Sir, - M. E. Synon is correct (April 9th) in identifying the phrase "government of the people, by the people, for the people" as a quotation from Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, arguably the most eloquent statement of the democratic faith ever made. She is, however, incorrect in describing the phrase as a "populist notion of government."
She is also incorrect in claiming that the American Founding Fathers would have considered the notion "absurd". In truth, Lincoln was merely restating in pithy, vernacular rhythms which spoke magically to his fellow countrymen - the concept of popular sovereignty which had been a truism for the Founding Fathers.
In illustration I could cite the famous passage from the Declaration of Independence concerning self evident truths and governments deriving their powers from the consent of the governed. However, the following quotation might, for M. E. Synon, be more apposite. It comes from the opening of the Bill of Rights adopted by the Virginia House of Burgesses on June 12th, 1776: "All power is vested in, and consequently derived from, the people government is, or ought to be instituted for the people - Yours, etc.,
Blackrock,
Co Dublin.