The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-02-13

as member of the order. and from that
day to this the name of Abraham Lin
coin leads all the rest
Six members Of the Loyal Legion have
held the highest Office in the gift of the
republic-Lincoln, Grant Garfield, Hayes
Harrison and Mckinley, and the history
making period of these men is all en-
braced within the memory Of every SOL
der of the Civil war present this even
ing.
Three Were Martyrs.
Three Of this immortal group suffered a
martyrs death and consecrated with theiI
life's blood the temple OF liberty 1t is nc
mean privilege, my fellow men, to live
In martyrs age-an age when men
blush to profit at them country's cost-ar
age when selfish gains are forgotten and
the patriots only lament is that he car
die but once for his country. 1t is the age
of true glory
History carries short roll of immor-
tails. The world does not remember long;
1t soon forgets not only what men say
but what they do. Some men dwindle
when you approach them; others who ap-
pear great fade into insignificance with
the lapse Of time, but not 50 with Abra-
ham Lincoln The passing years only dis
close more beautiful spirit, more ex-
allied character and give deeper signifi-
How humble his birth, but now how
plainly can we all discern that he was a
teacher sent from God and diYinely led
from 1ne hour of his birth to the hour Of
his martyrdom. The school in which he
was disciplined was one none Of us would
care to enter and yet from the most OBJ
scure origin he reaches the highest emf
nence and once for all he demonstrated
the efficacy and beneficence Of our free
institutions.
I'VE have often heard it said that
the door of opportunity is fast closing to
all honorable success and that serfdom
waits close upon the American people. The
reverse is true. The age of slavery is past
and the era of liberty, regulated by law,
has come to stay, and so long as the
spirit of Lincoln aninates our hearts no
power on earth can enslave US. Never
in the history of our country has the door
of opportunity stood. wider open or Of
fered more varied Or richer rewards than
it does today to all who in faith and hon
est endeavor follow the path of public and
private duty.
LIncoIn's Kind Heart.
abraham Lincoln was a many sided
man and many elements were mixed in
him to make him great, but the one that
most endeared him to his countrymen and
to the world was his kindly heart, his
broad charity and his unfailing sympathy
for his fellow men, He cherished no re-
sentiments and his nature seemed desti-
tute of the element of harshness He
was made patient, if not perfect, through
suffering.
He had fatherly heart, and the song
We Are Coming Father Abraham was
not only patriotic. but filial response tC
his call. The soldiers loved him. In q
special sense they belonged to him and
he to them. Their faith in their COM
mander was sometimes shaken, but never
in Abraham Lincoln. He was the one
man in whom they could always trust
the one man with whom they could always
with confidence appeal when every other
hope had fled.
1T has been truly said that he now
belongs to the ages but best and truest
of all ne belongs to- us. His ragged fea-
lures have become TRANSPORTED and his
face the most radiant that looks out upor
us from the glorious past How deep
sincere and constant should be our graf
ltude for the gift of this great republic OF
one, the contemplation Of whose virtues
strengthens every moral fiber of the soul
| and confirms our faith in the final world
wide triumph Of the right