The record-union., 1893-03-10
INGEERROOLL'S ELOQUENT WORDS.
His Mastery Tribute to the Memory
of Abraham Lincoln.
Words That VIII Live in the
Minds of Men For All
Future Time.

At the annual dinner of the Repub-
lican Club in memory of Lincoln, held i'll
New York City February llth, Hon.
Robert g. Ingersoll paid another tribute
to the character and memory of the
martyr President. The following is
taken from the account of the dinner as
published i'll the New York Tribune:
Then Mr.. Smith, in few appropriate
sentences, introduced Colonel Robert c..
Ingersoll as one who had met Mr.. Lin
coin in Illinois many years ago. The
/ presence of Colonel Ingersoll was itself
an inspiration in such gathering, and
he received a hearty, whole-souled well
come. He read portion of his famous
tribute to Abraham Lincoln, delivered at
indianapolis i'll 1876. Some of those pres
I ent had read it; to the majority, however,
it was entirely new, to all it was a liter
ary and an oratorical treat, unanticipated
but appreciated il all its beauty OF die
ton and eloqueuce of delivery. All
| listened eagerly and at times breath
| lessiy, and at the close there was a per-
feet torrent OF applause. THESE are some
extracts from what TO some is familiar
but ever admirable discourse, eulogistic
OF great American patriot:
hundreds of people are now engaged in
smoothing out the lines OF Lincoln'S face
forcing all features to the common
mold-So that he may be known, not as
he really was, but, according to their
poor standard, as he should have been.
Lincoln was not tyne. He stands
alone-no ancestors; no fellows and no
successors. Lincoln never finished his
education. To the night of his death he
was pupil, learner, an inquirer, a
seeker after knowledge. Y ou have no
idea how many men are spoiled by what
is called education. For the most part
colleges are places where pebbles are pol
ished and diamonds are dimmed. If
Shakespeare had graduated at Oxford he
might have been quibbling attorney or
a hypocritical person.
Lincoln was great lawyer. There is
nothing shrewder in this world than in
telligent honesty. Perfect candor is sword
| and shield. lie was an orator-clear, sim
| cere, natural. He did not pretend. He
did not say what he thought others
thought, but what he thought. If you
wish to know the difference between an
orator and an elocutionist-between what
is felt and what is said-between what
| the heart and brain can do together and
what the brain can do alone-read Lin
coins wondrous speech at Gettysburg
and then the speech OF Edward Everett.
| The Grafton of Lincoln will never be
| forgotten. 1t will live until languages
are dead and lips are dust. The speech
Of Everett will never be read.
Lincoln was an immense personality
firm but not obstinate. Obstinacy is
| egotism-firmness, heroism. He influ-
enced others without effort, unconscious
! ly; and they submitted to him as men
submit to ture-unconsciously. He
was severe with himself, and for that rea-
| son lenient with others.
| He appeared to apologize for being
! kinder than his fellows.
He did mercitul things as stealthily as
| others committed crimes.
Almost ashamed of tenderness, he said
and did the nobleSt words and deeds with
! that charming confusion, that awkward
ness, that is the perfect grace of modesty.
He wore no official robes either on his
body or his soul. He never pretended to
| be more or less, or other, or different,
from what he really was.
He was neither tyrant nor slave. He
neither knelt nor scorned.
With him men were neither great nor
small-they were right or wrong.
Through manners, clothes, titles, rags
| and race he saw the real-that which is.
Beyond accident, policy, compromise
and war he saw the end.
He was patient as Destiny, whose un-
decipherable hieroglyphs were so deeply
craven on his sad and tragic face.
1t is the glory of Lincoln that, having
| almost absolute power, he never abused
it, except on the side of mercy.
Wealth could not purchase, power
could not awe, this divine, this loving
man.
lie knew no fear except the fear of
doing wrong. Hating slavery, pitying
| the master-seeking to conquer, not per-
sons, but prejudices-he was the embodi-
! ment OF the self-denial, the courage, the
hope, and the nobility OF a nation.
He spoke not to lnfiame, not to up
braid, but to convince.
He raised his hands, not to strike, but
in benediction.
He longed to pardon.
He loved to see the pearls of joy on the
checks of wife whose husband he had
rescued from death.
Lincoln was the grandest figure of the
fiercest civil war He is the gentlest
memory of our world.