The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1896-10-08
Celebration OF The T!ilty-eighth
Anniversary &: Calesburg,
Illinois,
Opened by the Dedication of q
Soldiers Monument in Hope
Cemetery.
Addresses by Hen. Robert T.
Lincoln, Chauncey NJ. Depew
and Others.

GALEsBuRG, Ills, Oct. s.-The cele-
tration of the 3Sth anniversary of the
Lincoln Douglas debate opened with the
dedication Of soldiers monument IN
Hope cemetery. The principal busi-
ness streets are appropriately decorated
and there are present large number
of visitors. From . until 10 O'Clock,
the gold standard Democrats rendered
Senator Palmer reception at Browns
hotel. Then procession was formed
led by the Knox college cadets. The
procession reviewed by DR.. Chauncey
M. Depew of New York, Robert L.
Lincoln, Chicago, S. s. Mcclure, editor
of McClure's magazine; w. q. Coch- |
ran, department commander OF the
Illinois Grand Army Of Republic,
and other distinguished visitors
and all the pupils Of the city schools.
The exercises at the momument took
place immediately afterwards Ncner.
oble Dr. Richard Haney offered prayer.
Then Hon Robert T. Lincoln, Chicago,
unveiled the monument and delivered
an address, in the coarse OF which he
said:
One great lesson to lie lcarred from the
lives of these men buried here, and their
comrades, is that there is no danger to
the republic so glc.t that it may not be
overcome by the union Of patriotism.
Nothing can be so al pllling as was the
assault Of those who wished to destroy 1t
85 years ago. In its defense blood was
! shed in torrents and trcasur expended i'll
inconccivablc sums; but it was saved and
it was worth the cost.
And now let us dedicate this monument
to the memory of these patriots OF Gales
burg and to patriotism. 1t is not a mon
ument of pride, put up by the yictors in
the flush of their conquest. Since the close
Of the great trouble which it commemO-
rates, victors and vanquished> have
by thousands and tens OF
thousands followed into the sleep of
death under The peaceful shadow of
their home With few exceptions, the
names of those who We're in high places Of
state on either side, or who led armies or
corps or divisions in battle, or commanded
squadrons on the sea, are in the great
catalogue Of the dead To those who sur
viye, the memories brought up by an
occasion like this have long ceased to re-
call the exultation Of victory one one side
or the grief of defeat on the other. The
reflections of more than 30 years have
turned the once bitterly warning streams
Of sentiment into one broad river, on
whose current Ia borne in safety and glory
the ship of state, and no one lives under
the protection of it's flag who does not at
heart rejoice that the rock OF disunion
was exploded from it's path and the canker
of human slavery torn from its frame
work.
After Mr.. Lincoln spoke, Department
Commander Cochran delivered an ora.
ton and was followed by Mrs. Mary E.
McCauley, department president of the
Illinois Woman's Relief Corps. The
monument is of granite, surmounted
by figure Of soldier.
The principal address of the occasion
was delivered by Chauncey M. Depew
He said:
Abraham Lincoln was not an accident
but development. He did not leap into
leadership at bound but earned the po
sition by laborious preparation and fre
ouent demonstrations of supreme ability
1t ia only 80 years since the country wa.
shocked as never before by his assassina
ton, and yet to the vast majority of tn,
American people he Is already legendar!
character, and the human elements whiol
endeared him to his generation are for
gotten.
We have made history so rapidly in tn
last quarter of century that even thrill
ing events of the civil war can no lOnge
conjure votes or move audiences. Mem
orial day, which was once period OF pas
sion and sorrow, Is now poplar picni
and childrens holiday.
Must Recall C0ndit ons.
To understand the significance of tn
meeting here 33 years ago, between Lin
coin and Douglas, we must recall the cor
ditions under which they fought; reviv
the question which caused parties to rus
from partisanship to rebellion, and reir
carnate the CONTESTANTS on this famou
field. The apparent contest was the stat.
hood of Kansas, but both the orators an
the people knew that the tremendous issu
was between freedom and slavery, the tli
solution Of the Union Oh. its perpetaity.--
Upon this platform and on this yer
spot, 81 years ago, stood these intellectu,
n athletes, Lincoln and Douglas. Neithe
they nor the vast audience which enjoye
U their thrusts and parries cheered their 9