The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-02-12
LINCOLN'S INFLUENCE

While the Nation today pays its tribute of rev.
erence to the memory of the Great Emancipator on
the anniversary of his BIRTH Indiana might well read
once again his immortal pledge that this snail De
Government of the people, by the people ana tor
the people.
This State has q pride in its reflected glory IN
lincoln It will rear a monument to his mother' IL
will perpetuate the fact that he was once part
of this State.
But If there be one State in which the snaoo"
Of Lincoln is needed as warning, 1t is INDIANA
Considerable courage or was 1t braVaoo' was
shown by the Legislature when II lormaliS li''0
to euogy of his greatness
That same Legislature had voted down, by
caucus of the party of which Lincoln was the first
president a resolution of inquiry into frauds ana
corruption in the State
Can imagination picture Lincoln voting, with
oonsoionce hound and voice stilled by party ma
chine for such resolution!
Would ne have been content to let charges Oh
corruption and of betrayal OF the people 30 un"n-
swered and unpublished?
Would Lincoln have believed that the GOVERN
n,ent was of the people or by the people OF lor 'n
reonIe when it refused to permit the 1ull hshV Vi
knowledge to shine in official places and 10 let tne
people know the truth?
And what would he have said had he been pres
emf in the legislative halls and found there tnat army
Of snecia peaders of privilege the lobbyists 1or inc
public utilities? n,oa
Slavery has taken on many forms IN Varieu
rbases of history But essentially slavery is the en-
forced labor of man for the beneht OF ano'nel'
He found it in the open ownership Oh men "noeo
orin was black bv those whose skin white He
saw men bought and sold. He saw them urNen
70 the cotton fields by the lash and them cringe
to the crack,of the whip.
His place in history was made eternal wnen ne
said this form of slavery must pass.
The principle of slavery turks behind every IN
4stice nerpetrated by the privileged under the law
The principle Of slavery is hidden, deep perhaps
hut stiI there in every cent of unjust charge maze
h., oas mr. electric or water or street railway COM
pany.
There is slavery of the people when its govern
ment is delivered into the hands Of those VINO drive
men by necessity to their labor and take their wage
through these added charges for the necessities OF
life.
There is slavery of the masses when the suave
Legrees OF the modern day use the secret influence
Of legislators to obtain the substance OF the people
for their masters.
How have we kept the faith with Lincoln?
Have We Government of the people as long as
party caucuses smother the suggestion that corrup
ton be investigated and the acts of officials be
barred?
Have we a Government by the people as long as
the voice of the lobbyist is stronger than the de-
mands of the masses?
Have we a Government for the people as long
as laws are made to protect the privileged dollars
while honest business and honest effort is forced to
pay tribute to the powers Of greed?
We need more than lip service to the memory OF
Lincoln We need, badly need, real reverence for
his immortal principles of liberty and freedom, lib
erty to live without oppression, freedom from the
Nomination of the shrewd and constituencies.