Omaha daily bee., 1909-02-14
SHERMAN SPEAKS AT PITTsBune
Vice Pre~sident-elect Makes Address at
Chamber of Commerce Dinner

Vice President-elect fakes Address at
OF Dinner.
PITTSBURG, Feb. 13.-Vice President
elect James S. Sherman of New York was
the principal speaker at the m of
Commerce dinner at the Hotel Schenley
here last night. About 400 attended the
dinner and listened to an address on 1.-THE
Ship Subsidy" by Congressman James e.
Watson of Indiana and to James Scarlet,
who conducted the investigation into the
graft charges in connection with the Penn
sylvania state capitol, who spoke on the
Day We Celebrate"
Abraham Lincoln, said Mr.. Sherman.
was not a child OF destiny. but an Amer
lean boy, a man of America. When Lin
coin was discovered and nominated, he
said, mot as the unquestioned choice Of all
the people, but rather OF the minority Of
a party-the minority made the majority
apparently by means Of political tactics
the situation was far different from that
which confronted Washington. The nation
was rent asunder, opinion was divided and
a grave constitutional question was in
volved. In the south the dark cloud of
secession had already appeared, while in
the north there were mutterings Of SYM
pathy. Men were being prosecuted for
$3.50 DNf NV 10 VI Ai0tdOih "
thought and expression was questioned
and a whirlpool Of discord and dissension
was gathering. 1t threatened to engulf
the nation in its might rush. At such a
moment, he said, Lincoln was brought for
ward. Lincoln he said. had none Of
the advantages or encouragements Of many
OF his predecessors. He was untried, al
most unknown. The crisis was approach
ing; he must meet It or fall. That is the
situation pictured by the afterlights and
surely by intuition or inspiration he so
viewed It. Not the liberty of the defenders
of the Stars and Stripes which floated vic
torious over Bunker Hill and Saratoga and
Bennington and Oriskamy was at stake,
but the liberty of a race foreign to the
country-a race brought here for bondage
or reared in slavery. Was 1t worth fight
ing forg Many In the north said no. Was
II a question which could be constltu-
tionally acted upon? The entire south said
no, and then Abraham Lincoln, with dig
nifty, with firmness and with a spirit which
could have been inspired only of God,
grasped the helm of the ship OF state and
pointed Its course directly into the teeth
of the storm. His proclamation of eman-
cipation unforged the letters of the slaves.
united the north. sent a thrill of joy and
patriotism in reverberation over the land.
until the hundreds OF thousands of boys
in blue swore by their flag and by their
country that slavery should cease and that
their nation should be reunited, though IL
was cemented with blood"
The appearance of Lincoln. said Mr..
Sherman, was at the most critical time I'm
the nations history. "He met his response
bilities superbly." he declared, gentle,
mild and forebearing, his private and Of
fetal careers are filled with pictures OF
prose and poetry which throw about him
a charm most delicate and delightful. His
homely, quaint humor brightens with age
and will never be disassociated with his
name or copied by another Lincoln. he
said, was perhaps the greatest American,
but his individuality was greater than his
personality. and this, he said. was because
he had with him that stern. unyieldlng
sense Of duty. Gentle beyond compare,
patient beyond belief. his country and his
duty were his creed, and to that end he
labored Increasingly and suffered patiently.
II was that sentiment, Our Country which
guided him. He gave himself with reserve,
for that country, his rare talents. his i'm
measurable love. his remarkable sagacity.
his life. All were freely laid upon the
altar OF home and country"
During the afternoon the vice president
elect spoke briefly at the convoeation ex-
e~rcisss of the University Of Pittsburg at
Carnegie hall.
The anniversary OF Idncoln's birth was
celebrated in PittsburE and vicinity today
TO a larger extent than ever before. The
schools, colleges and various organization
throughout the city conducted special ex-
ercises in honor OF the day.