Delaware gazette and state journal., 1896-01-23
ADDRESS BY COL. WATTERSON.
His Interesting Portrayal Of the Life OF
Abraham IAuculn.

ADrhhum iibcoln.
Hon. Henry Watterson. Of Kentucky
delivered a eulogy on Abraham Lincoln
in the Opera House Thursday night.
Tho lecture was under the auspices of
du Pont Post, G. A. X. \ cordial re-
ception was given to Col. Watterson as
he came upon the stage in company
with Peter b. Ayars, chairman of the
@. A. Il. committee, and Chief Justice
Charles B. Lore. Upon the platform
were seated the Rev. L. Il. Barrett,
Judge Leonard e. Wales, j. II.
Hotfecker, Job II. jackson, William
Michael Byrne, Collector of the Port
George II. Townsend, j. n. Carswell,
Thomas r. Lawson, Daniel Ross, Col.
John Wainwright, Col. William B.
Norton, Thompson A. Mcclure and A.
Fl. Berlin.
In one of the boxes we're ex. Gov.
Robert J. Reynolds, Judge Charles NJ.
Cullen and Judge David L. Marvel.
As Col. Watterson came into view Of
the audience, quartet comprising @.
i. Cline, Waiter Bennett, Harry
Daily and Boyd Cook, with Miss
Bertha Elliott, as accompanist, began
singing "Old kentucky Home,
After the Offering of prayer by Presi-
dent Elder Barrett, Chairman Ayars
introduced Chief Justice Lore as the
presiding officer.
With few appropriate remarks the
Chief Justice presented Col. Waiter
son as the orator OF the evening. The
great Southern statesman was greeted
with applause as he arose to speak.
In opening he referred to the leaders
OF the country in the early days
Of the republic and spoke of Lincoln S
humble origin. He gave Col. A. X.
| McClure's description Of visit Ia
Lincoln after his election to the Presi-
dency, and Lincoln's description Of
himself.
The speaker declared that Lincoln's
political philosophy was embodied in
four speeches He was an old-ine
Whig, of tho Henry Clay school. Fol-
years be had been preparing for en-
trance into public life, and from being
unknown he came to be famous. Col.
Watterson discussed Lincoln's speech
in the debate with Douglass to show
Lincoln's ability. The speaker also
paid tribute to Douglass.
Col. Watterson stood near Lincoln
when he delivered his inaugural ad.
dress, and said that he delivered it as
if he had been delivering inaugural adj
dresses all his life lie was struck by
Lincoln's composuro and dignity.
There was not time from his entrance
into the White House until he went to
his tragic death, that Lincoln did not
dominate the nation. His was the
master hand, his the guiding spirit in
his cabinet.
The colonel then took up Lincoln'e
relations to the South. The South did
not know except by hearsay, that be
was the one man who had the will and
the power to protect the South from
| itself.
1t was Lincoln's idea to pay for the
slaves, but that was not done because
it was the will of God, 1t was Gods
will that every yestige of slavery should
be- obliterated.
Lincoln was the one friend of the
South at court when friends were few.
The cruellest blow that could have
struck the South was the assassin Is
bullet which struck him down.
Speaking Of his writings, the orator
said that tho Gettysburg address writ
ten by lead pencil on pad in railway
car is enough TO show his command OF
the language.
Lincoln stood in actual awe of the
constitution. He approached the ques.
tlon OF emancipation very cautiously.
lie was a brave, far seeing, conscientious
man.
His was the genius of common sense,
of common.s sense in action, Of common.
sense increased by experience. He was
inspired as Shakespeare was inspired,
as Burns was inspired
The speaker declared that no theme
of mankind will he followed with
deeper feeling than that which tells his
life and death.
The meeting closed with the singing
Of the "Star Spanglod Bannor. :,