The Democratic advocate., 1908-09-04

months it Will De nuuuTeQ years
since Abraham Lincoln was born
Mon by no means old have seen him
md talked with him. We think of him
&c he appeared when President. In the
minds of the people he remains a
rnid6Ip-aeed man. 1t requires some
mental effort for us to realize that the
twoIfth of February next will be the
centennial of his birth.
And how that centennial will be
celebrated! In all parts of the coun-
try his eulogies will be spoken. From
mint and platform, by quiet tiresides
and around banquet boards, will be
told again the story Of his inspiring
life The children in the schools
will repeat his words, and the great
oct of earth will sound his praises.
All sections will unite to do him hon
or The people of other lands will
ioin in the acclaim. This nation and
the world outside will feel again the
uplift of his kindly and useful life.
Iincoln's best memorial will always
he the affection of his countrymen.
But it is customary and proper for
affection to express itself in tangible
form, AS yet this nation has not thus
expressed it's affection for Lincoln.
The centennial of his birth should not
and will not be allowed to pass with
ont at least a beginning being made
on memorial which shall suitably
EXPRESS the feeling of his countrymen
toward the best beloved American.
1t is high time, therefore, that care
full consideration be given to the ques-
ton, What shall the Lincoln memorial
be?
As this is to be a national mem
Orial. il may be assumed that the
American people will desire that the
memorial shall be connected with the
nations capital.
What should be it's character? 1t
may not be amiss to begin by agreeing
on some kinds of memorial that should
be excluded from consideration as un-
suited for a memorial to Abraham
Lincoln.
First. tten, the Lincoln Memorial
should not be shaft Of any kind.
The American people already have in
their capital city the noblest memorial
shaft ever erected by man, the Wash
ington Monument. There it stands in
simple majesty. towering far above
every other structure in the city,
a fit memorial to the exalted character
of him in whose honor it was erected.
1t is unnecessary, and it would
m2nifestly be improper, to bring
Washington and Lincoln into con-
trast. Each was supremely great in
his own way and at his own time.
Probably neither could have taken
the place or have done the work of
the other. But to propose shaft of
any kind as the Lincoln Memorial
would inevitably result in the making
Of comparisons and contrasts between
these two great Americans. So it
may be concluded that all memorials
of the shaft type should be excluded
from consideration.
Second, the Lincoln Memorial
should rot be an equestrian statue
Lincoln was not at his best on a
horse. Besides, we already have in
the city Of Washington more than
one-tenth OF all the equestrian stat
mere statue of any kind, equestrian
or pedestrian, however mounted
would be wholly inadequate as an
expression OF the nations regard for
Abraham Lincoln. So statues Of all
kinds except as features of some COM
prehensive design, may be excluded
from consideration.
Third, the Lincoln Memorial should
probably not be an arch. No visitor
TO Paris fails to take a look at the
Are de Triomphe de rEtoile. Erected
on slight elevation, this splendid
arch is the center from which slope
away in all directions streets and
avenues bordered by trees and lineC
WIN stately mansions. The Arc is
mus the crowning glory of a dozer
OF the most beautiful streets o.
Parls, No one who has looked at this
noble arch from the Place de la Con
COrde up the broad Avenue des
oHamp Elysees can ever forget the
vista. And when viewed at close
range, the arch, by it's great size, its
aemirable proportions, and the finisf
ol o, Its details, is seen to be worthy o
Ns splendid setting.
Both in itself and its setting thi:
greatest of all arches is quite worth.
OF the purpose for which it was de
sished. AS its name indicates, it /!
al arch OF triumph, erected to com
MMemorate the victories of the grea
Mpoleon. Indeed, nearly all thu
aicnes that have ever been erected
Ill ancient or in modern times, ,whethel
"t %e regard the time-defying arche!
VI W.. we Old Roman Forum or the beau
vo vsui out transit arch erected in New
t. toih IN honor of the return of Dewe!
N m0n Manila Bay, have been reared
,ommemoration of victories in war
m aunt that Lincoln was the com
amander-in-chief of the largest ag
fSe fSS,essuon s. OF fighting men ever unde,
IN. direction of one man. Admit tina
stS;. s men he led conquered in thu
not e. 1t yet remains true that it il
Ou "a, alone, or chiefly, as the head o
mil, mctorlous army that Lincoln is O
I'M ,n De remembered. While an arcl
S0si, Sea, may be feature of the grant
,slsn ms OF the Lincoln memorial, tn
st,morial cannot properly be re
S'fleted to an arch, however imposing
un;mid ;uouid the memorial be grea
mnnssty messslty Of research? Through tn
Imana. Iacence Of Andrew Carnegie tn
e,n;.a,an e;ican people already have at tn
on f1ai Wac city the Carnegie Institution
man. nm.as1lngton with a princely endow
lshos .Ihough only recently estab
fnlnai' II gives promise of great use
tbo uouid s' the Lincoln Memorial TAX
An aoI aolm OF building of some kind
Waob.t gallery? We already have il
Art ArtulIston the Corcoran Gallery o
nir.h,n which is developing into an ad
Owe. institution of the kind. More
for congress has made provision
pec,;. national Gallery Of Art in con