The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-07-17
SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS.
The Lincoln ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The Lincoln ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
SPRINGFIEED ILL, July Is.
Editors of the Register.
Yesterday being quiet and beautiful
July Sunday, we concluded that it could
not be more pleasantly passed, than by
visiting the last resting place of our mar
tvred President. On day so calm, so
pleasant, so bright and SO holy, an hour
passed bv the remains of one of our cOun-
tryS greatest statesmen, could not be
passed without the return of some good.
In the afternoon we wcnded our way
to the Springfield cemetery, one mile and
a half north of the city Long ere we
came to the cemetery, or even before We
knew where it was situated, we discovered
tall gray monument towering heaven
ward, in the glistening sunbeamS that
glanced athwart the western sky.
short turn soon brought us to the cemc-
tcrv. and situated on Il large knoll near
the centre of the silent city, where houses
are marked with white tablets, we found
Mausoleum. that is the last earthly rest
ing place of Illinois first President.
The monument is IA gigantic structure,
and still only partly finished. Its base
is one hundred feet square, supported on
the north and south sides by large half
square pillars. They are about twenty
feet high, and.stairways approach the top
of the large base by means of the pill
lars. Two more squares on top of the
large base support the foot of the fame
and four three quarter round pillars
support the base of the fame, one at each
corner Around the top square just at
initial letters of all the States, simply
and plainly cut in hard granite. The
monument is composed of the best Scotch
granite.
From the ground to the top of the
fame is about one hundred and twenty
five feet.
There are no inscriptions, no coat Of
arms, no royal insignia, no chivaIric
paraphernalia, no mottOS, and no Latin
or Greek apothegems; but simply the
plain name LINCOLN, engraved on the
south side Of the top square. There
is nothing there to indicate greatness or
goodness. and only for the magnificencc
of the monument, one might think that
some plain, simple farmer rested be-
meath the green grass, instead Of him
who occupied station in Inf" which
opened and closed an epoch in this coun-
trys history that the historian must
ever study with wonder and interest.
When the monument is finished life
sized statue of Lincoln will be placed in
Il niche on the south side of the monu-
mcnt.
This monumen: is surely the greatest
honor that great people could bcstow
upon their illustriouS dead. There Is no
tale written in golden or cut letters Oh
its face. There is no panoramic view OF
battles, senatcS, and marching armies.
There is no forum to represent the tore"
and power of speech and mind. There
are no insignia and royal coats of arms to
represent the pride and glory OF IN an
cicnt name. or the deeds of monarch or
king; but simply and plainly Lin
coin
And who and what was Lincoln? That
one word has history in 1t; that Simple
short word turns the mind, like historic
view, into the past. And out OF the
mazcs and the mists, that time weaVes
,bout MS: and out of the smoke and flame
of battle that revolutions bring upon us,
comes Liuculn-crowned with the love of
Il great people; adored by great MILL
tarv; admired by conqucrors and con-
qurrCd.
No greater culogy can be paid to n
GREAT man. than the maSsumng manner
in which his name is written upon a
treat monument. that storms and rains
can never dctacc.
Springfield is we'll situated for the
Capital i'll many respects. The situation
i very fine and the location Of tn" differ
cnt buildings all that could be desired
The Capitol building now in process OF
erection will be one of the handSome>t III
the United States. Its dome can he seen
for miles around the city. Its Architecture
is of the finest character and the work
,nanship almost unsurpassed. The walls
are composed of brick faced on the out
side with Joliet stone, which Is very
suitable. being very fine grained.
The county court house Is very
commodious building, situated IN the
public square about the centers the
city.
The post office is one of the best build
ings ofthc city. Standing to itself, 1t Is Il
handsome and substantial buildings faced
on all sides with Joliet stone, three Sto-
rics high, one hundred and thirty by
fifty feet square.
Many palstial and costly private resi-
dcnccs make the capital city most de-
>rablc place for short soiourn, while
the Leland Hotel affords me all the lux
uries of the Eastern cities
Gin.