The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-02-12
DANCING AND ORA7ORY
Congressman MeEwan Talks Of
Lineoln's Heroism and
Greatness of Character
at a Ball.

l Will OSid iii WIS dt w , AAesAi
last night. A pleasing innovation upon
the usual order of such functions was the
delivery of an address by Congressman
Thomas McElwan on "the life and deeds
of the Martyred President, After the
grand march Mr.. Evan was escorted to
| the platform and introduced in a neat
| speech by the Recording Secretary of the
club. Mr.. John r.. Conner. The Con-
gresham was cordially received and made
a highly interesting half hour address.
He spoke of the birth and bringing up of
Lincoln amid the most humble surround
ings. the manner in which he was edu-
Gated. the most prominent traits of his
character, his indomitable will, his hon.
esty and unselishness and his wise teach
ings. He thanked God that throughout
the length and breadth of our land could
be still heard the echoes of that grand
old band OF patriots, Thaddeus Stevens,
Henry Wilson and Charles Sumner, and
of which Lincoln was the chief.
They were men of the highest stand
ard he said. They did not love slav-
cry in any form, and what a blessing it
would be if we had such statesmen
now to guide the destinies of our nation
and control the public affairs. Our coun-
try would have a brighter prospect, the
sun of prosperity would shine upon us
and there would be few people out of
employment. Select such men as these
for your rulers and by their works their
names will ever be remembered through
out the land. Lincoln was of the plain
people, he would not have been received
at the Bradiey-Martin ball. he was Of
lowly birth, yet he became the king Of
our hearts through the grandness Of his
character. His mother taught him how
to read and he arrived at the age of twen-
ty before he could either read or write,
but when he could read he read books
which instilled into him a love of coun-
try and a true and undying patriotism.
H learned to write with a piece of
charcoal, being so poor that he even
had no clothes but the skins of animals.
When we realize the true status of
such conditions We lave the keynote to
his many virtues. His unselfishness was
the character that made him what he
was, and out of that grew his patriot
ism and honesty. He did not curry IA
vor with the rich and great, but sought
to befriend those who were on the plain
with his humble surroundings, he was
an unbeliever in shams, and when he said
a thing he meant it; always the same, his
prevailing qualities being honesty and
magnanimity, he lived for his fellow man.
When a young man he once saw a
young woman put up for sale on a slave
block at New Orleans, and then made a
VOW he would do all he could to wipe out
slavery, and when he had the power we'll
did he perform the work"
The grand march was led by Mr.. E. j.
O'Mara and Mrs. David O,Meara, and
among the throng Of participants were
James, Carroll and Miss Annie McAvoy,
John Burns, Miss Clara Dougherty, John
Toner, Mss Purcell of Brooklyn, C. Nc
Carthy, Miss NJ. Coleman, f. Duane. Miss
K. Mclean, o. E.. Reed, Miss Connolly, w.
Nolan, Miss Sadie Klngman, Miss M.
Norah Mcdonald, ]. Quirk. Miss Cortles,
Mrs. Cortles, Mrs. Burke, Stephen Murky.
Miss Mamie O3Mara, Christian MAR
Miss Sarah Donohue, Mr.. and Mrs. Burke
n Mr.. r. H.. Nugent.
=. J. O'Meara was Floor Manager and
James Carroll his assistant. The com
mittees in chrge were:-
Floor-P. 3. Garry. o. E. Reid, Clus.
Orr. Jas, ]. Dillon, Mark King.
Regain, G. Lomansney. 3. Bartrem. B.
Teese, j.. strinton. ). Spells, s. Murphy,
Il. Murrsr, Thos. Ansbre, J.. W. Forest,
r Dougherty.- P Hogan. John Gallery,
John Kenny, J. ". Mattsen.
man: n. J. Keilernan, Secretary; John J.
Hart, Treasurer.
The ofacers of the club. are:-Janles J.
Seyins President; John J. Barnes, vive-
rotary; Charles F. McCarthy, Financial
Secretary; Thomas H. Duane, Treasurer;
Cornelius Shea, Sergeant-at-Arms.