The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-13
Columbia Clubs Guests Unite
IN Paylng Tribune to Lincoln

all the world knows. To what heights of
patriotism and courage and wisdom he
rose. what patience and fortitude he dis
played. what insight and power he revealed.
what gentieness and goodness sunused his
Sturciest efforts. with what masterfulness
he managed men and meaures. how he
tried and bOlstered and weeded out the in
cOmpetents. how he tested and trusted the
true generals. how he nurtuTed the dis
affected and lifted up the weak and dis
armed the implacable, how dauntlessly he
raced disaster. how h stood unmoved amid
the dissensions Of AIS Cabinet and the
cabals Of Congress, how his great saving
sense tidfd over the critical hours where
rash genius would have periled all. with
what calm and unfalteTinS faith he led the
people through doubt and gloom and un-
certainty TO the crowning triumph-all this
the epics OF the ages will sing. Others
played great and noble parts. but Lincoln
VIII ever remain the grandest figure Of the
crucial period Of American history. His
supremacy, at first questioned, came to
De acknowledged and unchallenged.
Lincoln unrlvaled place among the
worlds elect is immutably fixed. He re-
mains the bestowed of all Americans. 1t
Is not merely that his gaunt and somber
and picturesque personality, deep on his
'front.' engTaVen elaboration sat and public
care has an enduring and irresistible fas-
clnation 1t is not merely that he stands
out among the most majestic figures in the
worlds mighty drama. and that of the
builders and saviOrS of state who have
nodded the decisive epOchs in the world
progress, he is pre-eminent for moral hero
ism and grandeur. Beyond and beneath
these imposing historic proportions there is
magic of kinship and fate that brings
him, above all others. close to the heart of
the people. Around what other name, how
ever great and honOred, clusters so much
of tender, sympathetic and imprisoned
sentiment? Where else will you lind at
once so much of the human quality that
pulses to the common heart, so much of
the heroic conservation that uplifts the
nation and exalts liberty, and so much
of the pathos of tragedy that seemed to
concentrate in one appalling blow a vicari-
Gus sacrifice for all the people?
a LIVING INSPIRATION.
Lincoln shall/ever be our living inspira-
ton. He remains craven in history and
fixed in affection as the highest impersona-
ton of all that our Union and liberty
represent. Let us as people never cease
to study his life and emulate his devotion.
In the familiar legend of Robert Bruce.
az the heroic Scottish chieftain was about
to die, he called his faithful Douglas TO
his side and babe him when the end should
come TO take out his heart and keep IL in
a golden casket and wear it constantly on
his breast. Douglas Obeyed the charge;
and when in the great struggle of the holy
cause the stress of strenuous battle
brought doubt and wavering in his column,
he lifted on high the golden casket with
the heart of his dead leader and bearing
it onward a sacred talisman into the
forward to victory. So let us preserve the
great heart of the revered Lincoln; let us
wear ii on our breast in the golden casket
of our devotion, and let us cherish il as
our high and enduring inspiration in de-
Tense of the truths to which he consecrated
his life and for which he went TO his mar
tyr's death"
HEPBURN is INTRODUCED.
Senator Beverage. voiced the sentiment
of the guest when he paid warm tribute to
Mr. Smiths eoquence and power. In pre-
senting the next speaker, Representative z.
Hepburn. of Iowa, the senator dwelt fOrci-
bly, on the record of the Republican party
and gracefully said that no one could more
fttingly speak of the party than the son
of Iowa. who had been in at the party's
birth and had for over four decades fought
its battles on the field and in forum.
Mr.. Hepburn spoke in part as follows:
Gentlemen of the Columbia Republican
Club: AS has been suggested | am To speak
TO the sentiment The Republican Party.
In a club like this. one made up of stall
wart Republicans in this always contested
State. it would not be proper for me TO
dwell upon the history merely of the Re
publican party.
THE Republican party is entitled to live
and control because il has always been
dedicated in thought, in effort, in achieve
ment TO the interests of the masses of the
people.
Look over the list of achievements. those
that are greatest, most worthy of the re-
nown of the party. They are all of them
in the interests of the labor of the coun-
try.
I'm the distribution of political powers
they made that distribution with absolute
equality. Every man, every citizen of the
United States who votes has precisely the
same modicum of political power. One man
may WELD more influence than another;
one man may, because of commanding
wealth or intellect social. position, WELD
greater influence, but when we ATTEMPT to
exercise our political powers, the youngest
boy in your political club exercises the same
power as does he that is the strongest.
YOUTH RULES COUNTRY.
eve have in the United States twenty
millions OF men and women and youths who
are wage earners.' men, women and youths
who have places in this labor field of ours.
Those people have in their hands the des-
TIMES of this Nation. Our institutions will
be secure, our social order will be preserved,
our rights of property will be maintained so
long and no longer, than there is content
ment in the homes of those millions who
WELD the political power of the govern
ment.
Ibid you ever think, gentlemen, what the
emotions or man must be- a citizen of
the United States, a skilled mechanic, for
instance, with wife and children to support