The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-02-06
THE ORDER OF LINCOLN
GOVERNOR MOUNTS ADDRESS AT
THE ORGANIZATION MEETING.
A Society to Preserve Relics OF the
Martyred Prcsident-Spe by
Judge Gavin and Others.

and preserving relics of all kinds
which pertain to the life and char
acter of Abraham Lincoln. and
eventually TO erect in Indianapolis mu-
scum in his memory. There are 2i0 names,
among them those of many prominent cit
liens of Indianapolis. on the indianapolis
charter. The Indianapolis branch is No. l.
and is to be the central lodge in the State
organization.
The meeting last night was called by the
supreme officers for the purpose of electing
officers and formally organizing. After the
business of the meeting was transacted
there were a number OF speeches by prom
Trent men, among them Governor Mount.
Senator-elect c. w. Fairbanks was TO have
spoken also, but failed to appear. John w.
Kern was another speaker who did not
come, and but comparatively few of the
members themselves were there, owing TO
the inclemency OF the weather.
The officers elected are as follows. ex-
president, John F. Wallick: president,
Frank E. Gavin; vice president, A. A.
Young; chaplain, Frederick Bags; lectur-
er, Austin Brown; secretary, II. II. Fay;
treasurer G. A. Gay; auditor, T. }. Ryan;
messenger George n. Catterson; assistant
messenger DR.. X. w. Garstang; guard, W.
h. Leach; board of trustees. Irwin Robbins,
w. T.. smiling ana lneOuOre oltln
GOVERNOR MOUNTS ADDRESS.
AT the close of the business session Gov
ernor Mount made his address. He took
for his subject, 1.-The Man of the People"
and spoke follows:
"A life begun in poverty. surrounded by
want, confronted with adversely, yet ended
in triumph and honor. In his early lie
there was little TO cheer. with nothing TO
inspire hope. His mother is described IS
a
der, symmetrical woman, OF medium stat
ure, regular features, with soft, sparkling
hazel eyes She is reported to have been
a prodigy of learning compared with the
mental poverty Of those around her. The
privations and toll incident to a lonely life
in the wilderness doubtless fastened her
death. Abraham Lincoln was left moth
erless lad at the age of seven years. To
this little boy the world was cherries, his
home was destitute of sunshine, without
the comforts Of life and most of all, with
out mothers love. The first evidence of
nobility was the love he bore that mother.
The first act, showing wisdom and deVo-
ton above his years, was when the little
boy secured the minister TO hold memorial
service at the lonely grave of his mother,
of which the minister spoke in commenda-
ton and the neighbors in praise
Two scenes have impressed me very
much. In 1862 1 marched by the spot
among the poor hills of Kentucky where.
be the country'S deliverer in its hour of
peril. Again, in Spencer county, in our own
cabin that was once the home of earth s
greatest hero. From this humble hovel /
went to the lone, weird spot in the woods
to the resting place OF the mother who
gave birth to the man who was destined
to rise from obScurity TO prominence, from
the humbleSt walks of life to the highest
pinnacle of human fame, and to step from
the -topmost round OF earthly honor to the
battlement of heaven, carrying with him
the broken letters that had held race
in bondage.
You ask was he a man Of the common
people?' / answer, by birth. by kindred
associations, by mutual endurance of priva-
tions he was in touch with the common peo-
pie, for ne was one of their number He
was a student without books a learner
without teachers, boy who made progress
without opportunities. From the age of
fourteen he performed a mans work. He
knew the heart of the toiler; the toler
knew the heart Of Lincoln; believed in him,
trusted him.
"At the age of nineteen this poor back
woods youth was chosen to take a cargo of
farm products to New Orleans TO market.
Here was evidence that beneath the un-
promising exterior there was worth. From
this desolate home MS father moved TO
IllioniS Here this dutiful son. true to his
father and his stepmother, whom he loved
and who in turn was beloved as only true
worth can merit love, followed them to this
new home. He was now young man of
great muscular power: he aided in erect
ing the log buildings. he split the rails 10
fence the farm. He raised a company for
the Black Hawk war and was elected cap
tain. At the age of twenty-five years this
man, ungainly in appearance, unpublished in
manners, uncouth in dress, from his tolls
incident to pioneer life was nominated for
tho Legislature OF Illinois. He concluded
a short speech with these words: But of the
people, in their WISDOM shall see tit to
keep me in the background. L have been
too familiar with disappointment to be very
much chagrined.' The man who uttered
these words was the man who, thirty
years later. wrote these imperishable pa
triotic and prophetic words: The mystic
m CT fob Nnrr
| battlefield and patriots grave TO every
living heart and hearthstone all over this
broad land. will yet swell the chorus of the
Union, Wnen again touched. as surely they
| will be, by the angels of our better nature.
| In the light of subsequent events we read
| the last brief inaugural of President Lin
| coin with profound veneration. The word:
seem more the utterances of u mind di
| vinely inspired than the promptings of hu
man wisdom. His Gettysburg address wa:
| grand climax of elouuence, patriotism
and pathos combined and will glow will
brighter luster through the ages TO come
THE SADNESS IN HIS LIFE
There was in his life, at times, sad
| ness that seems pathetic. He possessed III
| sympathy and love of a woman joined t
the courage of lion. In the midst of pro
| motion and honor he was the same un
assuming, transformations man of the PEG
| pie Colonel Mcclure thus describes hin
after he had reached Washington as tn
| Nations chief executive: Tall, gaunt un
| calmly, ill clad, with LONELINESS of man
ner that caused my heart TO sink within
| me as l remembered that this man wa
| chosen by great Nation to be its truSte,
| leader in the most critical period OF its his
| tory This man of the common people Wa
| not ROBBED in the habiliments of fashion
not surcharged with the policy. the man
| ner. nor the deception of the politician. III
| was a man from the common people, pos
| SeSSinS the common sense that was en-
,iab bod htr aaf xrffb ha mo ,,,1 ~
panded into such gigantic proportions a
enabled him to grapple with the momentou
| questions of the day and solve the mos
complex problems Of the age. His I'D
vice was to keep near the common peopl
for they were always in the majority.
His nomination was not accidental II
was the logical candidate. His hold on IN
common people was unequaled, his gras
of public questions unmatched. In the wa
of the giants. the memorable joint debat
between Lincoln and Douglas, he ha
proved himself more than q match on TN
stump for the man who. this time. wa
without a peer in the Senate and had bee
regarded without an equal on the stumI
In this memorable debate the little gian
displayed the Sagacity of the politician
Lincoln the wisdom OF a statesman.
In the memorable campaign of lsG
Honest Old Abe. the rail-spltter, was tii
man the mention Of whose name swaye
the multitude: and the oft-repeated seen
in moving professions OF men spiittin
rails. men carrying rails. told how IA
common people loved the man who ha
once been common toiler OF their rank.
He was crowned with victory. He ha
come to the Nation for such an hour a
this. IL was the country's supreme crsi:
| The house divided against itself could nc
| stand. The Nation was to be all slave q
all free. The bugles were sounding TN
| call and armies were marching TO fulfil
\ hos nrnrhafin n no