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beOFSe IL. Doran 20.
Was Abraham Lincoln illegitimate?
Was Abraham Lincoln irreligious?
No. This, the positive double
answer.
Yet, in both cases, between each
question and it's conclusive negation
there stands something like so years
Of hot controversy. All of half a
century has it taken to demonstrate
that the long contention had no other
foundation than an early idle rumor.
This fact places one on familiar
ground before the matter for every
man is acquainted with the vicious
activity Of mere hearsay. Perhaps,
however, not quite everybody realizes
that rumor Is, in effect, the universal
scapegoat upon whose back are piled
all the secret longings, all the secret
indulgences of timorous folks desirous
of distracting attention from them
selves by virtuously ascribing their
own shortcomings to that one upon
whom rumor is, for the moment, con-
centrating. Only an elementary
grasp of psychology is needed to prove
that, plain evidence lacking, one can
read into the life of another only
that which he holds within his own
life. The world does not change In
this respect. So, at the time OF the
Lincoln scandal-just as II 1t were OF
our own day-it took nothing more
than a few jealous looks directed upon
pretty and vivacious Nancy Hanks TO
plant the seed that grew and -four
ished through the long years in a
rich demonstration of biblical allegory
turned upon the green bay tree, and
the grain of mustard, and the little
fire that kindled so great matter.
Rumor was as lusty then as it has
ever been. So, not one man alone was
haled into the forum of public con
demnation as the father of Abraham
Lincoln, but seven men instead al
one time and another. Around the
story a big library of polemics grew
Lifelong enmities were set and nour'
ished by it. Political capital bulked
enormously about 1t. Even the nat
ural reticence Of Lincoln's own ma
ture was translated as shame and
sorrow over the unchastity of his
mother.
Today one reads that old story in
a new light. For beside him, read
ing, there stands a gaunt and weary
man to whom the whole world pays
homage and will so continue to do as
long as freedom Is a priceless posses
sion. Beside him, reading, there
stands one who loved his brother toe
much to hold him in bondage, who
loved his country too well to see il
broken and divided. In this great IL
Elimination Of the human soul what
do external things matter? Let US
for the moment, assume that this
man did no. have a father. VIVA,
was that 10 Abraham Lincoln? What
is 1t to us?
But-for the consolation of the
otherwise inconsolable--it turns out
that Abraham Lincoln was born ir
wedIock, of a paternity indisputably
lawful.
In volume Of over 300 pages DR.
Barton produces the proof O.
Lincoln's legitimacy. With goot
reasons he answers affirmattvely Ill
own self.imposed query as to whether
or not the inquiry is worth while
Upon this, the author projects himself
into the enterprise in thorough-go
ing zeal Of spirit, in an untiring in
dustry Of research, and with an ex
cellent acumen and skill in the weigh
ing OF evidence, in the drawing of
conclusions. Proof, positive, reward!
the undertaking. This proof is thu
climax of the effort to those who de
mand a clear lineage for Lincoln
This point Is for these the sum anC
substance of the whole matter. Fo
the rest of us. however, the cours'
of the story itself is the vital part o
the whole. The pictures Of that earl.
life, the light thrown upon the day
of boyhood and youth, the struggles
for education, the warm human heart
the capacity for friendship, the feel
ing for all humanity, the clear po
litical vision in the later days, th'
final stand for righteousness-these
given all over again in the zeal o
DR.. Barton's patriotic passion, max,
up a story that is fresh at man!
points and highly valuable through
out.
'The Soul of Abraham Lincoln" is 9
study of his religious life. From the
nature of the matter no positive result
as accrued from the investigation OF
Lincoln's birthright is obtainable here
The same method of critical analyst!
may be employed, and is. But re
ligious feeling is too fluid, too elusive
of exact definition to be confined
within particular statement. DR.
Barton-so wisely, one thinks-doe:
not in this special line of research
seek to separate Lincoln's religion
from his Ife--from his daily be
haviors, nor from his general attitud,
before common human relationships
Out of this entirely rational mode o.
treatment there emerges human
being whose spiritual growth and in
sight vary and change in measur,
along with the vital changes in hi!
material life. This is a mans re
ligion-not, it is true, expressed ii
theological opinions, but expressed
more intelligibly in deeds and genera
acceptances. This is the picture-no
only of one mans religion, Lincoln.
or another's-but It is the true pic
ture Of the rise and continuance O
all religions. First, in every degre.
of existence, the need of a God, wheth
er this need spring in the breast O.
the savage or in that of highly cul
tivated man. 1t is the supreme ant
universal need. eff there had bee,
no God, man would have been com
PEELED to make one," Voltaire so vel
states 1t. Then upon this basic ant
universal need has grown every re
ligion in the world, shaped by ma
tertal environment and changfn,
slowly as this environment with 1T
attendant spiritual growth Requires
and demands. 1t is this fluidity, thi
evolutionary tide, in the spirit as wei
as in the body of man, that shut
off the idea of a static religion. Deal
ing with the life as well as with th
opinions of Lincoln, DIR. Barton ha!
here presented, consciously or other
wise, most deeply true and stimu
lating picture of the progress of tn,
spirit embodied in the daily life an,
outlook of both individual man an,
man in the collective connotation o
periods and peoples.
Out of the complete portrayal, tn,
keenIy critical analysis, the logica
deductions of this work. this autho