St. Paul daily globe., 1893-02-15
IN LINCOLN MS MEMORY
The Banquet Given by the
Loyal Legion Is Largely
Attended.
EX-Gov. Ramsey Delivers a
Reminiscent Address on
the Martyr President.
Gov. Nelson Also Delivers a
Feeling Talk - Other
Addresses.
List Of the Guests and Mem
bers Of the Loyal Legion
Present.

Present.
One of the largest assemblages ever
witnessed in the dining room of the
Hotel Ryan occurred last evening, the
occasion being the memorial banquet
given by the Loyal Legion i'll honor OF
the birthday of Abraham Lincoln.
The first thing OH the programme fol
the evening was the banquet, which
was attended by about 800 persons. Tn
mediately after the banquet Capt. Castle
announced that the absence of
Gen. Wesley Merritt would create
some changes i'll the programme
of the evening. He therefore
announced that the remarks of an IN
troductory character, which were tc
have been made by the commander
would be read by himself. He pro
ceeded with the reading of the paper
which had been prepared by the gen
eral, after which Gen. John B. Sanborn
presented the memorial relative to the
death of Gen. Rutherford 3. Hayes
commander-in-chie of the order. The
battle hymn of the republic was thel
sung by the Mendelssohn Male quar-.
tette. after which Gov. Nelson was
called upon for few remarks. He then
delivered the following speech:
Gov. Nelson.
"The institution of slavery had de-
based the white people of the South.
and given them peasant class, such as
was not known among the people OF the
North. This peasantry, though primi-
tive, rude and unlettered. was, never.
theless, in many essentials, far superior
to its counterpart i'll the old world.
1t was courageous to high degree,
intensely democratic in spirit, and
charged with suppressed intellectual
ity that in isolated cases and on great
occasions asserted itself. From the
very loins of this class. and as a cryS-
utilization of all the virile vigor that was
in it, came Abraham Lincoln born the
American peaSant-died the American
king.
His parentage, home and surround
ings were of the humblest kind-scarce
was there ever humber. His moral
and intellectual environment was of the
most primitive order-aS primitive as
the undeveloped country in which he
dwelt. But the embryo of true life and
vigorous growth was in him, and SO, ull-
der the sunshine aud dews of heaven,
he grew in the midst of the barrenneSs
in which he was placed, as the stout and
lofty pine grows i'll the stony cleft OF
the craggy and hoary mountain-slowly.
surely, irresistibly and heavenward.
''HlS development from childhood to
manhood, from backw woodSman to a
statesman, was saga, simple in its
unity, somber and sad in its texture, but
inspiring and heroic in its outline and
results. From Nolan creek to the banks
of the Sangamon, narrow, cherries
love was given and found in step
mother-the only sunshine on the long.
dreary journey. And that love with
which man loves but once in his life
was buried in the grave of Ann Rutledge.
From that moment love claimed and
was given less and duty more, and
from that moment he seemed dedicated
and in training for the task and mis-
sion that was to be his. Feeble minds
aSsuage grief such as was his in the
frivolous vanities Of the world. But
strong minds, fortified with pure hearts
and God-like conSciences, seek relief in
the real and substantial battle of life,
where the turmoil is the hottest
and the strife RACES the fierc-
est. Lincoln was the true em-
bodment of this class; and there
was no intellectual battle ground so
captivating, grand and inviting as that
of politics i'll the Illinois Of his day.
Gifted and equipped by nature. steeled
in the rude school of the frontiersman,
and tempered by the shadows and sor-
rows that had come upon him, he en-
tered the arena trained gladiator
ready to do battle with giants, and there
were real and aggressive giants i'll those
days. But for lack Of living issue, the
strife was for time mere skirmish on
the OutpoStS-the remote prelude to the
great drama of the century.
From the shadows and dark clouds
whence came our hero. came also in bat
tie array, the great antichrist-Slavery
which was 10 be subdued and con-
quered. Slavery, in her zeal, protruded
her advance guard into Kansas. and
there was fought a veritable lnkerman
ID battle OF stubborn and isolated
SkirmiSheS-and soon along the
entire line, from Kansas to the
Ohio, and from thence to the
Potomac, there was mastering
of clans and a skirmish fire. that to-
kened a momentouS and prolonged
struggle. In these preliminary con-
fliets there were many leaders, and
Lincoln, though one of them, was not
regarded by all as the foremost. But
on the eve of the great battle none dis
puted his chieftidnship of the mighty
hosts OF the North. He was the heart
and soul OF all our people, with faith III
them, in himself, in the cause and in
God.
''Serious and sad. were those days to
all OF us, but most of all to him, and it
made him more serious and sad than
ever. But from that great duty en-
tailed upon him by man and God he
Shrank not one iota nor little; no, not
even in those dark days when. bolder
men than he doubted and quailed.
He was braver and more valiant
than the best of us. because his
faith was loftier, and more bound
less. And he ennobled the strife,
and hallowed the cause of the Union,
by severing the last shackles of the
bondmen. He looms up to US over the
vista of the passing years as the great
spirit of that mighty whirlwind. God
gave him to us to work out a great
problem in the moral world. His task
was God-like. His life, his mission and
| his death were those of martyr. And he
sanctified the Union to us. and to our
| posterity, for all time to come.
''When can his glory fade?
Oh, the brave charge he madel
All the world wondered"
Archbishop Ireland.
Mr.. Castle then announced that Arch.