The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-02-13

with strong litical opp 81 lon IN the North,
and with the South unanimously e5c-snst
him. With enemies all around him, no
man in all hosiery was ever so sorely tried.
For four long years black. threatening
clouds of disaster and possible defeat and
national ruin hung across the horizon OF his
day. Through all those weary days,
stretching into years of anxious waiting
and doubt and despair, OF blocdshed and
pain and agony, there was at the helm of
cur ship OF state a man with a purpose
single-abused and viliied, misunderstood
and unappreciated. Yet he was Ike the
Rock Of Ages Beneath that homely frame
there beat an honest heart. One thought
was uppermost in Lincoln's mind. The
Union must and shall be preserved. without
slavery, If possible, with slavery, if neces-
sary."
He did not meet the expectations of the
abolitonists then, for to their minds the
one thing necessary to do was to destroy
however, from Lincoln's intention. To
have attempted to do that, all men every
where now concede, would have ruined his
administration and severed the American
Union forever.
When stricken down by the assassin,
Lincoln had already performed his Hfe's
great work. He had kept he faith and full
filled every obligation assumed. The sun
OF his day was setting clear with full
promise OF sunshine and peace for the NOR
row. His feet had touched upon the high
est pinnacle OF human fame. In states
manship, in oratory, in politics, in war and
in generalship. he had more than met the
expectations OF MANKIND.
AS in nature, some high mountain peak
lifts its awful form high above its fell
lows, so in every real crisis in the worlds
history, or in the political status OF men.
some grand, inspired leader arises, equal
to the emergency, equipped for the task.
Lincoln was a grand realization OF the
glorious possibilities of American citizen
ship. Born of humble parents, in power
" and obscurity, he was not destined when
life's htful dream was over, 70 moider in
oblivion in the country churchyard of his
fathers. Ambition kindled her consuming
fires in his soul. and modesty. patience.
mental and moral worth and honest toll
were the rich stores. by nature kindly lent
him. When the shadows of the night of
death fell upon his brow and the fragrant
Zephers OF the eternal morning kissed his
cold lips, the whole world bowed, in. deep
and sincere grief, fer him in whose soul
was all the fragrance OF the virgin soil OF
America.
The life of Lincoln teaches US all the les
sons of sobriety, economy, honesty and
zenship. 1t is fragrant with the. perfume
Of pure intention and the true appreciation
OF the dignity OF labor.
Lincoln fed the fountains of national life.
He struck down forever in the civilized
world the soul-degrading system OF human
slavery. He labored upon the foundations
of a more perfect Union. He handed down
to his country and to posterity the Stars
and Stripes of America, with its colors
pure, its stars immutable.
Capt McCardy's Memories.
The next speaker was Capt. McCar-
dy. VINO related several old incidents In
which ex-Gov Ramsey was the CEN
trail figure. He said:
Alexander Ramsey, OF ST. Paul, now
eighty-two years of age, who was appointed
by President Zachary Taylor first gov
ernor of Minnesota Is still prominent in
all great public improvements, and speaks
with nearly as much energy and force as
he did in his younger days. 1t is re-
lated of him that when he first visited the
territory in his official capacity he refused
to allow the military commandant there TO
fire a salute in his honor Very well.
said the commandant, but let me call out
the guard to receive you
Don't do it," replied Ramsey; Il don't
want any fuss made about my being here
LAS you wish governor" sad the COM
mandant, but l want to do something
to show a proper respect to the chief ex-
ecutive Of this territory. is there moth
ing that you would suggest or desire?"
Yes said Ramsey. IF you have a
little good whisky about the post I'll take
a nip
The ex-governor seemed a trife en-
barrassed, and this was added to by a
number of Mr.. McCardy's humorous
remarks which melted the guests to
vociferous cheering. Mr.. Ramsey was
next on the programme, and, as he
arose to speak it took several minutes
for POSTMASTER Horton to secure or
der and quiet. Mr.. Ramsey's address
consisted principally of "reminiscences.
He said:
Your applause, gentlemen, en- sa-rass- 8
me very much, for l am not here, at my
age, to make you a speech at all in the
line OF the eloquent remarks we have al
ready heard. When man reaches 50 or
81 years of age, the enthusiasm which
arcuses him upon such occasions as this
has past. When l came here from the otaer
assembly over there, to which they pressed
to come. | exercised all ingenuity
to know how | could get out Of this thing.
Mr. Ramsey then wet his lips with glass
OF wine, which sat before him and III n
ing around to Col McCariy, said: 9TH is
not, colonel, what l called for I'd "a -eling
appladse) The selection which | made at
that time among all the honors they con-
ferred upon me. which seemed to be at that
time the most natural thing in the world
why it was nothing at all for man in
Of whisky. Uaughter) But il has
come, and so l am here tonight and all
can spe to you o g It upon is in calm
and imprisoned way of forgot which
was called upon to respond TO. CLlughter.)
first saw Abraham Lincoln fifty years ago
this month. Just fifty years ago. That
may seem to you to be extraordinary for
man so young as | am. Abraham Lincoln
had Just been elected to the Thrtieth con-
gress, and | had been a member of the
house from Pennsylvania, in the Twenty
eighth and Twenty-ninth congresses, and
/ was just preparing to leave, was then
the practice in Pennsylvania, alter tie sec
ond term, and you all know what Washing
ton city was at that remote period of time,
what rough locking town Il was. There is
no place in Minneso a troubled at this time
as they were in Washington with asphalt
pavements. uaughter) They did net want
them there. did not see the nece-s ty foc l.,
but they went en- with it. They had Just
introduced the street cars down there,
drawn with horses. Why. behind of where
we are now l recolect we had servant
girl with US, very fine locking vel ow
girl, and she got into the ears occasional
ly by glowing her hands and yelling her
face thoroughly, as negroes were not per
United to ride in them. Then negroes had
no show whatever. One was TO. even a Lowell
in the galiaries of the congressional halls.
That was the condition of Washington at
that time.
In Washing on, in the month of ebru ry-
in the month of March, as you k ow con-
gress eXpired-and there appeared in this
mess, a large boarding house, which we
called a mess, there appeared among US
gentleman, very little known to any Jne
a tall man with a long coat and with
well worn, tall hat and moved back and
forward to get familiar with the hang OF
the thing was like. He had not attract
any public attention. had not yet gone
through his debate with Doug.as, and no
man knew what his great future was to be
Seeing him there for about three or four
weeks of that time, | became quite famIl-
lar with him, and then congress adjourn
ed. we all dispersed and went 10 our re-
spective homes. / did not see Mr.. Line In
after that until the time of his nominate
at Chicago. l went down with the crowd
that went from here, not delegate but l
was then governor of the STATE. I then saw
him at Springfield after his nom.nati IN
He was nominated. a committee WAS sent
down. and on the way down you never
heard so much music and l think all The
bands played the prairie Flower" which
seemed to be the popular air in Illinois at