The National tribune., 1892-02-25
LlNCOLN'S BIRTHDAY.
Address of Past COmmander-in-Chiei
Warner, at Kansas City, Mo.

manner under the direction Of the Grand
Army Posts Of that city. The following is the
address delivered by Past COmmander-in-Chief
VIM. Warner:
COMRADES. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN; -Four
score aud three years ago unto this people was
given Abraham Lincon-bOrn IN poverty
graded in adversely reared IN toll, always IA
fouch with the masses. in whatever CLINE
The people arc striving for and toward larger
liberty, there in loving hearts rs enshrned the
name of the martyred President Abraham
dincoln. Washington forever will stand IN
the front rank of the fathers who established
The Republic; Lincoln viii forever stand m the
forefront OF the patriots who preserved ms a
Nation II is fitting that the survivors Of the
men who az the call of duty went forth sing
ing We are Coming, Father Abraham, Three
Hundred Thousand More" should with
malice toward none, with charity for ALL cell
citrate the birth Of one OF the Rrandest charae-
tiers OF the ages who from the cradle 10 the
grave was Of the people.
Fiction has thrown q glamour around the
early life OF most great men in history, making
their youth encouragement rather than an
incentive to the average, plOddng poor boy.
Koprophetic afiatus Of coming greatness threw
Sc RAYS AlhWart the path OF young Lincoln.
The story of his youth and early manhood 10
one OF trials aud prvatl0ns, each recurring
day bringing its renewed struggle for the
simplest accessories of life. As child, lie was
nos prrcucious; his early manhood gave no
promise OF extraordinary talent lie had
neither The advantages OF birth, social pOsiti
or attractive figure to blaze for him the path TO
success As boy and man he was as homely as
lie was awkward, in each Of which he CZceiicd
his fellows His school room education was
crowded into few months IN log school,
house, with It's puncheon floor and long benches,
in what was then the wilderness OF Indiana.
His opportunity for obtaining information
from books was limited. The few that he could
obtain lie read and rc-.ead, while stretched
&c full length upon the h0Or Of the Oue-Toomed
cabin, by the light of the blazing wood IN the
old-lashi0ned fireplace Whatever book he
read he mastered. The story Of Robinson
Crusoe inspired him with the love OF adventure;
Esop's Fables, all of which were committed
to memory, were the foundation Of his re-
maTkable power, as lawyer and debater, TO
emphasize a condition by apt illustration. The
Life OF Henry Clay established his political
faith. His first political speech, made in 1892,
when au unsuccessful candidate for the Illinois
Legislature, consisted Of 20 words. He then
said: My politics are briefly stated. ] am in
favor OF tile internal improvement system and
q high protective tariff These are my senti-
ments and political principles" The Life Of
Washington taught him the story Of the Rey0ul-
tion and imbueG HE youthful mind with intense
Patriotism patriotism grRndly manifested
wien the Nation was in the thToes OF impend-
ing disoution-a patriotism sealed with his
blood Burns was bis layorite poet. The
humanity OF the Scottish bard was in touch
with his own The Bible be not only read,
but ii was his text book. He believed IN a
personal God, taking cognizauce Of the affairs
Of Nations This belief he emphasized on
election day in the ever memorable contest
between him and Douglas when informed that
the ministers Of the Gospel were voting against
him. To q near friend he then said, They
have not read the Bible as j read il !" then
adding They don't care whether slavery is
voted up or down; but God cares and human
ity cares. j know that there il a God. and that
be hates injustice and slavery" Then, as If
gifted with prophetic vision, he exclaimed, "
see tic storm coming, and ] know that His
hand if n H. If he has place and work FOR
me, aud think He has, believe ] am ready.
] am nothing. but Truth is everything I
know ] am right because / know that iii.
erty is right. for Christ teaches It, and Christ
u God" Verify, the spirit OF the Lord was
upOn him.
The vail was rent one glance into futurity
was permitted him. Why not he the son Of
the despised white trash" be given guiding
place IN the coming storm when the son Of tie
Hebrew 6ondw0man was the chosen instrument
ln the hand OF Providence TO deliver a nation
from bondage2 Over and beyond what ne OBJ
tEined from books, there ever with him
controlling influence for good. That influence
was the genius and prayers Of a mother
physically irail, bot spiritually strong. ia the
zenith Of bis greatness he rcverently said /:
CAL that ] am or hope 10 be ] owe to nav angel
mother blessings on her mem0ryl ] rcmem-
Der her prayers aud they have always followed
me They have chung 70 me all my life"
No more tenderly did he cherish tho memory
OF his sainted mother than this people cherish
the memory Of their saiuied President
Lincoln was never ashamed Of his humble
birth, nor did lie ever turn his back upon his
former friends in poverty. He believed IN the
dignity Of labor and the nobility Of toll recOg-
niZiug 1t 81 honorable for q man 10 earn Lis
living by the sweat OF his brow. Even as q
boy be bad within him the elements that lead
10 greatHess-brain, industry, frugalty, and
honesty. The point al which these qualities
converge mark the only royal road 70 success
under tic genius OF our institutions His life
was that Of the ordinary boys and young men
who work as common laboreFs at whatever their
hands fad 10 do. His good nature always in
Bured him friends; his industry found him
employment Up 20 the time Of his admission
a. the bar, mt the age Of q, his life was IN.
eycutiul. il could be httingly summed up az
be expressed it. In the single line from Gray'l
Legy, The short and simple annals OF the
poor"
IN whatever employment he was engaged
whether a. farm hand ferryman, running {
hat-b0at, clerk, surveyor, or rRil-Bplitter q
AiNl All1 ihA4Nl WIZ nbAblhult 10 Tue man. III
was ambitious; his ambition nervCd him h
qualify himself by constant application fol
whatever position be might be called 20 fll
Wien engaged In splitting rails he realized
that he was as much the equal Of any Other
man a. when inaugurnted President Of IN,
United States. he was always what lie seemed
never Bringing 10 position OF hattering wealth
Years before his admission 10 the bar his In
nate candor, honesty and truthfulnoss had
earned for him the title 20 nobility, Homes
Abe j" title he never dish0norod an an abbre
Walton he never outRrew.
While &C New Orleans with bis fat-boat Il,
witnessed a scene that lid much toward shap
ing hls after life. TWAS then for the first time
he saw men and women on account Of thsi
color chained and scouFged Ia the slave-pens
This 10 outraged his sense Of Justice and hu
manity that thenceiOrth lie became tie i'm
placalie enemy 20 the further extension OF !
system that rendered such crimes possible
Little did the then poor and unknown Ken
lucky youth imagine that this was a part o
the education 10 nc him for the great work fo
which Tie Master was preparing him. Ia les
then three decades from that time Homes
Abe, The Rail Splitter" was the slogan for IN
gathering Of the clans, the tramp tramp o
whose coming feet sounded the death knoll 4
human slavery.
The liieiof this great American offers as mucl
instruction, encouragement and inspiration a
any ln the annals Of time 20 the strnpclin
boy however poor, possessing brain, industry
HuRaiiiy, and honesty IL leads such a one !