Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-10-23
UnveIIing of the Statue at Spring field
Illinois.

ordinary times, were well swept, and the
dust was laid by fortunate sprinkle of
rain which occurred during the preced-
ing night The sun remained stubbornly
behind the clouds, as if nature herself
wore the somber hues of mourning for
the honor of good, and true, and simple
memory; but beyond this the weather
was eminently fitted for a memorial cell
ebration.
The procession which marched to the
cemetery was two miles in length, and
was headed by Gov. Beveridge. The
number of persons present at the ceme-
terry may be safely estimated at $4,000,
nearly half of whom were ladies. The
military formed Gordon around the
monument, and kept up a regular guard
mount during the proceedings. The fol
lowing memorial hymn, composed for the
occasion by Mrs. Mary Reilly Smith, was
sung by choir of Springfield ladies:
We sing to HIM whose soul on heights divine,
Has reached the stature of the undehled;
In whom judgment ripe and honor fine
Were blended with the nature Of child;
Whose PEN with patient toll and Godlike grace,
Picked out the puzzled knot of slavery;
Unloosed the gives that bound hapless race,
And dared to write, The bondman shall be
free
Then sing to him from whom these sweet words
fall:
with malice toward none, with charity for
And write this epitaph above his grave:
" He bound the nation, and unbound the slave
The sweet humanlties that graced his life
The tender heart that through his justice shone,
The sympathy that sOftened human strife,
And made brothers suffering his own;
The life which shadOwed forth the perfect plan
Such were the attributes and such the man
Whom death has hidden from our mortal sight.
We can but praise him, though his work is done
His words still move Us like mighty host;
Write down. he said, - my humble name as one
Whose love of country was his highost boast. -
o man of men. whose name we all revere
The dearest name in Liberty's fair crown,
Bright be thy waking from thy slumbers here.
Sweet be the sleep that folds thine eyelds
CHORUS
still from thy lips we hear these sweet words fall
Wen malice show to none, but charity for all.
This be the epitaph above thy grave
" He bound the nation, and unbound the slave. >
A sketch of the history, and report of
| the transactions, of the National Lincoln
Monument AssociatiOn-written by the
| Hon. Jesse X. Dubois, Vice-President of
the association-were then read, after
which Senator Richard J. Oglesby deliv-
cred a lengthy and eloquent Grafton, re-
| viewing the life of the eminent statesman
! whose memory the monument before
them was intended to commemorate, and
| giving history of the war and of Mr.
LincOln's public career at the head of the
nation. He closed his remarks as fol.
lows:
| Ifhiztory shall become ungrateful and moral
obligations cease to respond to the calls of Justice
| and Patriotism in that race to which he was born
his fame will still be safe. Another race of 1000
go, with their countless descendants of ree-boru
| children, holding his memory in precious rever
| ence, will sing anthems of praise and gratitude tC
his name forever.
The commencement of his second term as Pres
ident of the United States, and the close of the
| rebellion, came closely together. | do not know
that the time or the place is fitting for an
| examination Of the course likely to have
been taken by him upon the questions O
what Is now known as Reconstruction. 1t il
true TO say, from the great hold he had upon the
| hearts of the people, and their immOvabe con
fdence in him-a confidence perhaps enjoyed by
no President from Washington down to his own
| ume-any plan maturely considered and serious
ly put forward by Mr.. Lincoln would have met
with favor, and # is probable would have been
| adopted by the people. He was a merciful and
| forgiying man. He promptly ratified the gcner
GUS terms of surrender dictated to the armies o
the rebellion by his humane and victorious Gen
eral. His proclamation of pardon and amnesty
| of December, 1853, granted, with restoration o
all property rights, the right to vote to all, witt
certain specified exceptions as to classes, who
had been in rebellion, and who would subscrib,
an oath to support the Constitution of tn,
United States and the Union Hereunder, ant
faithfully abide by and support all acts of Con
gress and proclamations OF the President having
reference to slaves This, it must be remem
bered, was during the war But, now tina
by compromise, as in 1861 actual rebellion
had released him from the policy o
leaving slavery to the States, and in time al
lowed him TO move forward TO emancipation, so
in 1865, compulsory submission would have re
leased him from terms proposed In 1863, and per
mitted him to move forward to higher and broade
In add lArN IN Tha al fuRf fhn
the circumstances of the white and colOred popu
latiOn had, at the close of the war, entirel,
changed, and the gimpses on several occasion
given out of purpose ON his part to favor II mos
enlightened and liberal policy as TO all, so as L
reunite the country upon just and enduring ba
sis, stood the great fact that in 1861 he had salt
he had rather be assassnated than surrender tn
sentiment in the Declaration Of Independence
that All men are created equal. II Is not like
ly, at the close of a contest in which that princi
pie had been saved, and for the first time applied
to the whole country, he would have favored an
plan which would deny to either those who ha
laid down their arms against the Government, o
those who had used them in its preservation, tn
fullest rights implied and covered by the brOa
declaration that all men are equal.
Who shall forget that memorable scene in tn
city of Richmond, which ought to be chershe
and perpetuated forever as part of the history q
the closing days of the unhappy strife, where tn
great and good man-his heart swelling wit
modest pride, leading his little son by the han
| through the deserted streets of the once prou
capital of treason, and beholding once more tn
!
usurping one, restored to its rightful dominic
, over an undivided Union, grateful to an Almight
God that In His own good time, peace had re
turned to a divided and sorrowing people, cheere
| and animated by the hope of long future
prosperity and happiness TO the country-gav
assurance TO the scattered and remaining few {
| those who were but Yesterday in arms agains
that flag, as they eagerly gathered about him,
forgiveness and an early restoration to all right
in the old Government; and to the humble an
ong-oppressed, rescued from servitude dishoI
. orabe alike to humanity and to that flag of fire,
: dom and citizenship in the Great Republic TO
eyer
VINO shall measure the usefulness of the life
: such a man, and who shall hope to do his men
ory justices In the long range and course
time, come what may-whether republic
grounded on the immovable foundations OF Jul
: tice and Freedom, approved after long eXperienC
5 and ages ofhuman happiness as the best form
r human government still standing; or whether
republic, torn into factions and rent, by the ma
; ambition of men, in ruins-this monument a
enduring testimonial to the humble life, the gl'
| rious deeds and the shining example of the grei
citizen and martyr will stand for the illuminate
of all men Of every cline, nationality and cond
$ tion, who, in search of the, highest aims an
loftiest purposes of life, shall come TO this foul
, tain for inspiration and hope. Here the humb
may take new courage; the proud learn humility
the ambitious that the true way to greatness Ii,
through industry integrity and patriotism; an
. all men that only the truly good can be tru
! great, In no other country under the sun coul
through the long succession of mysteriol
. and grave events TO such eminence an
7 power; and where and in what land can one
5 found who welded power with such grac
/ humanity aud wisdOmY The living assign hi
his proper place In the affections of all men. Po
: terity profoundly moved by the simplicity of h
; private life, elevated and enlightened by d
b purity and splendor of his Administration an
! public services, cannot fail to fix his pa'
> amongst those who shall rank highest in the
= yeneration. He has gone TO the ornament
q Washington, and new light shines down up'
G his beloved countrymen from the American co
i stellation.
/ After the conclusion of the Senator
0 address the statue was unveiled, the Al
r dience saluting the act with several rim
ing cheers, and national salute of thi