New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-13
LINCOLN THE STATESMAN.
President Schurman Pays a Tribute
at Jersey City Dinner.

The lincoln Association OF Jersey City. one OF
the Oldest OF the Lincoln clubs. held its annual din
ner the thrty-nInth. last night. The dinner was
served in the home Of the Jersey City Club. The
hall was decorated with bunting silken banners
and bannerets In the national cOlors. Large pict-
urcs Of Lincoln. Washington and Grant served as
a background for the table occupied BY the presid
ing officer Harry Louderbough. and the guests Of
honor-President Schurman Of Cornell. the Rev.
Father Thomas Ducey. OF Manhattan: the Rev
Charles l. Mead. OF the First Methodist Church,
HOboken Edmund Wilson. OF Red Bank. n. J.. and
Corporation Counsel George L. Record. OF Jersey
City.
Mr.. Louderbough introduced President schur-
man. who spoke I'm response to the toast, "Abra-
ham Lincoln-the Statesman"
Mr.. schurman. in his address. drew an ideal Of
the highest craftsmanship. and showed how LIN
compared with this ideal in Its various points
He spoke OF his honesty and common sense; his
ability TO things they really were. without
prejudice. interest or speculation; his reasoning
power. labored but certain and at once phiOsophic
and practical; Of his ability TO to the end OF
train Of events and consistently and effectively
throughout; of his independence and faith in his
own conclusions: his bravery. patience and faith
and Of his thorough mastery Of all the arts OF the
practical politician But, he said, IL an
other thing which made his greatness possible:
The unparalleled sscendancy which. in spite OF
the jealousy and opposition Of politicians Abraham
zens rested on the popular consciousness Of the
identity OF his aims with the purposes and senti-
ments OF the people The President the po-
litical genius Of the nation. And, as the nation
its political mind reelected in him. and fol-
lowed him because il knew the honor and in
teTests of the country were safe in his hands. SO
Lincoln with all his intellectual Independence had
an absolute &c, % in the i Rtessnse and
his chief support and constant inspiration. And
man ever lived who had such marvellous In
discern It While Il WRs get Uniformed IN the deep
places OF the soul. far beneath the threshold OF
visible consciousness With such profound insight
for the underlying mind Of the nation and such
absolute reliance upon 1t, Lincoln grew as II were
QucuCe a great national statesman
And this brings me to another essential COnstit-
uent in any adequate notion OF craftsmanship. Il
was indeed moral characterfstic as I believe
opportunity for his glorious career but 1T was not
with the great majority OF his fellow citizens.
Moral indeed. this talisman was. yet something
unfet yet by the masses Of the people and alb
sOlutely unique among contemporary politicians
may go further. No statesman in the world ever
exhibited to the same extent the moral quality
which made Lincoln what he was or cherished Il
with equal Iervor or cOnstancy. do not deny that
the soul and essence or LincOln's statesma nshtp
championship OF a moral ideal. He had ap-
pretended and made a part OK himself-sO that he
and fundamental moral truth which the mind OF
his generation had not yet discerned. that men,
whether black or white, were entitled to equal
rights and that slavery. whatever its economic ad-
vantage or IFS COnsrttutiOn7l guarantees was a
monstrcus wrong which must somehow and some
time be swept or the face Of Gods universe. Turn
II as you Will IL remains true that. II Lincoln has
written his name at the head and front OF all our
"a is because he from first 10 last the preacher
the champion and the indicator OF the God given
and everlasting rights OF man.
other speakers and toasts were: Abraham Lin
coln-Character in Public Life" the Rev. Thomas
Ducey: Abraham Ldncoln-The Great Commoner."
the Rev. Charles L. Mead. and "New-Jerssy."
George i. Record