New-York tribune., 1874-10-16
THE LINCOLN MONUMENT.

The monument erected TO ADranam Lincoln
by national subscriptions was dedicated yes
terday at Springfield, with imposing ceremO-
nies, in the presence of great cOncourse OF
citizens, many of whom were soldiers IN the
war in which Mr.. Lincoln lost his life. TO
use his own touching words at Gettysburg,
"the world will little heed nor long remem-
bern what words were said yesterday over
his last resting place. A singular fatality pre-
vented those nearest to him in the great strug-
gle from bearing testimony to his virtues at
the foot of the stately monument which his
fellow citizens have reared to his fame. Sew
ard, his best friend, and Chase, his nOblest
enemy, were successively chosen for that SER
vice, and relieved of it by death, going one
after the other into the world where he
had preceded them, and where, let us
hope, they have all learned to know
each other better than they did here.
Then MIR. Weles was selected to be the eulo-
cist of his great chief but he answered that
what he should say of the political career of
Lincoln would not be agreeable to the gentle
men in charge of the monument. The Presi-
dent of the United States was next ap-
pointed, and many recognized the fitness of
the selection. But he declined in respectful
and modest words, avowing his inability to
do Justice to the theme. The decision was
doubtless wise. With whatever reverence and
good will the President might have ap-
preached the subject, his views of life and OF
government are not such as would enable him
to comprehend with any sympathetic insight
character like that of Lincoln. At last,
weary of refusals, they determined to select
,af, md do Gan
ator Oglesby the orator of the occasion. If
any one objects to this selection, we would
only state that some of the Committee pre-
ferred Senator Logan.
1t is not, therefore, the speeches of the day,
perhaps not even the monument, which will
do anything in future for the righteous fame
of the great man to whom the day was con-
secrated. His tomb is large, handsome, and
stately structure, overlooking a green valley
and hillside filed with the graves of the
friends and neighbors, who saw Lincoln going
in and out among them for thirty years, who
learned to honor and love him day by day,
and to whom he turned, in the solemn hour
of his last departure from Springfield, to ask
their prayers for Divine assistance in his
heavy task. 1t is altogether fitting that his
bones should lie tnere as long as tne mex
orable laws of nature will permit. But for
his glory monuments and professions can
do very little. The most brilliant array of
official visitors is eclipsed by the sim
pie grandeur of the now almost mythical
figure, which has grown up in the hearts of
the people, of the hero and martyr who, as
they believe, saved our liberties when they
were imperiled, and gave freedom to those
that were in bondage. The world is rapidly
outgrowing monuments. II is hard to decide
who merits them, of those who obtain them.
But it may safely be asserted that no man
conauers the love of ChristendOm without
merit Lincoln has become myth and type
of ideal democracy in every country on the
earth where the history of our wars is read,
and where the masses are working for a better
future. Every one blesses him now, less than
ten years after his death. A story against his
fair fame, though fortified by irrefragablc
evidence, is not believed. The public faith in
him, like all other forms of faith, produces
bypocrites as well as believers.
We are not inclined, however. to look too