The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-03-21
LINCOLN AT GETTYSBURG.
Facts About His Famous Speech-Mr.
Curtin's Statement.
From the Washington critic.

In the first place, as to the manner of its
writing and delivery, Mr. Edward McPher-
SON. formerly member of Congress from the
Cettysburg district, and since Clerk of the
House of Representatives, in an article pub
iisbed last summer in the New York sun
says:
in the car [going to the dedication of the
Gettvsburg cemetery Nov. 10, 1861, and
though he talked pleasantly, and spoke OF
the country through which we were pass
ing. vet thought he was laboring with one
of those spells Of profound melancholy with
which he was at times afflicted. He
SAT for some moments absorbed in thought,
and at last began to feel in his pockets, as
if for loose paper. | asked him if he
wanted paper and pencil, and he said, Yes,
a scrap of paper and / opened my valise
and gave him two or three sheets of note
paper. He drew up his long knees, and
putting a book on them wrote. jotting
down as ! supposed, a few heads or sug-
gestions He wrote right along, without
hesitation or erasure, and filled one page
and part of another. Then he folded it
no and put it into his pocket, simply saying
that he had set down few lines that had
occurred to him to say"
Mr.. Mcpherson adds that Mr. Lincoln
spoke from this manuscript, that his re-
MARKS were OuO ulpSlltCblI DbdIu anu
family appreciated, and that it was not
until afterward that their singular beauty
and fitness were observed.
The rep orter of the New York Times, as
quoted by the Springfield Republican,
SAYS Mr.. Lincoln spoke from manuscript,
referring to it as often as once for each
sentence-that he spoke in loud voice, and
was loudly applauded He says that when
the President had finished it is related that
h. g
had spoken before him, grasped Mr.. Lin
coins ha nd warmly and said in substance,
What | have said here will be forgotten,
but your words will live"
Mr.. John Russell Young, who, as report
or for tie Philadelphia Press, was also
present. states that Mr. Lincoln "took the
single sheet of foolscap, held it almost to
his nose and in his high tenor voice, with
out the least attempt for effect, delivered
that most extraordinary address. There
were 1000 or 5000 people present Very
few heard what Mr.. Lincoln said, and it is
a curious thing that his remarkable words
should have made no particular impression
at the time"
COL. Lannon's STATEMENT.
Let us hear what Col. Ward H. Lamon,
one OF Mr.. Lincolns most intimate associ-
ates before as well as after his election, saws
in the Philadelphia Times, Oct. 4, 1887:
"A day or two before the dedication, Mr..
Lincoln told me he would be expected to
make a speech on the occasion; that be was
extremely busy, with no time for prepara-
ton, and that he greatly feared he would
not be able to acquit himself with credit,
much less to fill the measure of public ex-
pectatlon. From his hat the usual recepta-
Gle OF his private notes and memoranda) he
drew page of foolscap, closely written,
which he read to me, first remarking that
it was a memoranda of what he intended to
say. 1t proved to be in substance, and l
think, IN hdec UerbG, what was printed as
his Gettysburg speech. After its delivery,
he expressed deep regret that he had not
prepared it with greater care. He said to
me on the stand, immediately after
concluding the speech: 'Lamon, that
speech won't scour. 1t is a fiat failure, and
the people are disappointed On
the platform from which Mr.. Lincoln
made his address and only a moment after
its conclusion, Mr.. Seward turned to Mr..
Everett and asked him what he thought of
the Presidents speech. Mr.. Everett re-
piled: 1T was not what l expected from
him. | am disappointed In his turn Mr.,
Everett asked: What do you think of it,
Mr.. SewardP The response was: He has
made failure, and | am sorry for it. His
speech is not equal to him.. Mr.. Seward
then turned to me and asked: Mr. Mar
shall, what do you think of itp | answered:
1 am sorry to say it does not impress me
as one of his great speeches.
In the face of these facts it has
been repeatedly published that this speech
was received with great eclat by the audi
ence; that amid the tears, sobs, and cheers
1t produced in the excited throng, the ora
tor of the day, Mr.. Everett turned impul-
slvely to Mr.. Lincoln, grasped his hand, and
exclaimed: Il congratulate you on your
success adding in a transport of heated
enthusiasm: 'Ah. Mr.. President how gladly
would give all my hundred pages to be
the author of your twenty linesr All this
purely apocryphal. Nothing Of the kind
occurred. x As matter of fact.
Mr.. Lincoln's great Gettysburg speech
fell on the vast audience like a wet
blanket. X 1t was then latter Lin
coins DEATH that we began to realize that
II was indeed a masterpiece, and it then
aawned upon many minds that we had en-
~srtalned an angel unawares, who had left
us unappreciated"
GOV. CURTIN's RECoLLEcTIoNs,
Now listen to what Andrew G. Curtin,
the distinguished war Governor and states
man OF Pennsylvania, says. Remembering
10 have heard him relate the story Of the
writing and delivery Of Mr.. Lincoln's ex-
~ oOl ulldIy duureSS, Wnlcn now belongs TO
the classics of literature"-it was in May,
1873, while riding with him and others over
the battlefield, and when he pointed out to
me the house of Mr.. Wills in the village,
where, he says, he saw Mr.. Lincoln engaged
IN writing it called on him at his hotel in
enls city few days ago, and, with pencil
IN hand to make sure of his exact words,
asked him to repeat the account. He said
=, saw MIR. Lincoln writing his address in
Mr now Judge) Wills house on a long yell
low envelope. He may have written some
o Il II before. He said: Il will go and show
~ 10 Seward who stopped at another
mousse which he did, and then returned aud
copied his speech on foolscap sheet. The
people outside were now calling on Mr.. Lin
ION Tor speech, and he got me to go and
ipeak Tor him. Mr.. Lincoln rode on horse.
pack to the field, where a temporary stand
nSd been erected. After the Grafton of Mr..
Everett and the singing of dirge by the
naiUlnore Glee Club, Mr.. Lincoln
proceed to speak. He rose and pre-
elled himself in most dignitied man
GSer, becoming President of the United
o.ateS. lie pronounced that speech in a
so.ce that all the multitude heard. The
ppo% ,d was hushed into silence because the
leSldent stood before them. But at inter
G aS mere were roars of applause. My
~ Uou' 1t was so impressive. Ii was the com
CIV rnGn remark Of everybody. Such wonder
M al speech, as they said it was! Everett
doua al went and congratulated the Presi-
NVlV, shaking him by the hand -