Government By People Quotes
The government relationship to people phrase, although probably Lincoln's most famous, was not totally original. John Adams came close in a 1774 proclamation. As did John Marshall in his McCulloch v. Maryland decision. Daniel Webster's Speech on Foot's Resolution was very close. as was Theodore Parker in 1850 {629578}. There was also Thomas Cooper in 1795. But the earliest appears to be John Wycliffe in 1382 {567292}. It is not known with which of these Lincoln was familiar.
This quotation had a close proximity to Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address (see linked quote). Although this was probably Lincoln's most famous line, it was not totally original. John Adams came close in a 1774 proclamation (see linked quote). As did John Marshall in his McCulloch v. Maryland decision (see linked quote). There was also Thomas Cooper in 1795 (see linked quote). But the earliest close phrase use appears to be the English cleric, John Wycliffe, in 1382 (see linked quote). It is not known with which of these Lincoln was familiar.
Ingersoll was considered to be the greatest orator and political thinker of his day, but his overt atheistic views curtailed his elected political career.
Even in the early days of our Republic, many people were hostile to the government that they had created, Adams, a politician with a very thin skin, was insulted by the public criticizing the government after having elected it. His concept was that the public should elect their representatives and leaders and then live with what the representatives and leaders do. He in particular came in for much public criticism and insult and even passed laws – the Alien and Sedition Acts – making it illegal to verbally attack the government.
For that, the Church burned him at the stake. Note the phraseology and compare it to Gettysburg Address {458852}. It is not known whether Lincoln was aware of this quotation or others that used similar wording.
