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Nazareth, Pa., United States

Thursday, April 21, 2022

Lincoln in Paradise

If there is such a thing as Paradise, Abraham Lincoln is no doubt one of its inhabitants. I can also say with certainty that, during his lifetime, the poet president paid a visit.

It was 1861, and Lincoln was on his way from Illinois to the nation's capitol for his inauguration. Along the way, there had been credible threats that rebel sympathizers would assassinate him in Baltimore. His train nevertheless made numerous stops in Pennsylvania at major cities like Philly and Harrisburg. He also stopped at places like Downingtown and Haverford College so that his train could take on water. 

One of these four-minute water stops was in Paradise. He may have received only a plurality of votes, but he was quite popular in the Keystone State. A throng of well-wishers was waiting. 

Lincoln came to the rear platform and told the crowd he was too unwell to give a speech, but thought he'd come out so the people could see him and he could see them. He said he "had the best of the bargain." 

The crowd laughed and called for his wife. She came out and Lincoln said that here was the "long and short of it. He's 6'4", she's 5'3".

In Philly, Lincoln spoke of the principle of liberty, embodied in the Declaration of Independence signed at the hall from which he spoke. "If this country cannot be saved without giving up that principle - I was about to say I would rather be assassinated on this spot than to surrender it." 

Lincoln constantly appealed to what he called the "better angels of our nature." In contrast, many of today's politicians play on our fears and prejudices. 

(Source: The Lincoln Trail in Pa, Bradley R Hoch)

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Today's politicians do not care about this country.

They care about themselves and their party and far too many people support them for it.

That any citizen in this country is a "Proud Republican" or a "Proud Democrat" is embarrassing - although to be honest I think its just probably more accurate to say that most citizens are just "Anti Republican" or "Anti Democrat" which is no better.

Stop the cheerleading, the whining, the complaining, the finger pointing, the hypocrisy and start leading.

Anonymous said...

The only way out of this self-serving politician mess is to stop voting for Incumbents! YES, we might lose out on a few good people, but there’s no reason the replacement can’t also become worth keeping.

The key in forcing accountability is to SEND H0ME a high percentage of Incumbents. A message needs to be sent. I am particularly interested in removing Susan Wild. She hasn’t shown me anything other than voting for whatever Nancy Pelosi wants to pass. Susan Wild is a “Yes Woman,” nothing more. A young person right out of high school has greater potential to stop knucklehead legislation!

Anonymous said...

Politicians have ruined just about everything in this country they are either woke are afraid of the woke. how embarrassing.

Anonymous said...

Meh, just a matter of time before he's cancelled.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/12/us/portland-statues-riot-trnd/index.html

Anonymous said...

Politicians are not the solution--they are the problem.

Anonymous said...

@10:24 Politicians have not ruined anything. It’s the voters ignorance of history and politics that allow the Politicians to get away with enacting dismissal policies. All of us are the problem, we need to find common ground for the common good.

scottmccloud said...

The magnificent Lincoln! Notice all the skunks who disparage & insult his memory by displaying treasonous Confed. flags here in PA; these skunks also insult the memories of all the PA soldiers who fought in the US Army to suppress the Rebellion, at Gettysburg & elsewhere.