Evening star., 1896-10-08
Thirty-Eighth Anniversary Of the
Lincoln-Douglas Debate.
EXERCISES At GALESDURG, ILLINOIS
Memorial Tablet Put in Place at
Knox College.
RECALLING THE OCCASION

In Hope cemetery In tD0 lOrefioou- nc
principal business street was appropriately
decorated and there are present large
number of visitors. From until 10 o'clock
the gold standard democrats rendered Sen
ator Palmer a reception at Browns Hotel
Then procession was formed. led by the
Knoxville College Cadets. The procession
was reviewed by Chauncey II. Depew Of
New York, Robert T Lincoln. Chicago; S.
s. Mcclure. editor of McClure's MAGAZINE;
w. G. Cochran, department commander Of
the Illinois Grand Army of the Republic.
and other distinguished visitors. and all
the pupils of the city schools. The exer-
cises at the monument took place imme-
diately afterwdrd. The venerable Dr. Rich
ard Haney offered prayer. MIR. Robert L.
Lincoln of Chicago. son of the ex-Presi-
dent. unveiled the monument and delivered
the following address:
"One great lesson to be learned from the
lives of these men buried here and their
comrs des Is that there is no danger to the
republic 50 great that 1t may not be over
come by the union OF patriotism Nothing
can he so appalling was the assault of
those who wished TO destroy it thirty-five
years ago. In It's defense blood shed
in torrents and treasure expended in in
conceivable sums, but 1t was saved, and it
was worth the cost.
The republic may have banded enemies
who are not armed posts In the mind of
lover of his country there is no difference
between an attack upon its territory and
an attack upon Its honor When either is
lost, all is lost, that gives the pride of
citizenship of a great country. In the de-
feEse of one, as In the defense of the other
there must be sacrifice of all private in
terests. sinking of all mere party feeling
each citizen must listen not to the sophis-
tries addressed to his suspected base self
ishness. but to the voice of his own con-
science. This is what was done by the
patriots of 1s61. and this is what will be
done ty the patriots in very national cri-
sis The Union then was invincible and
their Union will always be invincible
And now let us dedicate this monument
to the memory of those patriots of Gales
burg and patriotism 1t Is not a monu-
ment of bride. put Up by the yictors in
the flesh of their conquest
since the close OF the great trouble which
We commemorate, yictors anG yanouishe,i
nave by thousands and tens of thousands
followed into the sleep of death under the
peaceful shelter of their home. With few
exceptlorS. the names of these who were
In high places of state on either side or
who led armies corps or divisions in bat
tie. OF commanded squadrons on the sea-
are In the great catalogue of the dead
Those who survive. the memories brought
about by an occasion like this have long
Ceased 10 recall the exultation of victory
on one side, or the grief of defeat on the
other. The reflections of more than thirty
years have turned the once bitterly war
ring streams of sentiment into one broad
river. on whose current IS borne In safety
and IN glory the ship of state. and no one
Ives under the protection of it's flag who
disuniCn was exploded from its path and
the canker of human slavery torn from
its framework"
After Mr.. Lincoln spoke, Department
Commander Cochran delivered an oration
and was followed by Mrs. Mary E. Me
Cauley. department president of the Illinois
Woman's Relief Corps The monument is
of granite, surmounted by the figure of q
soldier.
Memorable Contest.
The exercises were held On he Knox
College campus. and in delivering their
addresses the speakers stood on the same
spot where Lincoln and Douglls stood
thirty-eight years ago, on the occ ision of
the fifth joint discussion of that exciting
and memorable campaign.
Although but state contest for the
election Of a Senator from Illinois, Lin
coin being a candidate for the place then
held by Douglas in the Senate. it partook
OF national character because Of the
great national Issue which formed the
principal topic of the discussion, the aboli-
tion of slavery. and was watched by the
people of the whole country With lively
and exciting interest
In the month of July, 1858, 4 number of
speeches having been made by each can
d.date, an arrangement was entered into
between Lincoln and Douglas for one Joint
discussion in each of the seven congress
siCnal districts of the state in which they
had not already both spoken. The first of
these debates was held at Ottawa and was
eagerly sought for and read by the peo-
pie of the entire country; the second at
treeport the third at Jonesboro', the
fourth at Charleston. the fifth at Gales
burg. the sixth at Quincy and the last at
Alton, which occurred on the 18Th of Oc-
tober, seventeen days before the ele ,tion.
The main topics of these several debates
did Eot differ materially from the speeches
delivered 10y Lincoln and Douglas at Chi
cago at the opening of the campaign.
Ihe election resulted in the defeat of
Lincoln, the democrats securing a major
a gig in ths Loo 81. io;,.
ballot the senate. including the hold-overs
standing fourteen democrats to eleven re-
publcans. and the house forty democrats
to thirty-five republicans. The popular
voice of the state. however, gave Lincoln
majority of over 1900
The national importance OF this cam
pa gn led TO the spontaneous suggestion
or Lincoln's name for the presidency and
resulted in greater hCnors being bestowed
upon him shortly subsequent.
The chief exercises OF the day, the un-
SeiinS or the tablet concentrating the
debate. began at L o'clock, the hour at
which the famous debate began thirty
eight years ago. reception committee,
composed of the sophomore class of Knox
College and several prominent citizens
escorted Mr.. Depew. Mr.. Lincoln and Sen
ator Palmer TO d large Platform i'll front
OF the college. Here an address Of welcome
was made by Colonel Clarke Z. Carr. This
was followed by an address by C. E. Nash,
president of the Lombard University. The
anniversary Grafton was then made by MIR.
Depew-
Chauncey Dcpew's Remarks.
Mr.. Chauncey NJ. Depew said in part:
Abraham Lincoln was not an accident
but development. He did not leap into
leadership at bound, but earned the posi-
ton by laborious preparation and fire.
quent demonstrations of supreme ability
1t Is only thirty years since the country
was shocked never before by his as
sassination. and ye: to the vast majority
OF the American people he is already
legendary character. and the human ele
ments which endeared him to his genera
ton are forgotten. We have made history
so rapidly in the last quarter of cen
tury that even the thrilling events of tn,
civil var can no lorger conjure votes o
move audiences. Memorial day. which wa.
once a period of passion and sorrow i.
now popular picnic and childrens holi
day.
.'To' understand the significance of tn,
meeting here thirty-eight years ago be
tween Lincoln and Douglas we must recre
ate the conditions under which they fought
revive the question which caused partie
to rush from partisanship to rebellion, ant
reincarnate the combatants on this famous
field