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Ik* $*2klxn ftttt ' I nnh I <U? Published every Thursday by The Franklin Press At Franklin, North Carolina VOL. LXIV Number 6 WBMAR JONES Editor BOB 8. SLOAN * Business Manager Entered at Post Office, Franklin, N. C., as second class matter. Telephone No. 24 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: One Year - - $2.00 Six Months ? $1.23 Three Months 75 Single Copy ........ .06 Obituary notices, cards of thanks, tributes of respect, by Individuals, lodges, churches, organizations or societies, will be regarded as advertising and inserted at regular classified advertising rates. Such notices will be maked "adv." in com pliance with the postal requirements. The 'Emancipator' Legend 'J'HE fame of Abraham Lincoln, whose memory Americans will honor Saturday on the occasion of his 140th birthday, has suffered a fate that is cc.mm.on to most great mien. For it is the rule ra ther than the exception that we insist upon casting our heroes in roles utterly foreign ta them, and which they, alive, would never have considered as In the case of Lincoln, we have created the leg end of the "Great Emancipator". The term sug gests ? and those who use it assume ? that the Emancipation Proclamation declared all the slaves iq the United States free ; that Lincoln and Lincoln alone, with a single stroke of the , pen, outlawed i slavery in America; and that the consuming ambi gjion of his life was to free the Negroes. t Nothing could be farther from the truth. As to he first two assumptions, the facts are available in any encyclopedia; and as to Lincoln's great am bition, both his words and his actions are clear ? Vithe abolition of slavery was purely incidental with ?4iim. Jk * * * Emancipation Proclamation did not even L>ort to free all the Negroes; it specifically ex ted from its provisions, in fact, nearly a million It did not apply to slaves held in border and r states outside the Confederacy, and it exemp even the slaves in those sections in the Con rate South occupied by federal troops. Thus it lually had no immediate practical effect as an ncipation measure; for it declared free only icoe slaves in territory over which the govern at Washington had no control. Nor was it the Emancipation Proclamation that tlawed slavery in America. It was the Thirteenth endment to the Constitution that baned slav y, and that amendment was not declared in force til December 18, 1865, nearly three years after the proclamation was issued ? and eight months after, Lincoln's death. linpoln'? celebrated proclamation freed no fcs, and hie probably didn't intend that it should ; or^tf least the freeing of slaves was not its chief jrpose. It was isisiied not as a great humanitarian charter, but as a political and war measure of ex pediency. While the proclamation itself was dated Janu ary 1, 1863, Lincoln had announced on September 2, 1862, that it would be issued. In that announce ment he declared that he wo.uld proclaim the slaves within the Confederate South free, if, the following January, their masters were still in rebellion against the government at Washington. Lincoln must have hoped that the threat would bring some, or possi | ^ly all, of the Southern states back into, the Union ; ?.nce the threat carried the hint that slavery would I be abolished if the "erring sisters" returned by time. In thi& connection, it is interesting to the timing of the announcement ; it immedia followed federal victory at Antietam. ?lore immediately practical considerations, how , probably prompted the announcement. It was about six weeks before the congressional elec Ffons; and Lincoln was too shrewd a politician not to recognize the vital importance of retaining Re publican control of congresis in the November elec tions. The proclamation was a bid for the vote of the Abolitionists, who long had been restive under Lincoln's moderate policy. , Furthermore, there appeared to be grave danger _fhat England would recognize the Confederacy, [icoln undoubtedly knew that there was a large Iv of anti-slavery public opinion in England, and Emancipation Proclamation was a brilliant dip itic stroke ; for it dramatized the .slavery issue tended to suggest to the middle class English I man that the whole issue of the war was slavery ri freedom? and thus brought public pressure on English government to withhold recognition of Confederacy. The fact that England d?d not extend recofnition quite poeaibly determined the result of the war. Lincoln, in at least two respects, was much like Franklin D. Roosevelt. He was a smart politician, and he was willing to play politics, and to compro mise on minor and secondary issues ? or even on matters of principal, if necessary ? to gain his ma jor objectives. The way West Virginia became a Mate is an in teresting illustration of that trait. In Lincoln's pol itical philosophy, there was no such thing as seces sion ; he held that the people of the Southern states simply were in rebellion against their government. Yet, holding that conviction, his administration en couraged the counties in the western end of Vir ginia to secede from the State of Virginia ; and the new state of West Virginia came into being by se cession! But, like Roosevelt, Lincoln never for a moment lost sight of his goal ; never let anything interfere ? no matter how much he might have to, compromise on other things, no matter how far around he had to go ? with his steady progress toward that goal. In Lincoln's case, the goal was the preserva tion of the Union. In