The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-13
THE S. OF v: HONOR HIM
GIVE A BANQUET IN HONOR or LIN
coins BIRTHDAY.
Principal Address by John l.. GrifFiths
REV. a. j. Graham and others
Respond TO Toasts.

Lincoln's birthday was celebrated last
evening by Ben Harrison Camp. No 356,
Sons of Veterans. with a banquet at the
Denison. There were about fifty members
of the camp present, together with a num-
Der of the members of the organization
from other parts of the State. The spread
in the large ordinary of the hotel and
the tables were deliberately decorated with
plants. vines and candelabra.
William II. Armstrong, past division COM
mander acted as POSTMASTER, and a long
list of toasts were given responses. The
principal speaker of the evening was John
l.. Griffiths, who discussed the immortal
American as statesman and patriot
Mr. Griffiths devoted very high eulogy
to the martyred President, on the purity
of whose life there was not a blot. The
story of his career was something stranger
than fiction, he said, and now that the
mists of time are gathering about it many
of the present generation are prone to re-
gard him already as a legendary character
The speaker dwelt OH the eloquence of Lin
coin and said that If he had never been
President he would still have been regard
ed as the greatest orator of his time. He
singled out the famous Gettysburg speech
of the martyred President as an epoch
marking Grafton whose noble diction and
grandeur of thought still thrill the people
who read it,
Lincoln was the rarest combination of
mirth and Sadness" said Mr. Griftiths 1.-The
earth has ever known" Continuing he
told of the manner in which Mr.. Lincoln
was maligned and ridiculed as a mounte-
bank and traing story teller when he took
the Presidents chair. and how he soon dem
onstrated to the Cabinet and leaders at
Washington he was a master mind. The
primary purpose which Lincoln sought to
carry out was not the abolition of slavery
left as legacy TO all the ages the proof
that peaceful union of great States could
survive the shock of civil war"
A LINCOLN NEEDED NOW.
With true eloquence Mr.. Griffiths de-
scribed Lincoln as the greatest American,
and compared him with Marshall Hamilton
and Washington. 1T is a mistake" he
continued, ito think that God will in some
way care for drunken men, fools and the
United States. 1t requires the exercise of
intelligence. patriotism and wisdom on the
part of the people and their leaders to
bring the Nation safely through the diff
culties that must beset it. In these days
of the concentration of wealth and popu-
labor and capital and the spread of So
cialistic doctrines, we need another Abra-
nam Lincoln to solve the questions that
darken the close of the century. l know
not If Lincoln was inspired, but / do know
that he did Gods work well, and that he
stands to-day a proud example of what
1t means to be Steadfast in the love of one s
country and to be filled with spirit of
patriotism unsullied by thought of self
Among the others who responded to toasts
were Harold c. Megrew, the captain COM
manding of the post, who made the welcom-
ing address; General James r. Carnahan,
who took the place of Governor Mount on
the programme and spoke of the state S
Defenders" and Rev. A. j. Graham, who
spoke on ''Lincoln-CitIzen and Martyr"
General Carnahan said that the defenders
Graham spoke of the uprightness and high
moral character of the President He
said that Lincoln was pre-eminently a man
who possessed an equabe mind under diff
culties, which is the true characterization
of the martyr spirit.
j. w. Noel, junior vice commander-in-
chief of the Sons of Veterans, spoke about
the national organization. r. s. Thompson.
colonel commanding, gave an account of
the Indiana division and Judge j. l.. Nc
Master, past commander of George III.
Thomas Post, responded to the toast on the
c.. A. r. The music was furnished. by an
orchestra. besides which there were a num-
ing of The Star-spangled Banner" by all
present. Newton Booth Harrington gave a
recitation that was much applauded.
The banquet was very enjoyable affair,
and the first to be given by the camp.
which was only organized a year ago.
ger. of Terre Haute, and Mr. Drury, of
South Bend.