of devotion
to duty and answering loyalty to country and God can fail. He
may not become president and probably will not, but, steering
by such a beacon light, he cannot help but arrive at a material
prosperity and to an estate of servceabie citizenship which, aft
er all, is the only worthy goal of a true American.
1t has now been quite a while since Commissioner II. H..
Corey accepted the Portland Oregonanis suggestion that there
he an investigation of Portland wheat prices but as yet the Ore
gonian has not distinguished itself by taking up Mr.. Corey's pro
posal; why all this delay?
~~ss%SA@~~%
George Hackathorne has developed real ability as a movie
actor and there are none in Pendleton who do not rejoice at his
success.
1t pays to take good care of visiting conventions.