August, 1862, he said: "If I could save the Union without freeing any slaves', I would do it ; if I could save it by freeing all the slaves, I would do it ; and if I could do it by freeing some and leaving others alone, I would also do that." And on another occasion he declared: "My paramount object is to save the Union, and not either to save or destroy slavery." Lincoln looked upon slavery as a great evil (as, indeed, did many slaveholders). He hated slavery, and he was determined to prevent its spread. Bbt, unlike the extremists on both sides, he never would have plunged the country into civil war over that issue. He was too great a man to let fanaticism run away with him, or to indulge in revolution when ? as must have been obvious even then ? evolutionary forces were at work. It is not as the "Great Emancipator" that Lin coln deserves fame. He was too honest to have wanted the title ? and probably would have consid ered it a huge joke, had he known he was to be &o labeled. His greatness as a statesman lay in the fact that he preserved the Union, and thereby proved that a representative government can be made to work. But he was more than a politician and a states man ? he was a great human being. And hiis fame as a man rests upon traits utterly incompatible with the role of a flaming zealot, for he had his feet quite firmly on the ground. He was great as a man because of his common sense, his patience, his saving sense of humor, his tolerance and kindliness, and his strength of character that held him steadfastly to the one goal he had set him self ? to save the Union of the States. Scaly Shows The Way Scaly is a very small community. The 1940 cen sus gave the entire Flats township, in which Scaly lies, a population oi only 349. And, like most small communities, Scaly lacks the facilities for community events and money-rais ing projects thjit towns and cities enjoy. But if Scaly is short on population and facilities, it is- long on community spirit. The people of Scaly recently decided they want ed to do their share for the March of Dimes, and they hit upon the idea of a box supper. The only place to hold a box supper was the school, and the best time tu hold ilt was at night ; but the school building had no lights. Did the people of Scaly say it couldn't be done? Hardly ! They went to work and put lights in the school ; they held their box supper ; and they con tributed $175 to the polio fund. The people of Scaly have do.n-e more than their share in this community undertaking, but they have done something far more important : They have shown the way for the rest of us. For they have proved that a community, like an individual, can do almost anything it wants to do. All that is neces* sary is to want to badly enough, and to mix with the desire a little determination, a little imagina tion, a little ingenuity, and, mast necessary of all, a little unified community effort. A Teen Age Club Most young people want, more than anything else, the approval of those about them, their elders and those of their own age. And most youngsters arc smart enough to know that the way to win and keep that approval i* by being decent, useful young citizens. But vouth is full of ideas and enthusiasm and energy, it's energy demands to be used, and if there isn't something wholesome to do, the young people arc likely to occupy their leisure with something not so wholesome. In short, most yoting people will do as well as their talents and environment will permit. The Lord gave them their talents, but it is up to the commun ity in which they live to provide the right environ ment. And a part of that environment, a very neces sary part ? as Mrs. Johnson &o well says in a letter that appears on this .page ? is a place and the facil ities for wholesome fun. A Teen Age Club, property organized and operated, can fill a very real need here. Congratulations Due Highway Patrolman Pritchard Smith, Jr., has "rung the bell" ?gain. For the second time within a few months', he has placed behind bars men who had been living by robbery. In his latest achievement, Mr. Smith picked up two men who, so far as is known, had committed no crime in Macon County. But they were wanted in several states for a long series of robberies, and had managed to elude officers elsewhere. Driving through Macon County, they ran into trouble. Given a little more time, Mr. Smith ? with the ?upport of other officers and of the community ? will create for Macon County an enviable reputa tion ? the reputation of being an unhealthy place for thugs. He deserves the community's congratu lations and appreciation. ' POETRY CORNER Conducted by EDITH DEADERICK ERSKINE Weavervllle, N. C. Sponsored by Aakeville Branch, National League of American Pen Women EVENING PRAYER As gentle twilight softly fades away I now must say my evening prayer to Thee In thanlcfulness for blessings of this day And for the future blessings promised me. I miss the sun yet stars are In the sky And though at times the clouds obscure their light Olve me the touch of faith to feel Thee nigh, A soul made tearless by celestial might. , HOMER CASTO Weavervllle, N. C. Letters WHOLESALE FUN FOR YOUTH Dear Mr. Jones: f ; i We read much In our magazines and newspapers about "Juvenile delinquency" and recently had a case In our own court concerning a young man who gat a long sentence for crimes resulting from this very thing. And yet we In Fflanklln sit back and do nothing. Perhaps we feel that we have no such problem, that all our boys and girls are growing up Into find