Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-02-12
Kiwanians Have Lincoln Birth
day Program At Regular
Luncheon Session, Thursday
Relies of The Great Eman.
cipator Displayed At Meet
Ing - Charles E. Quincy
Named District Trustee of
Kiwanis

Events that led to the Civil War
when Abraham Lincoln answered H.
call to save the Union were reviewed
graphically by Associate Justice All
bert M. Spear of Gardiner, retired tus-
tfce OF the Maine supreme court. who
gave an Illuminating address on the
NE OF Lincoln at the luncheon meet
ing or the Augusta Kiwanis Clnh
Thursday at the Girls Community
clubhouse.
Justice Spear prefaced his theme
with brief statement of his concep-
ton OF the mission of service clubs
sucn as kiwanis and Rotary. of which
ne Is an honorary member. He said
that IN these times when law and order
are spoken Of with a question mark
and when crime is rife, the Rotary
and Kiwanis clubs, the Masonic bod.
les and like organizations are exercis-
ing restraining influence taht is es-
sential, and this may be the very in
fiuence that will save the country
from the menacing dangers,
During February-on the 18th and
22nd-were born two of the greatest
men the world has ever produced.
Abraham Lincoln measured by his
great intellect, Judgment and modera-
tion. represented one of the greatest
brains this country ever produced.
Likewise, Washington with his bal
anced mind able to cope with all con-
ditions during that formative period
of our country. also represented one
of the greatest brains ever produced in
this country.
Washington was an aristoorat, but
he did great things for this country.
irN In v,1a
born in a log cabin, with no opportu-
mites except those he made for him
self. Therefore the preservation of
this country by Abraham Lincoln was
one Of the greatest accomplishments
this world has ever seen.
Pointing to slavery, as the primary
cause of the War of 1851, Justice
Spear spoke of the different attitude
taken by the North and South regard
ing the keeping Of slaves. He pointed
out that slavery was recognized in the
constitution and the object of havin 6
only two senators from each state was
that slavery should not be voted out of
power by the Congress of the United
States.
In 1850 there was not much con-
troversy. but the northern states
were growing in anti-slavery feeling.
In 1854 the Missouri Compromise
was repealed and the country was
opened to slavery. Then came the
bred Scott decision to the effect that
a slave had no rights that white
man was bound to respect. The
Southerners felt that they must sep
arate from the North. Abraham
Lincoln met the sophisticated argu-
ments of Stephen A. Douglass and
showed the fallacy of those argu-
ments. He was defeated in the cleo
ton, but that was what made him
President, for it was then that he
began to appear as a great man.
The war came. Lincoln was elect
ed President. In that war when
the population of the country was
30,OO0.OOO. there We're 100000 men
in the field. The North said INC"
when the South were determined to
secede from the Union. The South
said it could beat the North with
broomsticks" and in 30 days time,
but 1t failed to recognize the great
spirit of the North.
The manner in which Lincoln car
ried out his purpose, towering IN
wisdom over a cabinet that was op-
posed to him, was outlined by the
speaker. What would have hap
pened II the North had not had the
wisdom of President Lincoln?" he
asked. I'VE would have lost and
there would be two separate hostile
countries, the South with its belief
in slavery. and the North with its
anti-slavery attitude ripened into
abolition. Strife would be rife all
of the time. Our country would be
severed and would never have had
any great standing among the ma
lions.
II believe in peace, but not in
peace at any price; asserted JUS
tice Spear. 1.-THE men of the North
said We will save the constitution