In the following quotation, mark all of the clauses and determine
whether they are dependent or independent clauses. If they are dependent
clauses, determine whether they are noun, adjective or adverb clauses.
Mark all the sentences and tell whether they are simple or complex.
I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me, and
causes me to tremble for the safety of my country. As a result of war,
corporations have been enthroned, and an era of corruption in high
places will follow. The money power of the country will endeavor to
prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people, until
all the wealth is aggregated in a few hands, and the republic is
destroyed. I feel at this moment more anxiety for the safety of our
country than ever before, even in the midst of war. God grant that my
forebodings may be groundless. Monarchy itself is sometimes hinted at as
a refuge from the power of the people. In my present position I could
scarcely be justified were I to omit to raise a warning voice against
the approach of a returning despotism.... It is assumed that labor is
available only in connection with capital; that nobody labors unless
somebody else, owning capital, somehow, by the use of it, induces him to
labor. Labor is prior to and independent of capital. Capital is only the
fruit of labor, and could not have existed if labor had not first
existed. Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much the higher
consideration. I bid the laboring people beware of surrendering the
power which they possess, and which, if surrendered, will surely be used
to shut the door of advancement for such as they, and fix new
disabilities and burdens upon them until all of liberty shall be lost.
* * * * *
In the early days of our race the Almighty said to the first of mankind,
"In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread," and since then, if we
except the light and air of Heaven, no good thing has been or can be
enjoyed by us without first having cost labor. And inasmuch as most good
things have been produced by labor, it follows that all such things
belong of right to those whose labor has produced them. But it has so
happened, in all ages of the world, that some have labored and others
have without labor enjoyed a large portion of the fruits. This is wrong,
and should not continue. To secure to each laborer the whole product of
his labor, as nearly as possible, is a worthy object of any government.
* * * * *
It seems strange that any man should dare to ask a just God's assistance
in wringing bread from the sweat of other men's faces.
* * * * *
This country, with its institutions, belongs to the people who inhabit
it.
--_Lincoln_.