The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-10-20
LINCOLN.
UNWILLING OF HIS MONUMENT

UNWILLING OF HIS mON L.
EXERCISES ASPIRING
FIELD.
srrrcH OF THE LIFE OF THE MARIYRED |
MISUNDERSTANDING THE MONUMENT HEAD i
THE MoNuNENT-PRoGRAMME OF EXER-
CAUSE.-THE Observation-Disclosures HOUSE, |
A sneeial to the Chicago Tribune of yes
terday morning gives an account OF the eA-
ercises which were to take place at Spring
field yesterday: More than nine years have
rolled into the past since, on the 4th day OF
Nav. 1860. the remains of Abraham Lincoln
were laid at rest in the beautiful cemetery
of Oak Ridge. Doubtless had be power from
the other world to signify his will, the SIM
Die nature of Mr.. Lincoln would have re-
iected the idea of raising monument to
him. A calm grave in American clay was
all that his ambition might call for, out
his admiring and faithful country
men could not allow the last rest
ing place of one of the most wonderful
men of this country to remain obscure
America saw the beloved ruler stricken
down when his great mission was accom-
Dlished and resolved that his obelisk
should arise to commemorate not alone the
tragedy of his death, but the crown and the
glory Of his life. Though born upon the
soil of ''the dark and bloody ground" Mr.
Lincoln was essentially a Western man, and
in the city of Springfield he made that rep
utation for mingled h1mor and sa2acity
which eventually made him,the idol of one
section of the American people,
aud the wonder of all sec
tions-svsn those who most bitter
ly opposed his policy. Long years Of pro-
fessional and of political toll marked ms ca
reer in Sangamon county and in the State OF
Illinois, and it was in our legislature, then
meeting a. Vandalia, to which he was elected
in 1884, flat Mr.. Lincoln first notably dis
played that talent for debate and that hdel-
ity TO principle which characterized him to
the latest moment of his life. he served
with great distinction during that session,
and served, by reelection, during three
succeeding terms, being speaker OF
the house during 1898 40. Dur
ing the session Of 1886 he bad among
his confreres ex-Gov- John M. Palmer and
the late Senator Douglas, for both of whom
he formed a strong attachment. OF all the
men who served in that assembly of 1886
only the following are now among the liv-
ing: Col Richard b. Servant, Chester, I'LL.
the Rev. Barton Parish; the Hon. John
Doughety, Jonesboro; Gen. John A. Nc
Clernand Springfield; the Hon. John NJ
Palmer; the Hon. Usher f. Under, Chicago
the Hon. Norman Edwards, Springfield the
Hon. John Hogan, st. Louis; the Hon.Johr
Dement,, DixoE; the Rev. w. English; the
Rev. newton In0 hOH
William O. Richardson, Quincy; Maj. JOna
Rowal, Canton the Hon. William McMurty
Abingdon; the Hon. Richard L. Walker
Girard; the Hon. William Sanderson, Ma
rion. All these gentlemen were specially
invited to attend
THE CEREMONIAL,
aud most of them will be on the ground t.
testify by their presence their veneration 10
the man whose noble nature raised him from
the very humblest sphere of frontier life h
the pilot of the American nation in tn
gloonliest and bloodiest epoch of its history
Perhaps this may be good place to recall
the pithy but significant farewell address de
1ivered by Lincoln to the citizens of Spring
field on the occasion of his departure 70
Washington, February IL, 1861. Read in tn
light of events that have since occurred, tn
words seem to convey aspirit of sad prophecy
1t was a long farewell, indeed, for the Who'll
world knows that Abraham Lincoln, wit
living eyes, beheld the city of Springfield,
never more. When the news of the presi
dents murder first reached Springfield, an,
when it became known that his remain
were to be there entombed, patriotic citizen
at once set to work to prepare a suitabl
place for their reception. They procured
plat of ground on the demesne of the new
State house, and had a temporary vault con
structed by the beginning of May, 1865, bu
Mrs. Lincoln was averse to having the bod,
placed there, and insisted that it SHOULD
be, instead, laid temporarily in the publ
vault at Oak Ridge. Her wishes wer
accordingly complied with. A militar.
guard of honor was kept there TO
several weeks after the relics of MI
Lincoln were placed there. The citizens o
Springfield, on April "a, 1865, held publ
meeting in regard to the sepulture of tn
dead president, and appointed a committe
to look after the obsequies. This committe
subsequently resolved itself into what ha
since Become historieal-"The National Lin
coin Monument Association" The frs
call for contributions was made upon all tn
Sunday schools for the second Sunday, an
all public schools for thefrst Monday inJun,
The response in each case was generous. an
showed more, perhaps, than any other thin
in connection with the movement, the CRATE
full and reverent spirit of the people.
The association was formally organize
under the laws of Illinois governing volur
tary societies, on the 18th of May, and col
sisted of the following members: Richar
j. Oglesby, Orlin III. Miner, John. ]
Steert, Jessie X. Dubois, James @. Conf
ling, John Williams, Jacob Bum. Share
o. M. latch, Il. III. Melvin, James I'll. Bev,
ridge. thomas ]. Dennis and David l.. Phi
lips. Tie above named gentlemen cOnst
tuted TIN board of directors and elected IL
following officers: President, Richard
Ogiesby, vice president, Jesse K. Duboi
secretary, Clinton l.. Conkling; treasure
James II. Beveridge. Agents were hmm
diately apIDinted to collect funds through
out the Unhn, and had
REMARKABLE SUCCESS,
the proceeds being invested in United Stat
securities. Mrs. Lincoln objected to ar
other place ofburial except Oak Ridge, an
as consequence, on June IA, 1865, the a
ISOLATION passed resolution in aceordan,
with her wishes, and Immediately Their
after six acres of land, in the cemeter,
were donated asa site for the monumeI
by the city of Springfield. Meanwhile I'll
association had c,used a temporary vau
for the reception q the remains. to be bui
within the precincis of the cemetery, and |
this, December p, 1866, the body of I'll
president was removed. remaining thel