Kansas City daily journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1892-1897, 1896-10-08
LINCOLN-DOUGLAs MEETING CON-
MEMORATED At GALEsBURG.
DEPEW THE CHIEF ORATOR.
PAYS An ELOQUENT TRIBUTE TO
THE MARTYRED PRESIDENT.
Hon. Robert Lincoln, Son of DOuElas'
Opponent, Delivers nm Address-
Other Speakers Were $. $.
Mcclure. Frank HnmIin
and senator Palmer.

coln-Douglas debate by Knox college TO-
day surpassed the expectations of its pro-
,noters. The exercises were heard by thou
sands of people. The chief event of the
day was an Grafton by. Chauncey NJ. De-
pew, who was introduced by President
John II. Finley as the greatest orator of
the day.
Hon. Robert Lincoln. who followed Mr..
Depew. emphasized the fact that in the
long run the people are always right. He
expressed profound gratitude for the tri-
butte paid to the memory of his father.
$. $. Mcclure, of New York. spoke of the
college raising Lincoln science hall as an
enduring monument to commemorate the
debate and the memory of Lincoln.
Frank Hanlin. OF Chicago, son of Vice
President Hamlin. Lincolns associate, made
a brief address.
The address of Senator John NJ. Palmer.
the friend of both Lincoln and Douglas.
followed and was an hour in length. In
comparison of the men, he commended Lin
coins ability and logical frankness. Sena-
tor Palmer placed high estimate on the
cervices of Mr.. Douglas. saying his ac-
auantance with him ripened into a most
profound respect for his great abilities.
The reception at the seminary after the
exercises was attended by hundreds
Mr.. Depew, in the course of his oration,
said. IN part: Abraham Lincoln was not
4
not leap into leadership at a bound. but
earned the position by laborious prepara-
ton and frequent demonstrations of su-
preme ability. 1t is only thirty years since
the country was shocked as never before
by his assassination and yet to the vast
majority of the American people he is al
ready legendary character, and the hui
man elements which endeared him to his
generation are forgotten. We have made
history so rapidly in the last quarter of a
century that even the thrilling events of
the civil war can no longer conjure votes
or move audiences Memorial day. which
was once period Of passion and sorrow,
is now popular picnic and cllldrens holi-
day.
TO understand the significance OF the
meeting here thirty-eight years ago. be-
tween Lincoln and Douglas. we must re-
create the conditions under which they
fought, revive the question which caused
parties to rush from partisanship to re-
bellion. and reincarnate the combatants on
this famous field. The apparent contest
was the statehood OF Kansas, but both the
orators and the people know that the trem-
endous ISSUE was between freedom and
slavery, the dissolution of the Union or its
perpetuity
Upon this platform and on this very
spot. thirty-eight years ago to-day, stood
these intellectual athletes-L.incoln and
Douglas. Neither they nor the vast audi
ence which enjoyed their thrusts and par
ries. cheered their effective blows. and were
entranced by their eloquence, knew how
rapidly they were making history; how
ably they were preparing the most import
ant chapter In the story of the nineteenth
century. II WIS the battle eternally going
on. often lost. but never won,' between
principle and expediency. Lincoln, con-
ciously, and Douglas, unconsciously. were
preparing the people of the free states for
the sacrifices of civil war and the preser-
walton of the national life. 1t is to the
eternal honor and glory of Douglas that
when the war broke out the partisan be-
antagonist President Lincoln, his Cnaual-
flied support.
For the questions they- debated here.
hundreds of thousands of our countrymen
died upon the field of battle. The South
fought as Americans can fight for what
they believed 10 be right, and the North
fought as Americans can fight for what
time fas demonstrated was the right Two
millions of volunteer soldiers helped Lin
COIN ENFORCE his message TO the disunionists
IN ms At speech at the commencement of
this debate: We will no. go out of the
Union and you shall not. The famous con-
troversy over the house divided against
ftse!f. nowhere discussed more bitterly than
mere on this platform. ended at Appomatox
The house did not fail. but it did become
an free The new South, the peopled
West. 'hn enriched East. and the prosper
ous North can calmly review the issues
which SO radically divided them in the
past, and reverently thank God that in
the hnai conflict and its settlement the
leader o. the forces OF Union ard liberty
was the great-hearted. broad-souled. wise
Drained man of love and charity-Abrabam m
Lincoln AS
ZION Robert T. Lincoln, in the course of
his address said. "
one great lesson TO be learned frou ,bs
hres of these men buried here and ,bo;r
ce"rades iS that there is no danger to
the reorblic so great that II may NOT be
overcome by the union of patriotis,,
Nothinr can be 50 appalling as was tho
assault of those who wished to des.roy q,
thirtf-ive years ago. In its defense blood
was sheh In torrents. and treasure exnend
"h III ihcohceiNhbie sums: but It was saved
and il was worth the cost Tho ran,,hr;
may have banded enemies who are M,
armed hosts. In the mind or /, ,nyo- -
his country. there is no difference between
an attack upon its territory and an atf,cl,
upon its honor. When either is lost all
IS lost that gives the pride OF citjzens5in
OF great country. In the defense of ono
as IN the defense of the other, there must
he a sacrifice of all private fnteres. a
sinking OF all mere party feelings-eacb
citizen must listen. not to the sonh;s,rios
addressed 10 his suspected base selfshrnss
hut TO tho voice OF his own conscience This
Is what was done by the patriots in eyarv
national crisis. Their union was tr.-, ~.
Ntnciblc and their union viii always ,e
lnrincible. Anl now. let MS dedicate This
monument 20 the memory Of thcs.. Datriot,.
Of GalesburG. and to patriotism. II is
not monument of pride. pu. ,lp nv th..
rictors in the flush OF their sounuas,
Since the close OF the ,yrel. trouble vic
tors and vanuushed have. hy thous,nds
and tens of thousands. fallen into the slcen
OF DEATH under the peaceful shelter of
'heir nome. Whh Few exceptions. the
names of those who were In high rlares
of state on either side. who led armies or
corps, or commanded squadrons on the sea
are In the great catalogue of the an,d
To those who survive, the memories
brought mp by an occasion Ike this have
long ceased TO recall the exultation Of ,ic
tory on one side or the grief of dafa,, m
the other The reflections of more than
thirty years have turned the once bitterly
warning streams Of sentiment into one
broad river, OH whose current is borne n,
safety AMI in glory. the ship of state. and