Los Angeles herald., 1890-04-16
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
'Twenty-tifth Anniversary OF
His Death.
Appropriate Exercises Held at
His Tomb
The Loyal Legion in COnvocation
at Philadelphia.
An Address Made by Rutherford B
Hayes Extolling the Martyred Pres
ident's Many Virtues.
Associated Press Dispatches.

SPRINGFIELD, ILL.,, April 15.-The
twenty-fifth anniversary of the death of
Abraham Lincoln was appropriately
celebrated today under the auspices of
the Lincoln Memorial League. There
were thousands of strangers in the city,
including large delegation of the G.. A.
r. and one OF the Turn Verein. The
city was decorated with flags in mourn
ing. There was a large procession to
the Lincoln monument, where me-
mortal exercises were held. The monu-
ment and sarcophagus were profusely
decorated. President Harrison and
other prominent men sent letters of
regret.
PHILADELPHIA, April 15.-The two
days celebration of the twenty-fifth
anniversary of the military order of the
Loyal Legion began this morning. All
the incoming trains brought comman-
deries from various States. 1t is esti-
mated that when all have arrived the
attendance will number about $500
companies. At the meeting of the COM
mandery-in-chief, this morning, Ruther-
ford B. Hayes, Commander-in-C of
the order, presided.
General Wagner Swayne, OF New York,
offered a resolution: that at the next an
nual meeting the constitution be changed
to permit the formation of commandery
in London for the benefit of companies
residing abroad. The matter was dis
cussed till recess without action.
At the afternoon session General
Swayne's resolution was withdrawn
because of the belief expressed by many
that it would be a dangerous precedent
to change the constitution.
A resolution for the abolition of grades
was voted down.
At the Academy of Music tonight GER
emonies incident to the celebration of
the twenty-fifth anniversary of the or
der were held. The building was pro-
fusely and beautifully decorated. Many
distinguished men were on the stage,
and the building was crowded with an
audience of companions of the order and
invited guests.
Several brief addresses were made, in
Guiding one by ex-President Hayes,
Commander-in-C He spoke briefly
of the many tributes to Lincoln, and
said 'They bring us to the question:
Our beloved society, the Loyal Legion,
what is it doing? What can it do wor-
thy of Lincoln's fame? Our highest
striving must be to support and
advance the work Lincoln did in be-
half of his country and all the world.
What were the ideas by which Lincoln
became forever the type, representa-
tive, very incarnation of the spirit and
purpose Of the divine war? Our reply
is Humanity; anxious solicitude for
the welfare of his fellow men; sympathy
with the oppressed and suffering; hatred
of wrong to the humblest human being
of our common brotherhood. These
sentiments and sentiments like these,
filling his soul and the guides of his life,
are at once the secret and sure founda-
ton of the enduring place which
Lincoln holds in the affection of all
mankind. Nowhere can the les
sons of his wonderful life be
more fifty studied nor more fondly cher
ished than in this army society, which
traces it's origin to that awful time when
the ending Of that life was felt as per-
sonal bereavement by all who fought the
good fight that was so ennobled and con-
secrated by the death of its martyr chief.
That lesson, while it contains almost the
whole future of our country, is short and
simple. Our America today is drawing
near to the parting of the
roads. Dazzled almost to blindness
swiftness and splendor of her march to
prestige, to power and to riches, our
country may be tempted to reject, or
may neglect the message of Abraham
Lincoln-that message often repeated by
him in words, and always exhibited in
his life. 1t can be easily given in sim
pie sentence. His whole life seemed to
say to his countrymen: See to
it that every son and daughter of our
republic, so far as human laws and hu-
man conduct avail, shall have an equal
chance and fair start in the race of life.
Reject or neglect this and our Govern
ment ceases to be republic except in
name, and that doom which the
.tlmighty has appointed for all shams is
not far off. On the other hand, let the
American people, especially all who
stood by Lincoln on the perilous edge Of
human, remain steadfastly true to the
ideas for which they fought, and
we shall thus do all that in us
lies to link the destiny of our coun-
try to the stars, and to entitle her
institutions to share in that inn
mortality which, under the allotment of
Providence in the affairs of nations, be-
longs always and only to eternal justice. :"
The speech was received with great
applause. A feature of the evening was
the beautiful musical programme rem
dered by the marine band. At the con-
clusion of the ceremonies the companions
went to the Union League Club, where
a serenade was rendered them.
Increased Representation.