People's Government 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.
This appears to be the earliest use of the phrase Lincoln later made famous in the Gettysburg Address.
Ingersoll was considered to be the greatest orator and political thinker of his day, but his overt atheistic views curtailed his elected political career.
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.
This is an interesting historical quotation. In 1917, Joseph Stalin, was for democracy and elections with rule by the majority. Once he and his party gained control, the democratic idea of free elections with competition evaporated.
While this is a principle that most Americans hold, recent developments in the law of Native Americans have complicated the picture. Congress has passed legislation recognizing that there are Indian Nations. Members of these nations are also citizens of the United States. The Mohawk nation for example, issues its own passports, which are recognized by over 20 different countries.
