Four Minute Men Bulletin No. 25

COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC INFORMATION DIVISION OF FOUR MINUTE MEN February 12, 1918                                                                                                 Bulletin No. 25 4 MINUTE MEN 10 JACKSON PLACE WASHINGTON, D.C. Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. TO ALL FOUR MINUTE MEN: Lincoln's Gettysburg address delivered July 4, 1864, "breathes the same spirit and ideals that inspire us in this war. We are, therefore, particularly desirous of having Four Minute Men read this speech in every motion picture theater in the land on the night of February 12, the anniversary of Lincoln's birthday.  (If theaters in your State are closed on this day read it Monday, the 11th.) As the reading of this speech should not consume more than two minutes, we suggest a few words of introduction (similar to those we have prepared) to bring out the point that the highest ideals have at all times pervaded the history of this country and that Lincoln, in the midst of war, expressed these ideals just as President Wilson expresses them to-day. Cordially, yours, four minute men, wm. Mccormick blair, Director. you will agree that careful previous reading of the speech is secure the best effect. P. S.—We believe necessary in order to 39418°—18 4 MINUTEMEN 4 EVER since the Liberty Bell at Philadelphia tolled its message to the world in 1776 this country has lived for Liberty and Right " as God gives us to see the Right." The language of our Presidents from the time of George Washington to this day breathes these highest ideals. So in this greatest of all wars the President again expresses the noblest of sentiments, emphasizing again and again "that this is a war of high principles, debased by no selfish ambitions of conquest or spoliation," and "the cause being just and holy, the settlement must be of like motive and quality." It seems most fitting, therefore, that on this day, February 12, the birthday of Abraham Lincoln, we should hear again the words of this great President in his Gettysburg address. For it is a wonderful expression of the cause for which this Nation has always fought and is still fighting to-day. I shall read that address: Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. FOURSCORE and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle field of that war. Wo have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate—we can not consecrate—-we can not hallow—this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us, the living, rather to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. Abraham Lincoln. WASHINGTON" : GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : X918