, 1923-02-08

Lincoln, who came to Massachusetts from Eng
land in 1887. And the Lincolns were II sturdy fam
lily. There was Maj. Gen. Benjamin Lincoln C1T33-
1870. who received Lord Corvallis sword in
surrender at Yorktown. Enoch Lincoln (17SS
1929 was governor of Maine. 1879. Levi Lin
coin Q74a1S20) was United States attorney gen
eral 1s01-5. Another Levi Lincoln Q7s21s6s) was
governor OF Massachusetts 1854 and member OF
congress 1854.
Abraham Lincoln's Immediate ancestors chose
TO 90 pioneering. New England was too settled
for them. They were of the type of American plo-
neer who moved on as soon as he saw n neighbor's
smoke or heard his dog bark. In the depths of the
wilderness, ever working westward, they became
what the world calls poor and obscure. 1t should
be remembered. however. that poverty and OBJ
security are one thing in the city and entirely a
different thing in the wilderness. A pioneer with a
rifle and AK, a roof over his head and a crop in
the ground is neither poor nor obscure.
Lincoln cathedral is one Of the finest In Eng.
land. 1t was in process of erection from 1918 to
1901. 1t Is Of early English architecture and is
524 by 50 feet. with a matchless central tower 271
feet high. The cathedrnl's famous bell, "Greai
Tom of Lincoln" weighs about 5a tons. The north
gate of Llndum Coonia still stands and Is tile only
Roman gate in Britain still In use. Not far away
Is Boston, the mother of our Boston.
What Lincoln and Llnculn's birthday mean TO
the Engllsh-speaking nations OF earth cannot he
better said than was said by EIihu Root at the
presentation of the Saint-Gaudens statue of Lin.
A'ttf NV EAA VI NAA'AN'H ~ AAt ~ AiN III IL
said, among other things:
"Put aside superficial difference. accidental md
unimportant, and Abraham Lincoln appears, In the
simple greatness Of his life, mis- character, and his
service to mankind. n representative of the deer
and underlying qualities OF his race-the qualities
that great emergencies reveal. unchanglngly .he
same In every continent the qualities to which
Britain owed her life In the terrible years Of the
last decade: the qualities that have mafie both
Britain and America great. lie was of English
blood. and he has brought enduring honor TO the
name. Every child Of English slres should learn
the story and think with pride. 'Of such stun as
this are we English made
ale was lmbued with the conceptions OF iustice
and liberty that the people of Britain had been
working out In struggle and sacrifice since before
Magnn Charta-the conceptions for which Chatham
and Burke and Franklin and Washington stood To-
gether. a century and a half ago, when the battle
for British liberty was fought and won for Britain
ms well MS for America on the other slide OF the
Atlantic. These conceptions Of Justice ard liberty
have been the formative power that has brought nil
America. from the Atlantic to the Pacific, To order
Its life according to the course OF the common
law. to assert Its popular sovereignty through rem
resentative governmcnt-Britaln's gren: gifr 10 rho
political science OF the worid-and to establish the
the basis Of lnnllenable rights which government.
are established to secure. II is the Identity of these
fundamental conceptions In both countries which
makes II impossible that In amy grent world
emergency Britain and America can be on oppos.
Ing sides. These conceptions of justice and liberty
ARE the breath OF life for both"