Arizona republican., 1898-02-13

the H1rthday Of that glorious citizen of Illinois, Abraham Lincoln. Along side the love of Illinoisans for their state is their love for the memory of Lincoln. Nighty-nine years ago to- day, in a remote country log cabin in Kentucky, was born one who in short life became not only the greatest citizen of Illinois, but the most H. lustrious of the republic. His poor and humble percentage gave no prom ise of this grand life and destiny His plebian origin indicated for him no royal road to power, no avenue of wealth to aristocratic distinction He was born of and among the common people, and in their hearts he lived and ever will live as one of them
 "Emigrating at an early age to Ili- nois, he there grew to manhood among that sturdy stock of people who started Illinois on it's grand progress to the magnitude of an empire state in the Union. His education was in the hard school of experience, where he was an apt scholar. and the people
 
 but strong, young man allied himself so closely to the people and the state that his mind and character seemed to partake of the impetus of growth, which carried them forward with such gigantic strides to greatness and renown, and far outstripping them, at 51 years of age he belonged to the na- tives as it's chosen ruler.
 "His career has no fitting parallel in history except that of young David, called by God himself from tending his fathers sheep on Judea's plains to be- king of Israel in the zenith of its glory. MT. Gladstone and other great statesmen of England and America have been called great commoners, but none of them have been so conspicu- ously so as Abraham Lincoln. His character was as pure as the prairie air in which he grew, while the mind of the wonderful product of nature seemed as broad and comprehensive as nature itself. Lincoln was indeed ambitious, but his ambition was not that of the selfish politician, but of that noble kind, arising out of his in tellectual grasp upon the great ques- tions and issues of the age"
 Governor Hamilton then followed the political life of Lincoln, referring to his debates with Stephen Douglas, his great speeches in New York and Massachusetts, which won the admira- ton even of his opponents. He CORP bined simplicity in statesmanshfp and yet it was forceful andN 0bIime:- He was patriotic and honest and commanded the confidence of the peo- pie. His cabinet was composed of statesmen, but Lincoln lowered above them all. With his courage and calm self confidence the martyred president paved the way to a successful and happy ending of the civil war In his great goodness he foresaw that the slave must be free and this was ac- complished in the emano..ratio proc lamatiOn.
 Said the speaker: His goodness and kindness became so proverbial that all the soldiers of his armies af- fectionately called him Uncle Abe:s the slaves in every cabin of the south loved him as 'Massa Lince a0
 loyal, grateful people of theS
 called him Father Abraham Ind he has been dead almost thirty-threel years. the living still tell new in- stances of his great kindness of heart"
 Proceeding, the governor added: 'His mission was accomplished and with malice toward none and charity toward alr he hailed the dawn of peace that broke over restored and inseparable Union, and took his place among the immortals of all time The greatness and grandeur of Lin coln's character becomes more appar- ent as time places us farther away from his life, just as the large noun tain seems to grow in size as you re- cede from it. From Moses down through all ages of the world there have developed many high monuments of human character, but that of Lin- coin OvertOpS them all. In mighty grandeur it bathes it's head in the eternal sunshine and reflects it's glori- ous light upon all the others"
 The governor tacetiously alluded to the efforts of politicians of every stripe to gain glory through their ad- miration of Lincoln and their desire to place themselves on plane with the great statesman
 These remarks were passed over briefly, and in closing, the speaker said:
 Ut is only safe for us to say that if Abraham Lincoln were living now he would still be that same great hearted, wise patriot and statesman that he was. As long as this republic