men and women. Wouldn't It be a good Idea If we did some thing to prevent any such problem from arising? And there is a way of helping right now. A group of high school pupils have organized to try to start a "Youth Canteen"? a place where our young people can go and have something to do. They have found a few adults who have agreed to help supervise their activities and have raised about half the money they need to try their idea for a monftih,. They need the Interest, the cooperation and the financial assistance of everyone in the community if they are to make a success of their venture. Our young people like sports, reading, team games, dancing, movies, hobbles and quiet games. How much opportunity do all children in our community have to spend their leisure time doing these things that they like to do in a manner that will make them better citizens? When a boy or girl comes in from the country for some fun Saturday afternoon or evening, what is there for him to do? Should he go to see a shoot-em up movle, hang around the corner or shoot pool? What else is there for him to do? I believe that If we will give active support to these young people who ore hoping so high and working so hard to stent; this youth canteen, we will be doing a very real service not only to them but to the entire community. Sincerely, OLIVIA C. JOHNSON Franklin, N. C. Others' Opinions MORE GRADE A MILK County agent M. L. Snipes and the farmers of Jackson, County interested In putting hi Grade A Dairies deserve at) the moral support and financial assistance they can get in in helping to put over such a program in the oounty. Jacksani County farmers are sadly in need of more cash Income. With a few good cows, producing Grade A milk, is one way many of our farmers can Increase their income. These milk checks come in regularly every month and they will help the fanner and his family greatly In the coat of living budget. The milk check Is not the only profit derived from keeping cow*. The barnyard fertilizer as a by-product reduces the com mercial fertiliser bill and help* to continually build pu the land. Tbtn then U the oath Income from Mia of heifer calves, or beef animate ai the ou? may be. Backing a program for mora Orade A dairies to Jack|:h County would be a splendid program for our civic club* and local bank. Jlcbum County is Mr behind our sister counties to tkU respect. -ftyira Herald, LEGAL ADVERTISING National Forest Timber For Sal* ? Sealed bids will be received by the Forest Supervisor, Frank lin, North Carolina, up to ant I not later than 2:00 P. M., Feb- ? ruary 21, 1949, and opened 1 im mediately thereafter for all the merchantable live and dead tl li ber designated for cutting on ?n area embracing about 505 acres within the Campf Branch unit of Wayah Creek of Oartooge chaye Creek, Little Tennessee River watershed, Macon County, Nantahala National Forest, North Carolina, estimated to be 1500 cords (128 cubic feet) of chestnut extractwood, more or less. No bid of less than 50 cents per cord will be considered. In addition to price bid for stump age, a deposit of 10c per cord for all wood cut will be re quired for sale area betterment work. $200 must be deposited with each bid, to be applied on the purchase pHce, refunded, or retained In pstrt as liquidated damages, according to conditions of sale. The right to reject' any and all bids is reserved. Before bids are submitted, full Infor mation concerning the timber, the conditions of sale and the submission of bids should be obtained from the Forest Super visor, Franklin, North Carolina. J20-F10. IN THE SUPERIOR COURT BEFORE1 THE CLERK NORTH CAROLINA MACON COUNTY M. P. KEENER .and wife DIXIE KEENER, et al vs. E. D. CHASTAIN, et al NOTICE OF SUMMONS e defendant, Tom Chastain, take | notice that an action entitled as above has been com menced in the Superior Court of Macon County, North Caroli na, for the purpose of selling for partition lands in which the defendant has an interest and is a proper party thereto. The defendant, Tom Chastain, will further take notice that he is required to appear at the of fice of the Clerk of the Superior Court of Macon County, North Carolina, in Franklin, on the 14th day of March, 1949, and answer or demure to the peti tion of the petitioners, or the relief demanded in said petition will be granted. This 4th day of February, 1949. J. CLINTON BROOKSHIRE, Clerk Superior Court, Macon County, N. C. F10 ? 4tc ? J J ? M3 EARN AND LEARN ! Young man, here's a chance to learn a valuable trade? and the training won't cost you a penny! Plus opportunity to further your education in a number of other ways. The new U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force need men with ambition; men who seek to ad vance themselves through the kind of training so necessary for success these days. Investi gate at once the educational benefits offered. See your re cnuiter at the U. S. Army and U. S. Air Force Recruiting Sta tion, located next door to The Press. The trained man gets ahead, so be among that up and-coming c o m p a n y. Army trade schools are the best in the world. Air Force technical schools rate high, too. Yes, earn and learn by enlisting for train ing that really pays off in dol lars and cents. Remember, this education costs you nothing. To Relieve Misery of tjpitm ^^^UQUID Oft TA01CTS - SAM! FAST RIltfF
The Franklin Press and the Highlands Maconian (Franklin, N.C.)
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Feb. 10, 1949, edition 1
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