The Portland daily press., 1896-02-13

never Appropriated correct apprecia-
tion of his character, until read short
time ago Miss Tarbell's sketch of his
early life. where among many interesting
incidents, it is related that on one occas-
ion, discovering by accident that he had
taken a trifie too much from customer,
he travelled three miles to rectlfy the
error; and, on another occasion, to cor
rect trivial mistake in weight he mace
similar Journey. These are perhaps IN
significant matters, but they are tests OF
the mans honesty of purpose, surer thah
more important ones.
His "wrastling, in western parlance,
with the Clary's grove boys, those genytte gat
youngsters who picked their teeth Wion
bowie knives, and attended reilgious Ie-
vivals with guns, ready TO ASSIST tns
parson in the conversion OF slhnete -
necessary, is indicative of the sturdlness
and tepacity of purpose which he dls-
played through life. 1t was impressed
upon him as he approached man. s estate'
that he ought to have some eaucao4ou'
and in that rough community there was
no one to show him the pathway TO the
temple of learning. he soiighI 0he coun-
sci of an old sohoolmaster IN tne Vlhoin-
It'll, and was advised to get grammar
AS an evidence of the utter literary destl-
tution of the place, he found that there
was but one grammar Wl5hin SIX miles
of the shop where be was oiefk. MS
book, a poverty stricken little copy OF
Kirkman's Grammar, ne possessed hlm-
self of. and committed to memory, by the
seyerest study, probably but diInly un
derstanding its application TO the lorna
tion of correct language.
When we pass from these small begin
nings Of Linooln's career to its closing
wears when he stood at the head of this
great nation, we rub our eyes to see If it
sv,lo %t.ac Vac
almost as homeIy and unoouth and quite
as honest as ever, righteous man indeed
one who has been tried in the purifying
furnace of experience. Has the world
ever beheld SO unique figure? There
stands the poor rail splitter and fatboat-
man and swrastler" with the Clary's
grove boys, and devourer of Kirkham's
Grammar, surrounded by the wisest
statesmen of this country and Europe the
peer of them all; yes, there he stands IN
the darkest period of the nations history
another Washington, every whit the
equal of his great predecessor; a man
plovidentially raised to save his country,
honor.
The career of A braham Lincoln presents
an unassailable argum ent in favor of our
free institutions, for in no other country
on the globe would it have been possible
for the poor rail splitter and frontier
trader to have climbed to such an emf
nepce as he attained. Above all, it will
ever serve as an inspiration to Ameri
can youth, for it clearly reveals to the
dullest apprehension, the fact, that by
honesty and perseverance, one may, in
Republican America, achieve the loftiest
SUCCESS.
AS look about this room, on the S5th
anniversary Of Lincoln's birth, | may
we'll imagine that the Lincoln Club will
for many years to come, gather as we
gather tonight, to celebrate the event,
and that men yet unborn will review and
re-review the Incidents in Lincoln's life.
Surely we and they will do well to do so
and above all to emulate his virtues. It
has been we'll said, that
"All private virtue is the public fund;
AS that abounds, the state decays, or
thrives;
Each should contribute to the general
stock,
And who lends most, is most his coun-
try's friend"
When the applause at the conclusion of
Mr.. Baxter's speech had subsidized, the
orchestra played again aud then Presi-
dent Libby presented Senator John L.
Wilson of Washington, who like all the
other speakers was received with cheers
and applause. Mr.. Wilson told in an
interesting manner of the growth of the
Great Northwest and the infiue ence of
Maine's sons and daughters who every
where through the West nave been found
blazing the pathway of progress. Then
Mr.. Wilson endeared himself to his
Maine hearers by his references to Hon.
Thomas B. Reed. 1t was Mr.. Wilson
T. L.
presence of the ladies in the galleries
for he raised his eyes in beginning his
remarks and with courtly bow, intro
duced his speech with that time hono1ed
phrase, 'tLadies and Gentlemen" Mr..
Wilson in substance said:
SPEECH OF SENATOR WILSON
Mr.. President and Gentlemen:
l am profoundly sensible OF the honor
of being called to take SO distinguished
g part in this commemoration and most
deeply grateful to those who have thought
me worthy of such an honor. l am
pleased with my environment here to-
night and there are many reasons why
this should be so. For the first time l
have the honor to be upon New England
soil; portion of the country that has
contributed so much to the up-building
of the Pacific Northwest; that has sent
Captain Gray who, of all America MS, was
the first to carry the flag Of his country
around the world, and, pushing boldly
though the breakers of the Columbus
river, established the first claim of the
United States to Oregon soil and, fro m
that hour. wherever the pine tree grows,
you will find the sons of Maine opening
new country; building villages, towns
and cities and blazing the pathway OF
pioneers into magnificent highway,
and building upon the other side of the
Rocky Mountains an empire for you
AND for me.
Mr. Wilson then spoke of the early set
tlement of the Oregon country and the
celebrated meeting at the Falls of the