The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1932-02-19
WASHINGTON n LIMcoLN eor rAElRs

Even the greatest Of our presidents have not been able to wiz
the good opinion of all the people even part of the time. Herbert
Hoover is far too wise not to take this fact into consideration when
he finds directed at him an endless bombardment Of criticism, not tc
mention malicious SANDER and propaganda. Some of the criticism, nc
doubt, is sincere, while much If it is time honored political schrapnel
Many of the yappers are simply too small of soul and too dwafed OF
min To zee VTtue IN ayoh VINO umersH rom lem ia an! :"
tcuar With some, spreading falsehood and slime is their regular
OF a mans greatness and fixes his rightful place in the inches of his
Dry. So it is needless to get excited about what is being said about
some OF the public men of today.
An editorial reprinted below from the Daniels County Leader
brings out some startling facts concerning what was said about some
of Americas greatest by narrow-braned fanatics or imbiuered bgots
who were so close to the objects of their wrath their perspective was
warped:
"on Friday America will again pay tribute to the memory of
Abraham Lincoln. 1t is the anniversary of his birthday.
Since those troublesome days when the tall homely man in the
public the people have learned to appreciate his great mind. his honor
and his sense of justice. The assassins bullet which cut him down
added a reverence to his name which did not always command the
respect it should have.
There were politicians in those days. a well IS fanatics and
when we hear and read some of the dastardly things about our pres
idents of today W e IRE mindful of the fact that we have never been
above undertaking and pinorytng honest men because they failed to
comply with our ideas of craftsmanship
IN 1864 a prominent Iowa clergyman, Rev. Henry Clay Dean, said
in a speech at Chicago: 81 blush that such a felon Lincoln) should
occupy the highest gift of the American people Perjury and larceny
are written all over him" When Lincoln was assasinated another
prominent minister, Rev. Vincent of Troy, n. Y said: q accept Gods
action $ IS indication that Lincolns work as an instrument of Provt
dence ended here, and the work Of retributton belonged to other and
doubtless filter instruments" This because of Lincoln's leniency to-
wards the south after the civil wal.
But do not think by any means that Lincoln was the only chief
executive who suffered such unwarranted attacks. Washington, per-
haps, was malgned more than Lincoln.
When Washington retired from the presidency, a grandson Of
the great Benjamin Franklin wrote: IF ever there was a period of
rejoicing, this is the moment-every heart in unison with the freedom
and happiness Of the people ought to beat high with exultation that
the nam Of Washington from this day will cease to give a currency
to political tniquity and to legaize corruption"
Thomas Jefferson, Jackson, Grant, Roosevelt, Wilson and the
others did not escape. Roosevelt went to court and sued one of his
defamers for libel Woodrow Wilson threatened to do what any out
ragged father would do" when defamers attacked him and his family
And now a publisher, who formerly served two years in prison
for circulating obscene literature, has come out with a book, "The
Strange Career of Mr.. Hoover" 1t has been proven a fabric of lilies
and SANDER, but he hopes to sell fifteen million copies.
1T is beneath the dignity Of his Office for any president to deny
Infamous charges or even give them recognition. He would be charged
with using his office to suppress free speech and a free press.
But as we honor Washington, Jefferson and Lincoln today let us
remember that they are only a few of the great men who have been
our White House slaves and who went to their graves with the be-
lief that honesty and faithful service had little reward excepting in
their own satisfaction of giving their best to the nation and its people"