Posted 12:17 PM by Gene

In this age of false public heroes we'd do well to remember what Lincoln told the Congress on Independence Day, 1861:

It is worthy of note, that while in this, the government's hour of trial, large numbers of those in the Army and Navy, who have been favored with the offices, have resigned, and proved false to the hand which had pampered them, not one common soldier, or common sailor is known to have deserted his flag.

Great honor is due to those officers whom remain true, despite the example of their treacherous associates; but the greatest honor, and most important fact of all, is the unanimous firmness of the common soldiers, and common sailors. To the last man, so far as known, they have successfully resisted the traitorous efforts of those, whose commands, but an hour before, they obeyed as absolute law. This is the patriotic instinct of the plain people. They understand, without an argument, destroying our government, which was made by Washington, means no good to them.

Today we cannot rely on our self-appointed superiors; yet despite the destruction they wage on the American psyche there is still valor in the people. If only we knew it.