Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-03
IN PRAISE OF LINCOLN
President Makes Patriotic
Speech at Freeport.
RECALLS BIG DEBATE
BETWEEN THE EMANCIPATOR
AND S. A. DOUGLAS.
Takes Part in Program at Unveiling
of Monument to Event Given .
by Women.
BET W EEN TdE EmANC1E ALVIN
AND S. A. DOUGLAS.


buque at o'clock and Immediately after
ward were driven to the site of the Lincoln
Douglas debate in 1858, where a monu-
ment commemorating the event was unveil-
ed in the presence of many thousands from
Freeport and vicinity. At the court house
the President was introduced by Congress
man Hit.
The President referred to the debate as
an event that was far-reaching in import
ance.
He highly complimented the Women's
Club of Freeport, who erected the monu-
Inent.
At $50 the party was driven to the depot
amid the cheers Of thousands, and left for
Rockford.
President Roosevelt spoke as follows:
The Presidents Speech.
I'VE meet today 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 spoken the winged words that
flew through immediate time and that will
fly through that portion Of eternity record
ed In the history of our race.
Here was sounded the keynote of the
struggle which, after convulsing the nation.
made it in fact what 1t had only been in
name, at once united and free.
1T is eminently fitting that this monu-
ment, 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. Cheers and applause. }
Deeds Followed Words.
THE word was mighty, but had 1t not
been for the word the deeds could not have
taken place But, without the deeds, the
words would have been the idlest breath.
1T is forever to the honor OF our nation
that brought forth the statesman, who,
with far-sighted vision, could pierce the
clouds that obscured the sight OF the keen
est Of his fellows and could see what the
future inevitably held.
And moreover, that we had back of the
statesman and behind him the men to
whom it was given to fight in the greatest
war ever waged for the good of man.
kind, for the betterment of the world.
Il have literally but moment here. I
could not resist the chance that was offered
me to stop and dedicate this monument
for great though we now regard Abraham
Lincoln, my countrymen, the future will
put him even higher pinnacle than
we have put him. Applause)
His oratory Enduring.
I'm all history do not believe that there
Is to be found an orator whose speeches
will last as enduringly as certain of the
speeches of Lincoln.
And in all history with the sole eXcep-
ton of the man who founded the republic
1 do not think there will be found another
statesman at once SO great and SO single
hearted in his devotion to the veal Of
his people.
1--WE cannot too highly honor him.
And the highest way in which we can
honor him is to see that our homage is
not only homage 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 SO conducting ourselves,
by SO carrying ourselves as citizens of this
republic that we shall hand on undimin-
ished to our children and our children's
children the heritage we received from the
men who upheld the craftsmanship of Lin
coin in the council and who made good
the soldership of Grant in the field"
Cheers and applause.)
President at Rockford.
ROCKFORD, Ill, June 3.-The feature
of the visit of President Roosevelt to Rock
ford today was the dedication Of Memorial
Hall, $4,000 structure consecrated to the
soldiers and sailors Of Winnebago county.
President Roosevelt reached Rockford at
9:15 am. He was accompanied by Repre-
sentative Robert r. Hit and the John A.
Davis Post, G. A. R., Of Freeport, in a
body as an escort.
The President was officially greeted by
a committee of six and driven to Memorial
Hall.
Both sides of the broad thoroughfare Were
lined by uniformed men drawn up facing
the passing procession.
Arriving at the memorial building, Rep
resentative Hit introduced the President
to the vast audience, and the chief execu-
tive made a brief response, after which
came the unfurling of the flag over the
memorial structure.
Short Drive Through City.
The President and party then re-entered
their carriages and enjoyed a short drive
through the principal streets. first passing
in review before some 1900 school children
massed at a park adjoining the memorial
building grounds.
Following the visit Of the President and
his party there was public parade, par
ticipated in by local, civic and military
organizations.
Department Commander Benson Wood
gave the principal address of the day at
the formal dedicatory exercises in the
afternoon.
PICKENS HELD FOR MURDER.