Evening star., 1932-02-13
Lincoln and Hoover.

ham Lincoln yesterday was chosen by
Republicans in every part of the coun-
try to launch their campaign for VIC
tory at the polls this year. While the
Republican orators paid tribute to the
great President of the past, they likened
the struggle and the crisis which the
Nation faced in 1864 to the crisis which
confronts the American people today.
Lincoln, they pointed out, carried the
country safely through the great
emergency of Civil War days. Presi-
dent Hoover, they predicted, will
bring the American people through
the present depression, with its at
tendant unemployment and hard times,
to better days. They drew an analogy
between the stupendous difficulties
which faced Lincoln and those that
face Hoover today. They echoed the
vituperation that was poured out
against Lincoln in the early part Of
1864, when he was to become a candi-
date for reelection, and compared it
to the attacks which have been made
on Hoover. And finally they spoke
Of the swing in sentiment which later
gave the victory to President Lincoln
overwhelmingly, taking from it an
augury of victory for the Republicans
next November.
The Republicans, in the present hour
OF difficulty, have properly harked back
to the time when the first Republican
President struggled to hold the Nation,
together; to keep inviolate the prin-
ciples and traditions handed down to
Americans by the founders of the great
Republic. President Hoover in the three
years of his administration has been
compelled to face problems of tre-
mendous weight and gravity. He has
faced them with courage and with a
determination that the form of Gov
ernment established in the days of
Washington and upheld by Abraham
Lincoln shall not perish from the
earth" MIR. Hoover has faced great
odds in this struggle to bring the coun-
try back to a sound economic condi-
ton, when all the world has been dis
astrously affected and weighed down py
the costs Of paying for the Great War.
He has had to face the sniping OF po-
ltical enemies, not alone in the Demo-
cratic party, but also in the party
which Lincoln first led to victory in
1860, his own party.
The speeches delivered by Republican
leaders yesterday in Washington, in
West Virginia, in Indiana and, indeed,
throughout the country, indicate that
the Republicans have at last entered
back OF President Hoover. 1t is time.
Republicans should not and do not de-
lude themselves about the seriousness
OF the campaign into which they are
now moving. AS party, they have to
bear the burden of the displeasure and
criticism of the voters because of hard
times. The President himself, although
he made no suggestion of his candidacy
for reelection, in speech broadcast
to the Nation yesterday called upon the
American people to rally against oe-
structive economic forces which have
threatened the country. Members of
his cabinet, Of the Senate and the
House also delivered Lincoln day ad-
dresses, calling upon the American
people to rally behind President Hoover
to combat these forces, and with his
leadership to march to victory.
The Democrats for years have held
big celebrations on Jackson day, in
January. This year was no exception
and in Washington and elsewhere they
launched a drive for victory. They, too
spoke at length of the Hoover admins
tration and Of Herbert Hoover, rarely
mentioning their Democratic hero.
Andrew Jackson. But what they said
was scarcely in line with the addresses
delivered by the Republican speakers
yesterday.
In times of ease there have been de-
politics. Today. when there is great
need throughout the country, there has
been talk Of political truce The battles
Of the people are not won during truces,
however.