The Van Buren press., 1903-06-06
PRESIDENT N ILLINOIS.
Attended the dwelling of the Lin.
coln-Douglas Monument
at Freepo-t.
A SHORT RUN THENCE TO ROCKFORD.
At the Latter Place President Roose-
welt Attended the Dedication of
Memorial Hall, COnsecrnted TO the
Soldiers and sailors of Winncbn-
go County.

''' l''l l. H., - uiit - ! ltNlltlll
Roosevelt and party reached here
from Dubuque at eight o'clock, and
Immediately afterward were driven
to the site of the Lncoln-Douglas de-
bate, in lSjS, where a monument com
memorating the event was unveiled in
the presence of many thousands. At
the courthouse the president was in
troduced by Congressman Hit, and
spoke as follows;
The Great FrcpOrt Debate.
1--WE meet to-day to commemorate
the spot on which occurred one of
those memorable scenes in accordance
with which the whole future history
of nations is nodded. Here were Spok-
en- the winged words that flew
through immediate time, and that will
fly through that portion of eternity
recorded in the history of our race.
Here was sounded the keynote of the
struggle which, after convusing the
nation, made it in fact what il has
only been in name, at once united and
free. 1t is eminently fitting that this
monument, given by the women of
this city in COmmemOration of the
great debate that here took place
should be dedicated by the men
whose deeds made good the words of
Abraham Lincoln and the soldiers of
the civil war, (ApplauseD The word
was mighty, but had il not been for
the word the deeds could not have
taken place. But without the deeds
the words would have been the idlest
breath. II is forever TO the honor of
our nation that brought forth the
statesman, who, with far-sighted Vi
sion, could pierce the clouds that OBJ
scured the sight Of the keenest of his
fellows and could see what fhe future
inevitably held. And, moreover, that
we had back Of the statesman and be-
hind him the men 10 whom il was
given TO fight in the greatest war ever
waged for the good Of mankind for
the betterment of the world.
81 have literally but a moment here.
! could not resist the chance that was
offered me to stop and dedicate this
monument, for great though we now
regard Abraham Lincoln. my country
men, the future will put him on an
even higher pinnacle than we have
put him, Appause) In all history,
4 90 h,1 ln l. lao
found an orator whose speeches will
last as cnduringly rs certain Of the
speeches of Lincoln. And in all his.
tory, with the sole exception of the
man who founded the republic, | do
not think there will be found another
statesman at once so great and 80
singlc.hcartcd in his devotion TO the
veal of his people, We can not too
highly honor him, And the highest
way in which we can honor him is TO
see that our homage is not only hom-
age of words; that to loyalty Of words
we Join loyalty of the heart, and that
we pay honor to the memory of Abra-
ham Lincoln by 50 conducting our
selves by so carrying ourselves as cit.
liens of this republic, that we shall
hand on undiminishcd TO our children
and our childrcns children the hcri'-
age we received from the men who
upheld the statcsmanship Of Lincoln
In the council, and who made good
the soldcrship Of Grant in the field
CHEERS and appause)
Al $3.50 the party left for Rock.
ford.