Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1874-10-29
THE LINCOLN MONUMENT.

Ill IN
THE LINCOLN MONUMENT.
,x.,,,ne Of the statue At springael
Illinois.
SPRINGFIELD, H., Oct. IS.
IF there was any one who doubted the
.reat hold which the glorious old Mar
,r. President had on the affections OF the
merican people, the magnificent dem
[nstration in this city and at Oak Ridge
cemetery to-day, at the unwilling Of his
olossal statue, would have removed that
Ioubt Springfield was literally flooded
ith people from all sections OF the
ountry, eager to participate in the last
reat tribute of the nation to the hon
wed dead. Tue national colors waved
N every house, fiuttered from every
Window, crowned every arch-in short,
occupied every possible vantageplace
ythin the city limits. Men carried them
their hats, so did some of the ladies'.
Iorses sported them over their names,
nd whichever way the eye turned there
waved the flag of the free hearts chosen
home. The streets of Springfield, not
Particularly noticeable for neatness in
ordinary times, were well swept, and the
bust was laid by fortunate sprinkle of
lain which occurred during the preced-
NO night. The sun remained stubbornly
behind the clouds, as if nature herself
kore the somber hues of mourning for
he honor of good, and true, and simple
memory; but beyond this the weather
Was eminently fitted for memorial Gel
kbration.
The procession which marched to the
cemetery was two miles in length, and
Mas headed by Gov. Beveridge. The
humber of persons present at the ceme-
ery may be safely estimated at 25, 900,
hearty half of whom were ladies. The
military formed Gordon around the
nonument, and kept up regular guard
mount during the proceedings. The fol
owing memorial hymn, composed for the
= occasion by Mrs. Mary Reilly Smith, was
sung by choir of Springfield ladies:
I've sing to HIM whose soul, on heights divine,
Has reached the stature OF the indebted;
In whom a judgment ripe and honor fine
We're blended with the nature of child;
Whose pen, with patient toll and Godlike grace,
Picked out the puzzled knot of slavery;
nloosed the gives that bound hapless race,
And dared to WRITE 1.-The bondman shall be
free
CHORUS
Then sing to him from whom these sweet words
With malice toward none, with charity for
all
And write this epitaph above his grave;
He bound the nation, and unbound the slave
The sweet humanites that graced his life,
The tender heart that through his justice shone,
The sympathy that softened human strife,
And made u brothers suffering his own;
! he life which Swallowed forth the perfect plan
of Gods own law of Equity and Right
such were the attributes and such the man
Whom death has hidden from our mortal sight.
We can but praise him, though his work il done !;
His words still move us like n mighty host:
Write down" he said, my humble name as one
Whose love of country was his highost boast"
b 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 eyelids
down.
CHORUS.
|St from thy lips we hear these sweet words fall
T. Well 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 K. Dubois, Vice-President of
the association-were then read, after
which Senator Richard j. Oglesby deliv-
cred 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
If history shall become ungrateful and moral
obligations cease to espond to the calls of Justice
and Patriotism in that race to which he was born,
Ms fame will still be safe. Another race OF 1900
coo with their countless descendants of tree-born
children, holding his memory in precious rever-
ence, will sing anthems of praise and gratitude to
his name forever.
The commencement of his second term as Pres
dent of the United States, and the close of the
rebellion came closely together. l do not know
that the time or the place is fitting for an
examination of the course likely 10 have
been taken by him upon the questions of
what is now known as Reconstruction. 1t is
true to say, from the great hold he had upon the
hearts of the people, and their immovable con-
hdencc in him-a confidence perhaps enjoyed by
no President from Washington down to his own
time-any plan maturely considered and serious
ly put forward by Mr.. Lincoln would have met
with favor, and it is probable would have been
adopted by the people. He was merciful and
iorgying man. He promptly ratified the gener.
on terms of surrender dictated to the armies of
the rebellion by his humane and victorious Cen
eral His proclamation of pardon and amnesty
Of December, 1868, granted, with restoration of
all property rights, the right to vote to all, with
certain specified exceptions as to classes. who
mad been IN rebellion, and who would subscribe
an oath TO support the Constitution of the
nited States and The Union Hereunder, and
faithfully abide by and support all acts of Con-
sress and proclamations of the President having
reference to slaves. This. it must be remem-
bered, was during the war. But, now that
peace had come, by surrender and not
by compromise, in 1861 actual rebellion
iad released him from the policy OF
!eaVlng slavery to the States, and in time al
owed him to move forward to emancipation, 80,
10 1850 compulsory submission would have re-