New Hampshire’s outdoor beauty this time of year reminds me of an Abraham Lincoln quote that was taped on my desk for years: “We find ourselves in the peaceful possession of the fairest portion of the earth”. Recently I researched when and where he said that. Turns out it’s in a speech he gave in 1838 not about our country’s beauty, but about defying a lynching racist mob in Springfield, Illinois. He was only 28 and a new lawyer in Springfield, then a struggling pioneer village. In his speech he describes our country’s unique geographical position; between two oceans with friendly neighbors north and south, and that we should not fear foreign invasions. However he worried about an invasion from within and felt racist fear mongering could do us in. He urged sober reasoning, not passion, and reverent adherence to the rule of law and the then less than 50 year old Constitution.

In his speech he also said “If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of free men, we must live through all time or die by suicide.” Many years later as president he guided us through our failed national suicide attempt, the Civil War. He preserved the union. Now 188 years later, in another Springfield (Ohio this time) racist fear mongering is again being spread. Not by the faceless mob of 1838, but by leaders of a national party and just before an election. We must now act and vote against this fear. Lincoln’s warning still stands.

Nick Perencevich

Concord