The National tribune., 1895-02-21
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HONORING LINCOLN.
A Fine Speech at the Republican Gu

1
A Fine Speech at the Republican Club.
Lincoln's birthday, tho 18th Of February, il
| becoming more and more day TO be widely
celebrated. In New York City almost every
existing patriotic and veterans society held
some special meeting in honor of the day, and
many other cities did their part
| One of the finest was the celebration Of the
| Republican Club at Delmonico's Senator elect
Thurston. of Nebraska. was the principal
| speaker, replying 10 the toast, Abraham Lin.
con." His speech was intensely patriotic and
enthusiastically received. The following is q
small extract:
Every thoughtful student Of that great con-
| fict has discovered that up 10 the hour of the
! Emancipation Proclamation the doubtful tide
of battle set moro strongly against tho Union
| shore; that reverse followed reverse until the
| exnlting hosts of rebellion seemed certain of
| making good their boast TO proclaim the Con.
fedcraie Government from the steps of the Ma
tional Capitol. But from The h0nr when the
cause OF the Union became the cause of human
ity; from the hour when the flag of the Rcpub-
lie became the flag of liberty from the hour
when its Stars aud Stripes no longer noatod
above slave; yea, from the sacred hour of the
Nations new birth, that dear old banner never
faded from the sky, and the brave boys who
bore IL never w3yeEed in their onward march
to victory. With the single exception of Chan
celorsville, and that stubborn. doubtful day at
Chiekamauga, no decisive field of battle was
evor lost by the men who sang with redoubled
enthusiasm: .
John Browns body Ies n. n, oulderng in The grave
But bis soul goes marching on.
HAll along the line from the Potomac to the
Shenandoah, from Chattanooga TO the sea, the
war-worn. battle Scared veterans took new
hope touched elbows With a now courage, saw
in each theirs eyes n new Ere
The blue and the gray lie in eternal SUM
Der. side by side, heroes all the fell face TO
face. brother against brother, t. expiate Ma
TONS sin.
"What we need in this country is the Eman-
cipation Proclamation aud the Stars and Stripes
at every American pollng.place. We need
revival of the American flag. Let it float over
every American schoolhomse; let the true story
of every American battlefield be taught in
every public school. Set the stars OF the Union
in the hearts OF our children. and the glory of
the Republic will remain forever. 1t does not
matter whether the American cradle is rookie
to the music Of yankee Doodle" or the lul-
laby of Dixie" il the flag of the Nation is
displayed above it; and the American baby can
be safely trusted to pull about the floor the
rusty scabbard and the battered canteen,
whether the inheritance be from blue or gray if
from the breast of u true mother and the lips of
brave father its little soul is filled with the
glory OF tho american constellation. y
"On Freedoms scroll of honor the name Of
Abraham Lincoln is written first. The colossal
statue of his fame stands forever on the pedes-
tai of peoples love. About it are the up
turned gloriled faces of an emancipated race;
in its protecting shadow liberty, equal rights,
aud justice arc the heritage of every American
citizen. Tho sunshine of approving Heaven
rests upon it like an infinite benediction, aud
over it calmly floats the unconquered flag of
the greatest Nation Of the earth"
Other organizations which held celebrations
on Feb. I2 were: Young Mems Republican
Climb, Baltimore; Marquette Club and the Ma
. NAL Union, Chicago; Lincoln Club, Portland,
ale; Middlesex Club. Boston. At the Uncon.
dtional Club dinner ut Albany, N. Y, Gov.
Mckinley was the principal speaker.
MR. DEPEw's EULoGY.
Lncoln's Birthday was made the occasion
for the first annual meeting and banquet of
the Young Mems Republican Club of Vermont
at Burlington. Chauncey Depew delivered
the Grafton before most brilliant audience
He spoke at length OH the greatness, the plain
ness. aud the character of the soldiers hero:
81 remember as If it were yesterday an after.
noon with Mr.. Lincoln. | WAS but boy
though Secretary Of New York State. Horatio
Seymour was the Democratic Governor and
the Legislature was Republican. The soldiers
vote to be obtained. The Republican
Legislature NOulu uOI iIusI tlo uOYcFll0r, ana
it devolved upon me the duty OF collecting the
soldiers vote. Mr.. Lincoln looked up as |
pressed my way through the crowd in the
reception-room, and said Well, Depew, what
can do for your l said: Mr.. President,
do not want anything; | am in Washington
on a mission from our State to get out from
the armies our New York soldiers vote, and
! simply called TO pay, my respects lie said:
1t Is so rare that any ono comes here who
wants nothing! Please wait, aud / will get
rid of these people in few minutes Tho
room was soon emptied, the faithful jerry
was guarding tho door, and on the lounge the
tired President was rocking 10 and fro, hold.
ing his long knees in his arms aud telling
story after story to relieve his mind, and he
said: 'Depew. they say / tell great many
stories. 1 think do. They say lower the
dignity of the Presidential office by these
broad anecdotes. Possibly that is true. But
i have found, in the course of long expert
ence. that the plain people Of the country take
them as they are, and are more easily reached
and influenced and argued with through the
medium of n humorous illustration than in
any other way
While was there Mr.. John Ganson. CT Buf-
falo, was a member of Congress His face and
his head were hairless, and polished like a
blliard-ball. He was Democrat, but supported
the President. The conditions of the army
were very blne in the East aud in the West.
Ganson camo in one day aud said: Mr. Presi-
dent, / am risking my reelection in supporting
your war measures. The campaign seems very
unsatisfactory. or course / will not give out
anything you tell me. What is the situation
at the front?' Dir. Lincoln, in his searching
aud sad way .. looked at him for moment as if
he was about TO reveal the secret of the whole
army, and then tumblcd Ganson ont of the
reception room by saying, 'Ganson, how clean
you shave!'"