The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-02-13
II Not, to Whom Did A. ]. Craven
Refer TO In His
Speech2
An Address Delivered at the Cole
bration OF Lincoln's Birth
day Anniversary.
Memory Of tho Martyrsd Prssi-
dent.

E W
ton In Grand Army hall last night. Mem
bcrs Of the Grand Army Of the Republic.
with their wives and daughters, and the
sons Of veterans with their sweethearts and
sisters attended in force. George A. Free
man opened tho meeting in a few well
chosen remarks, in which he called atten-
tion to the object OF tho gathering. Then
the veterans and the Sons of Veterans
Joined in singing America, after which
Il. e.. Worden delivered the address OF
welcome. Miss Eva Miller favored tho
assemblage with piano solo.
Hon A. j. Craven delivered tho address of
the evening. He referred in glowing lam
guage to the fame Of Abraham Lincoln.
Ellis position among the consultations Of
the heavens, whose brightness and glory IL
lumine all the highways and by paths Of
history, are fixed and determined-un-
changeable as the efuigsnt glory of the
planets,'' said the speaker.
Sometimes it il trne,'' he continued,
'the worlds great men are little appreciated
in their time. Often. like Il supernatural
being, they como centuries before their race
can recognize their faces, their teacher,
beneiactor and leader. But public o Union
in the long run ID generally correct and
humanity at large, thou I'll struggling long
with the evidence submitted, ma 8 no
mistake in its final verdict" After sketch
ing in beautiful language the Lowry birth in
the rough 9 cabin in the Kentucky
woods, the speaker continued: 'What q
great thing it WAS TINT his father was poor
II had to work What a token of the fu-
ture that the eyes of tho babe looked up to
the oof hay matched or covered with the
rough shingles his father had split from the
logs. History has demonstrated that the
boy born with q golden spoon in his mouth
usually has a glass eye also. parts his hair
in the middle and lisps. II Lincoln's father
had been a preacher, tire boy, in
the first place, would likely have
starved to death in the youth
would have honored his father and mother,
especially his father, by going into the
the garden truck and poultry business. II
his father had been a doctor, the boy would
haze made q bee line to the pulpit, vainly
hoping TO- save as many as
If his father had been a congressman, he
would likely have Travelled abroad after
taking a course in the reform school, until
the old man died of Bright's diseade or
apoplexy, and then come pack and lived
with his mother, sometimes rejoicing in the
pleasures Of a full house and generally put
ting up for his ante. And il his father
had happened to be president he would
likely have busied himself lobbying about
the departments, bargaining for a percent
age OF the salaries of those whom he got
appointed to office, giving glowing recon-
and soap, in consideration Of their furnish
ing these articles to the White house, free
OF charge; ard IT he showed remarkable
genius. he might possibly get to be editor
in the advertising department of some
comic New York paper. As it Wsis, his
fnfhnr Eng nuIu n common nUnru- n a q ,,,o
owning nothing in the world bat a squat
tcr's right there in the Kentucky woods.
But, nevertheless, his son made his mark"
Abraham Lincoln" continued the
speaker, ''passed from the p~rairies Of I'LL.
nois to the presidents CHAIR. All his past
life had been a school Of training for his
peculiar work. His birth and toll, all his
comminglines and the struggles incident to
pioneer life, had developed strength and
honesty of character, end q spirit which
had learned its independence from the
lofty forests which Swallowed the paths of
his boyhood, from the rivers he had
piloted and from the plains and prairies he
had travelled. Lincoln was the product of
the woods which sent him forth. of the
daily toll which fastened the impress of her
divinity upon him and commissioned him d
herald to proclaim anew the doctrine of the
universal equality of human rights. With
the declaration of independence as his
chart, to launched boldly out upon the
troubled waters. Nutiny conspired within,
the pillows ragged and swelled without, yet
ever steady at the helm he rode the storm,
and with al the patience and all the sub
Unity of faith possessed BY Columbus in
quest OF q continent, he read the stars
Alright in the darkest skies and anchored
the ship in the long sought harbor of
national peace"
A pleasant feature of tho entertainment
WAS the eloquent and beautiful response to
1.-The Ladies' by Col. Bradshaw, OF Butte.
The people of Helena have previously had
occasion to hear this eloquent Yord painter.
who might be properly termed III ontana's
lngersoll. He took a very different course
In compiimenting woman from that gener-
ally pursued by men who talk on the deli
cate subject. MAN never accomplished
enything without the aid of woman,' was
his opening Sentence. '.Hergchei never dis
covered tho planet until his sister Rachel
said move the telescope a little to the
right and then a newborn planet flashed
upon the world. Morse invented the tele-
graph, but no living man could aid him;
only his daughter Harriet could return tho
message he sent. Columbus thought a new
world into existence. but. no man living
bad wisdom enough to appreciate the fact.
A woman came to his rescue. and declared
that though she should pluck jewels from
the diadeJn OF royalty, he should have
means to sail the deep and demonstrate
that there was q new country.
Though Milton could think himself
through poetic neasnres into immortal
fame, yet it was the sanctiiied and plorified
fingers of his daughter that blessed us with
power to read them.
You may try the hardest wretch thai
ever whistled in the wind, as he hurled h is
shrieking victim beneath tbs waves of the
deep, dark blue sea, and ask him what it ia
that makes him regret having led a life of
crime. and he will tell you it is the mem
DRY of some good woman he knew in his
earlier, innocent days. o may bring the
purest Christian that ever kneIt on affairs,
wheFe saints perfected worship, and ask
him whati il is. and who it il. that most
stimulates him to devotion, and he
will tell you it il the example
and memory of come pure, good
woman. You may pass from earth away,
and enter the paradise of God and bring
tallest angel that ever dipped bis wings in
the light of glory, or warbled a note of
praise around the throne of God. and ask
him who it is that most inspires and slim
mates his angelic life and he will tell you
1t Is the name OF Mary. mother of Christ"
Col. Bradshaw thus neld the large audience
in profound interest, and those who heard
MIN before say 1t was one OF bis best efforts.
de Was applauded TO the echo az he CON
clude his glowing tribute to woman.
marching Through Georgia. was sung
with great effect. b. b. Bray delivered q
recitation, and Mr.. r.. E. Burton made a
closing address. The celebration closed
with singing. After tho SGT exercises those
present INDUCED in coffee, sandwiches and
beans. Dancing was then begun and kept
up till u late hour.