The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1891-05-22
President Harrison ut the Tomb of
Lincoln.

President Harrison at the TOmb OF
Lincoln.
SPRINGFIELD, H., May 15.-The
presidential train made an early stop
at Hannibal, Mo-, where the chief
magistrate was received with every
mark of respect. He made q short
address. Leaving Hannibal at 5:4O
the party was greeted at every subse-
quent station by enthusiastic crowds.
The train reached Jacksonville at s
o'clock, where the fire department
school children and hosts of citizens
crowded around the train and made u
demonstration of welcome.
When the train reached here its ar
rival was heralded by the firing of the
national salute and cheering by an i'm
mense crowd. The stay here was only
an hour. Governor Fifer, Mayor Law
renee, Senators Cullom and Palmer,
Representatives Springer and Hender-
son, Ex-Governor Oglesby and Colonel
Swain were among the first to greet the
visitors ana bid them welcome. Nearly
every resident of the city was given an
opportunity to see the chief magistrate
and the members of his party. The
local militia and Grand Army men and
civic organizations were drawn up in
line 1T the station and escorted the
party to the Lincoln monument in Oak
Ridge cemetery, where the formal Ger
emonies took place. Governor Fifer
delivered an eloquent address of well
come, to which the president re-
spOnded.
The president subsequently visited
the state house in company with the
governor and made an address from
his carriage. He said: The demand
for my presence in Washington is such
that l cannot protract my stay with
you this morning."
In his speech ut LincOln's tomb, Pres
iGent Harrison said: The interest OF
this journey eliminates today as we
stand here for q few moments about
the tomb of Lincoln. As | passed
through the southern states | noticed
those great centers of busy industry
which have built since the war, as |
saw how the fires in the furnaces had
been kindled where once there was
solitude, / could o but think ana say
that this hand that now lies beneath
these stone kindled and inspired all
we behold, all these fires of industry
lighted at the funeral pyre Of slavery.
The proclamation of Abraham Lincoln
can be read on all those mountain
sides, where free men now lend their
energies to the development Of the
states long under the paralysis of
human slavery. l come today to this
consecrated and sacred spot with a
heart filled with emotions of gratitude
that God, who wisely turned toward
our eastern shores a body of God-fear-
ing and liberty loving men to found
this republic. did not fail to find for us
in the hour of our extremity one who
was competent to lead the hearts and
sympathies and hold up the courage of
our people in the. time Of our greatest
national peril. The life of Abraham
Lincoln teaches more useful lessons
than any other character in American
history. You have here in keeping a
most precious trust. Toward this spot
the feet of reverent patriots of years
to come will wend their way, and as
the story of Lincoln's life is read there
will continually be spread through all
u country Influences INC hope and
inspirations to generations of children
that are yet to come. We can say
nothing here that will deepen the i'm
pressions of this great life. | have
studied it and been filed with wonder.
His life was an American product. No
other soil could produce it, and the
greatness of it has not yet been dis
covered or measured. As the inner
history of the time in which he lived
is written We find how his great mind
was turned and moved in time OF peril
and delicacy the forces Of Our country
in their home and in their foreign re-
iations with that marvellous tact. with
that never failing common sense which
characterized this man Of the people.
And what an impressive lesson we
have this morning as | see in the uni
form OF my country standing as guards
around this tomb the sons OF that race
that had been condemned to slavery
and was emancipated by his immortal
proclamation. What an appropriate
thing it is that these who were once a
despised race, whose civil rights we're
curtailed even in this state, are now
a~ffectionate guardians OF the ashes and
the tomb in which they sleep. Ii we
will ali again and again read the story
OF Lincoln's life we will find our minds
and hearts enlarged, u life and char
acter d%eepeneG, and our consecrated
devotion to the constitution and the
flag of the government which he pre-
served to US %deepened and intensified.
TApplanse. l shall go from this
tomb impressed with new thoughts as
to those who bear the responsibilities
though in less troublesome times than
the man to whose memory the soul
bows in mourning. rAppiause. l
most heartily and sincerely thank you
for this cordial welcome from Illinois,
for the interesting moments we have
spent about the tomb of that man who
would nave made the fame Of Illinois
imperishable and Springfield the Mecca
of patriotic zeal If no other man in
this glorious state had come to emf
capoa kbraham jpcO1n TCbeers |