The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-04-16
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
Memorial Services at Springfield. Ill.-Elo-
quent Address by Senator Logan.

quent Address by Senator Logan.
SPRINGEIELD, ILL.,, April 15.--Owing to very
unpropitious weather, the Lincoln memorial
services were not attended by nearly So large
concourse of people as was expected
Arrangements had been made for large num-
Der of people, but they did not come.
All the surrounding towns and cities. however,
were represented. Rain poured necessarily
nearly all day. and the original programme of
marching out to the cemetery had to be aban-
doned. The exercises were held in the State
house The programme consisted of music by
various bands speech of welcome by Governor
Oglesby, and addresses by Senator Logan, Gen.
Sherman and others. In the course of his ad-
dress Senator Logan said:
ION the 18th day of February, seventy-six
years ago, in the midst of hardy pioneer peo-
pie in Hardin county. Ky, son called Abra-
ham Was born unto Thomas and Nancy Lincoln.
few years later this son is found with his
work, assisting his father. There was
no opportunity offered him for receiving
education. but under the guidance
of his mother, however, he was
taught to read and write He was of studious
habits and carefully read all the books he could
borrow from neighbors. All that am or hope
to be, he said i owe to nv angel mother In
his twenty first year he is located in Illinois, do
ing manual labor, though at times, when he
could do so. he was always found with book in
hand, storing his mind with useful knowl-
edge he was constant reader of
the Bible, as well as Shakspeare's works, and
from these acquired better understanding of
human action and that which influences the
minds of men than all those who criticised him
as an uneducated man ever had capacity to
understand In his great debate with the la
mented Stephen A. Douglas, he displayed such
wonderful ability as at once gave him national
reputation. His great mind eemed to unfold
to his auditors danger after danger that
then menaced our beloved country. He fore
Swallowed disaster and suggested way to avoid
it,. He exhibited clearly to the people that if
the destruction of this Union must come, we
ourselves must be its author and finisher.- His
arguments were convincing, and his deductions
and logic were irresistible"
After dwelling on the martyred Presidents
kindness of heart and love for humanity the
speaker continued:
when elected President of the United States,
he entered upon the duties of that office with
malice toward none with charity for all, and
although the circumstances were of the most
trying character that had ever surrounded any
man in undertaking to administer the affairs
hold on the helm of the ship Of
state and moved on calmly and cody in the per-
formance of the arduous duties assigned"
Finishing his review Of Lincoln's career as
President, General Logan said:
Twenty years ago to-day, early in his second
term as President, just as his proud anticipa-
tions and fondest hopes were being realized he
fell at the hands of an assassin, martyr tn
the cause of human freedom. AS the tallest oak
in the forest falls, causing earth to trembe at
the shock, so his fall caused the Nation to trem-
be. Strong men cried aloud and wept, women
wrung their hands and appealed to heaven to
lvsA yhxr% NC ctA
permitted. This people mourned and would not
be comforted; all the civilized countries were
saddened; deep gloom covered the whole land,
and in grief and sorrow we mourn him still. !"
After touching again upon Lincoln's struggles
with poverty, and his final attainment of the
highest position among men, the speaker closed
his address in the following words:
s'His great heart and mind were directed on
the line of doing good to his fellow-man En-
tirely absorbed by this thought in favor of strug-
accumulation Of wealth. The benefits showered
upon oppressed man by his great ability
and kind heart by far outreached those which
could have been accomplished by the riches of
Croesus. Wealth remains behind, while poverty
follows on to the grave, but the wealth that
leaves its lasting impress upon mankind is that
store of kindness which fills the human
breast, and the great resources of
giant intel!ects, whose thoughts and good
works live on through time. So let it be with
Abraham Lincoln. He assembled to the topmost
round of Fame's ladder, and from thence stepped
into mansion on high prepared for the good
and true. If we could but see him as his sainted
besmeared temple of human bondage, but
radiant with the light of liberty and the glory of
God playing around him, with shattered letters
and broken chains at his feet, we would behold
one of the MODEST spirits that ever passed
through the pearly gates of the New Jerusalem
into the presence of the great white throne Of
our heavenly Father"
Letters of regret were read from President
Cleveland, ex-President Arthur, Robert Lincoln
and ex-President Hayes. The committee on
decorations. accompanied by band of music,
went out to the cemetery and deposited floral
tribute on Lincolns grave. This was all that
was done at the cemetery.