The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1926-04-08

dent Lincoln seemed to have pre-
monition that, like Moses Of old, he
was not to be permitted to see the |
fruition of his agonizing labors for
the salvation of his beloved country.
In response to a friend who said:
"But nv dear Mr.. President, to die
is different from being cut down in
the dark. Why should this be-" Lin
coin remarked: ut comes Of giving
liberty to the forces which only use
| it for their own dark deeds. Till late
lv have been in favor of unlimited
liberty for every man as our Constitu-
ton seems to guarantee. But is 1t
not an act Of folly to give absolute
liberty of conscience to set of men
who are sworn to cut our threats the
very day they have their opportunity
for doing it? Is it right to give the
privilege Of citizenship to men who
are sworn enemies of our Constitu-
ton our laws, our liberties, our very
lives? Is it not an absurdity to give
| to man a thing which he is sworn
to hate. curse or destroy? Sooner or,
later the people of the republic must
| put restriction on the exercise OF
! liberty turned towards the destruction
| of that from which it came But this
i is a problem for another generation"
Soul of Abraham Lincoln, by Ber-
ME Babcock.
In the opinion of the writer the
problem is here for this generation
to solve. When the Constitution was
framed and signed, the very atmos-
phere was saturated with belief in
one Supreme God, Creator of heaven
and earth, and to perpetuate this with
belief it sooner or later was printed
upon our coinage that it might be-
leone spiritual medium of ex-
change" reaching into every horne
and every heart in this great repub-
lie. Now. sixty-one years hence, we
find a Society Of Atheists, in our
midst, with a charter, bearing the
|imprimature Of the federal govern
|ment. with headquarters in New York
lstate, sworn to establish other CEN
tiers of operation in every university
town in our country. Can it be that
I've are inviting another Civil war ?
Shall we allow the time to come when
we shall have to admit that the blood
of the "Boys of '61-65 shall have
died in vain ?"
Atheism and anarchy are kinsman.
A negative principle is unthinkable.
Are we to sacrifice therefore our def
mite religious principles which have
cemented us together ever since the
birth of our nation, for a will-o-the
wisp, which is contrary to reason.
common-sense, and which would
throttle the inmost longings Of the
human heart? We have civilization
the principles of which in themselves
are rock hewn, those Of belief in God
the immortality of the soul, and as
a result, human brotherhood. There
is nothing concrete in atheism upon
which any sort of lasting civiliza-
ton could be built. Our very hearths
and homes, and human life itself
would be unbearable and impossible
under its rule. American people, Eel
low citizens I say to you, awake
awake! Look to your heritage of true
liberty and guard it with all the pow
ers at your command before it b
taken from you, and you be swallow
ed up in the whirlpool and undertov
of corruption. Throw over belief il
God and the great edifice Of modern
civilization will Immediately crumbl
and merely exist as a memory OF tn
past"
TRUE AMERICAN