By Gary Galles
Contributing Writer
Feb. 12 was Abraham Lincoln’s birthday. However, it went almost unmentioned, as Americans have given up celebrating that date in favor of a President’s Day three-day weekend.
But more important than remembering his birthday is remembering his words on behalf of our liberty (even though they do not wholly accord with many of his own actions), reflecting the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. And those insights, formed in the crucible of the Civil War, go beyond the few famous statements, such as the Gettysburg Address, that most of us are already familiar with.
“As I would be no slave, so I would not be a master.”
“Those who deny freedom to others, deserve it not for themselves; and, under a just God, can not long retain it.”
“I believe that every individual is naturally entitled to do as he pleases with himself and the fruits of his labor, so far as it in no way interferes with any other men’s rights.”
“We all declare for liberty; but in using the same word we do not all mean the same thing. With some the word liberty may mean for each man to do as he pleases with himself, and the product of his labor; while with others, the same word may mean for some men to do as they please with other men, and the product of other men’s labor. Here are two, not only different, but incompatible things … liberty and tyranny.”
“Property is the fruit of labor … it is a positive good in the world. That some should be rich shows that others may become rich, and hence it is just encouragement to industry and enterprise. Let not him who is houseless pull down the house of another; but let him labor diligently and build one for himself, thus by his example assuring that his own shall be safe from violence when built.”
“You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. You cannot help the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer. You cannot further the brotherhood of man by encouraging class hatred … You cannot build character and courage by taking away men’s incentive and independence. You cannot help men permanently by doing what they could and should do for themselves.”
“I have never had a feeling politically that did not spring from the sentiments embodied in the Declaration of Independence (which) … gave liberty not alone to the people of this country, but hope to all the world, for all future time. It was that which gave promise that in due time the weights would be lifted from the shoulders of all men, and that all should have an equal chance. This is the sentiment embodied in the Declaration if Independence … I would rather be assassinated on this spot than surrender it. ”
In memory of Abraham Lincoln’s birthday, let us reconsider how seriously we take our liberties, and the dedication to their defense which was the centerpiece of the wisdom he has left us. As he said, “I leave you, hoping that the lamp of liberty will burn in your bosoms until there shall no longer be a doubt that all men are created free and equal.”
February 14, 2002
