Los Angeles herald., 1891-05-15
ON THE HOME RUN.
The Presidential Train Near
ing Washington.
Yesterdays Stops in Illinois
and Indiana.
At Springfield the Party Visited
LincOln's Tomb.
AT Indianapolis Large Portraits of the
Little Man Were Hung on the
Outer Walls.
Associated Press Dispatches.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill.,, May 14.-The presi-
Dental train made an early stop at Han
nibal, Mo-, where the chief magistrate
was received with every mark of re-
spect. He made short address. Leav-
ing Hannibal at 5:40, the party was
greeted at every subsequent station
by enthusiastic crowds. The train
reached Jacksonville at o'clock, where
the fire department, school children, G.
A. R. posts and citizens crowded around
the train and made a demonstration of
welcome.
When the train reached Springfield,
its arrival was heralded by the firing of
national salute and cheering
by an immense crowd. Governor Fifer,
Mayor Lawrence, Senators Cullom and
Palmer, Representative Springer and
Henderson, Ex-Governor Oglesby and
Colonel Twain were among the first to
greet the visitors and 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 G.. A. r.
men and civic organizations were drawn
up in line at the station, and escorted
the party to the Lincoln monument, in
Oakridge cemetery, where the formal
ceremonies took place. Governor Fifer
delivered an eloquent address of well
come, to which the president responded.
In his speech the president said ''In-
terest in this journey eliminates today
as we stand here for few moments
about the tomb OF Lincoln. As Ipassed
through the southern states and noticed
those great centers of busy industry
which have been built since the war; as
l saw how fires in furnaces had been
kindled where there was once solitude,
/ could not but think and say: This
hand that now lies beneath these
stones kindled and inspired all we be-
hold; all these fires OF industry were
lighted at the funeral pyre of slavery.
The proclamation of Abraham
Lincoln can be read on all
these mountain sides, where free
men are now bending their energies
to the development of states long under
the paralysis of human slavery. leone
today to this consecrated and sacred
spot, with my heart filled with emotion
and gratitude that God, who wisely
turned towards our eastern shores God
fearing 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 the most
precious trust. Toward this spot the
feet of reverent patriots of years to come
will wend theireway, and the story OF
Lincoln's life, as read here, will contin
ually be spread through all our country,
influencing the hope and inspiration OF
generations OF children that are yet un-
born. We can say nothing that will
deepen the impressions of this great life
j have studied it only to be filled with
wonder. His life was an American pro-
duct. No other soil could produce it,
and the greatness of it has not yet been
discovered 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
directed the forces of the country in their
home and their foreign relations, with
that marvellous tact, with that never
failing common sense which character
lied this man of the people. And what
an impressive lesson we have this morn
ing, as l see in the uniform of my coun-
try, standing as guard around this
tomb, the sons of thatrace who had been
condemned to slavery, and was emanci-
pated by his immortal proclamation
What an appropriate thing it is that
those who were once despised race,
whose civil rights were curtailed even
in this state, are now the affectionate
,r1s h Al.
which they sleep! If we will all again
and again read the story of Lincoln's
life, we will find our minds and hearts
enlarged; our life and character deep
ened, and our consecrated devotion to
the constitution and the flag of the gov
eminent which he preserved to us,
deepened and intensified.
The president made an address from a
carriage. He said: "The demand for
my presence in Washington is such that
L cannot protract my stay here with
you this morning. Most heartily and
sincerely l thank you for this cordial
welcome from Illinois; for the interest
ing moments we have spent about the
tomb of that man, who has made the |
fame of Illinois imperishable, and |
Springfield the Mecca for patriotic feet.
No other man in the history of the
state has ever come to the eminence
Abraham Lincoln in his life achieved" |
81 shall go from this tomb, impressed |
with new thoughts as to the RESPONSE
bilities of those who administer the
government, though in less troublesome
times than that man to whose memory
my soul bows this morning"
When the President closed, he was
presented by Governor Fifer, in behalf |
OF the citizens of Petersburg, ILL.,, gold
headed cane made from Lincoln's store
building, at New Salem.
Speeches were also made bv Post
master-General Wanamaker and Secre-
tary Rusk, during which time the Presi-
dent and Governor Fifer proceeded to |
the state house, where large crowd |
had collected.