New-York tribune., 1901-02-12
TWAIN AND THE CIVIL WAR
HE TELLS HOW HENRY WATTERSoN
SAVED THE UNION"
THE HUMoRIsT PREsIDEs AT \ LINCOLN MEET
ING At WHICH COLONEL wATTERsoN
Is THE CHIEF SPEAKER.

Earnest patriotic and appreciative NEWCOMERS
filled Carnegie Music Hall last evening, partici-
patns in the celeb alton of the birthday OF Abra-
ham Lincoln and aiding the Lincoln Memorial
University, at Cumberland Gap Tenn. for the
benefit OF which the celebration had been planned
They spent enjoyable evening
The han was decorated with flags. and on the
platform bust Of Lincoln draped with the
American colors. Among the guests on the pia--
form Samuel l. Clemens mark Iwalnl, VINO
presided: Henry Watterson the orator of the even
ing LieUtena nt- Governor Woodruff, General Nelson
4. Miles, Sena ator-elect Burton, of Kansas; + W.
Hackett Assistant Secretary of the Navy; Generai
Joseph Wheeler. General o Beirne. Charles Roberts
and members of the celebration committee. which
included General O. O. Howard. Ex-Governor Nor
ton, Andrew Carnegie General Samuel Thomas
Darwin r. James. General Wager Swayne, William
E. Dodge. J. Pierpont Morgan and D. WINS
James.
Among the boxholders we're Mrs Daniel s La
mont Mrs. G II. Ludington, Mrs. Joseph +. Knapp.
Mrs James Talcott, Miss McNamee Mrs w I.
Stokes, Mrs Andrew Carnegie. Mrs. J. J. McCook
Mrs d. Willis James. Mrs II. F. Dimock. Mrs
I. Ii. Hubbard Mrs. o. q. Howard, Mrs. j. r.
Brooks Dr. c r. Gill L $ A, Mrs. F. q. How
ard Colonel \. z. Ketchum. Mrs. Wager Swayne
4. G. Agnew, Darwin r. James. Mrs. Lucten G
Warner. Mrs s Mallet-Prevost Mrs. George H.
Seeley and John T. Lockman.
The balcony was occupied by the Peoples Choral
Union OF New-York. led by Frank Damrosch. and
the 5th United States Artillery Band. led by Fred
erick Frank, and the first numbers of the evening
a grand march played by the band and
chorus sung by the Choral Union. After a prayer
by the Rev. Or Newell Dwight Hills. the Choral
Union sang one OF --ncoln's favorte hymns.
Father Whateer Of Earthly Bliss" w. VI.
Thompson recited the poem High Tide at Gettys-
burg a violin solo by David Names was fol-
lowed Icy the chorus "Halelujah." sung by the
Choral Union Then Miss Minnie Tracey sang two
songs and was recalled 20 sing Home, Sweet
Home" Mr. Clemens called upon the Choral Union
10 single the Battle Hymn OF the Republic
which he declared Of the grandcst songs
written The aun.ence rose and listened 10
the singing appiauding vigorously at the close.
When he rose 10 introduce Henry Watterson
the orator OF the evening Mr. Clemens made little
speech which at first moved the audience to mu-h
laughter and then stirred II with patriotic emo
tion. He began with the remark that he had two
duties 10 perform-one easy and one difiicult-one
10 introduce the speaker Of the evening and the
other TO keep still and give him chance. Mr..
Clemens went 10 say that he and Colonel Wat
terson were related. were both born in Kentucky
and both were in the Confederate Army IN the war.
and ne referred 10 Colonel Watterson as "a great
journalist public speaker reheI, and. better stn.
reconstructed rebel" In hls speech Mr. Clemens
said in part:
l was a second lieutenant in the Confederate ser
assistance as he could il he had only strictly
obeyed my orders ] should have succeeded In my
vast enter prise II was my intention 10 drive Gen
eral Grant iuto the Pacific ! told Colonel Waiter
surround and
came But ne was inSubordirate. and the Union
revealed. But there you are-Vatterson saved the
No 9a And R 70 this ms ye @ hopT ,9ai man gS
We believed in those days that we were nghtlng
nShtng for our homes and our sweethoarjs. To-
South rot ashamed that we made an endeavoT
And you. too are proud Of the record we made,
We are here 10 honor the noblest and the best
2t,er Nashi5ston. that this land any other land
Colonel Watterson spoke in part as follows:
II was not until after the African slave trade got
mo INTO our p"Atics that our Congress became bear
Garden Gradually the cry for abolition grew into
the other There were few mddIemen. e and md as as
sfstts f PrPsresstd they We're either struck down
lines Ad ~ n9 bea Ih5 g. cane ne man Who with IIogarths
and had about him The spirit Of command
Lincoln Was at 10 time An extremist. He had
for The Presid5ncy At the end OF his 4@bRte Win
bi bbo,nfiss taS ,bemocraiic party, as now. seemed
Colonel watterson closed his grafton with the
following:
Born az lowly the Son Of Cod IN a howell
reared IN penury, squd!or. with no glcam Of light
or lalr surrounding; without graces actual or ac-
2lred' without Eame os fame or Official training
10 TO ot sEatched from obscurity. raised TO supreme
10 al = supreme moment ana intTusted with
The great leaders OF his party, the most ex-
perienced and accomplished public men Of the day
whie the fantastic figure was led By unseen
II Is immaterlal whether we were for him or
against him. wholly immaterial That, during
Tour years, carrying with them such a weight OF
responsibility rs the world never witnessed he
Tore he hlled the vast space allotted him in the
eye and actions Of mankind. is say that he
was inspired Of God, for nowhere else could he
have acquired the wisGom and the virtue.
Where did Shakcspear" get his genius Where
did Mozart get his music Whose hand smote
the lyre OF the Scottish ploughman and stayed the
life Of the German prieste God, God. aud God
alone. and purely these raised up by
God, inspired by God. was Abraham Lincoln; and
epic poem will he filed with greater wonder he
followed by mankind with deeper feeling than that
which tells the story of his lie and death.
The following letter. written by President Nc
Kinley was read by Mr., Clemens:
Dear General Howard: I had hoped Ia be able
accept the kind invitation extended TO TO
attend the LincOlnS Birthday Celebration at Car
nerie Hall New-York city. on Monday evening
next. the llth inst, but ma. very much my
regret that public duties Will prevent my doing SO
II would have afforded me much pleasure 10 be
present on such occasion. and 10 participate In
honoring the memory OF the great American who
lid 50 much perpetuate the Union and insure
the blessings OF liberty TO all his countrymen
Please extend my cordial greetings to those pres
ent the celebration, and accept best wishes for
its complete success. Very sincerely yours,
WILLIAM NJ MkINLEY.
REPUBLICAN CLUBS DINNER.