Abraham Lincoln's Birthday, as appeared in the Community Bulletin 1-16-2009

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth this continent a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

It comes with great pride that Republicans across the country will soon be celebrating President Abraham Lincoln’s 200th birthday. As the first elected Republican president, he is also consistently ranked by historians as one of the greatest U.S. presidents.

Abe Lincoln is known by all as having successfully led this country through our greatest internal crisis, the Civil War. The Emancipation Proclamation, the Gettysburg Address, and the passage of the 13th Amendment, are all testament to Lincolns place in history.

Republicans should also take note that Lincoln handled the many factions of the Republican Party well. Lincoln brilliantly united this party by appointing political rivals to high positions in his cabinet. Many historians agree that because of this, his cabinet was a highly effective group.

In keeping with Lincolns unifying principals, the time has come for all Republicans to come together and find new leaders; new leaders that will bring this party together and move forward.

The “party of Lincoln” must also never forget the paramount political values of republicanism; which are based on liberty, free market principals, property rights, the rule of law, and civic virtue. These very principals were the cause of our great American Revolution and the birth of our nation.

So let us all celebrate Lincolns 200th birthday and be vigilant that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom – and that government of the people, by the people, and for the people shall never perish from this earth.

In honoring and celebrating this great Republican President please join the Riverhead Republican Party on February 12th at the Eagles Landing Restaurant, Calverton Links Golf Course at 6pm. Tickets costs $75 per person. Please contact me at 727-1234 for tickets.

Happy Birthday Abe

Martin Keller