The record-union., 1896-10-08
The Thirty Eighth Anniversary Com
memorated at Galesburs, Illinois,
By the dwelling of Monument and a
Bronze Tablet.
Robert 7. Lincoln, Son of the MARTYR
President, Chauncey M. Depew
and Senator Palmer Deliver the
AddreSSes-A Big Crowd Present
to Witness the Exercises.

Addresses-A Big Crowd Present
to Witness the Exercises.
GALESBURG Qll), Oct. 7.-Knox
College to-day honored the memory Of
Lincoln and Douglas by the unveiliny
OF bronze tablet commemorative of
the thirty-eighth anniversary of the
Lincoln-Douglas joint debate. Prepara-
tions Tor this celebration have been un-
der way for a year, and a big crowd
was present to witness the exercises.
During the morning a beautiful SOL
dlers monument in Hope Cemetery was
unveiled. Shortly after 10 O'Clock a
parade composed of the local G. A. r.
passed through the principal streets
and was reviewed in the public square
by Chauncey M. Depew, Senator Palmer,
the Mayor and other distinguished
guests The monument was unveiled
by the Hon. Robert T. Lincoln. AS il
was unveiled it was saluted by a num-
Der OF rounds by two brass field pieces.
hon. Robert L. Lincoln then Ieliy-
cred the following address:
Mr.. Lincoln said in part: "The oues-
ton debated here in 1858 was one as
TO which 1T now seems almost incredi-
bic that there could be opposing parties.
and yet that question caused the longest
and most bitter war of modern times.
Human slavery had been protected by
the laws of the United States in fifteen
States of the Union. The Republican
party was formed by those who believed
slavery to be heinous wrong to the
enslaved and economically injurious to
the community in which it existed; but
the party was formed not to attack sla-
very In the States where it was then
lawful, but to prevent it's extension into
other Estates. The candidate of that party
was elected President in 1860, and as
Chief Magistrate he was at once con-
1ronted by the attempted secession from
the Union of at first seven, but soon
eleven States with population of five
and half millions Of whites and three
and half millions of slaves.
In spite of the most solemn and the
most authoritative assurances to the
contrary, the epeople Of the seeding
States claimed that their rights and
property were menaced by the new ad-
ministration. They formed a separate
government as a nation, created armies,
destroyed all national property within
their limits and defied the Constitution
and the laws Of the Union. Suddenly
the world saw the uprising of a great
people. Before the little garrison of
Fort Sumter had marched from it's
ruined walls proclamation was drawn
by the President calling for $4,000 SOL
diers to suppress the insurrection, but
ere there was time to issue it there came
to him to pledge the earnest support of
his great ability and widespread influ-
ence in establishing the authority of
the National Government the great
Democratic leader who had been his
lifelong political antagonist, Stephen
M. Douglas. In the peril of the Republic
the contentious of Democracy and Re-
pubicanism We're by him and the Pres
ident put aside, and for the first time
in their lives they clasped hands as
allies in a public cause
In the election just then passed
more than million devoted followers
in the North had cast their ballots for
Mr.. Douglas, and to them and to all
others whom his voice could reach he
dld not cease to cry until his untimely
death: Every man must be for the
United States or against it; there can
be no neutral ground in this war-only
patriots and traitors
Upon the appalling events which
crowd the history of the next four years
there is here no time to dwell. We
who enjoy the blessings of the liberties
and Of the great nationality which the
valor of our defenders has made en-
during gratefully honor the names Of
all of them, whether living or dead And
for this we come to-day to the graves
of these dead soldiers, who were of the
men willing to give their lives that their
country might live.
"One great lesson to be learned
from the lives of these men and their
comrades is that there is no danger to
the Republic so great that it may not
be overcome by the union Of patriots.
And now let us dedicate this monu-
ment to the memory of these patriots
Of Galesburg and to patriotism. Since
the close of the great struggle which
1t commentaries victors and van
quished have by thousands and tens
of thousands fallen into the sleep Of
death under the peaceful shelter of
their homes. With few exceptions the
names of those who were in high places
of state on either side, or led armies, or
corps, or divisions in battle, or COM
manded squadrons on the sea, are in
the great catalogue of the dead. To
those who survive, the memories
brought up by an occasion like this
have long ceased to 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 warning streams of senti-
ment into one broad river on whose
current is borne in safety and in glory
the Ship of State. and no one lives un-
der 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 framework"
The event of the day took place short
ly after ] o'clock. A Reception Com
mittee composed of the sophomore class
of Knox College and number OF prom
inent citizens escorted Mr.. Depew, Mr..
Lincoln and Senator Palmer to a plat
form capable of seating the 500 invited
guests, which had been erected in front
of the college.
After music by the Knox College. Ca
det Band an address of welcome was
delivered by Colonel Clarke E. Carr.
This was followed by an address by G.
E. Nash, President of the Lombard
University.
The anniversary grafton was then de-