The Washington herald., 1909-02-13

I Nation-Ei1e IN scope. bringing together
IN united tribute all classes and c9ndi-
tions Of men. the centenary of Abraham
LlneoIn's birth was celebrated yesterday.
Washington, the scene Of his mighty
achievements and Of his martyrdom, OBJ
served the day in a manner beenring the
Capital Of the Nation. and rendered unto
The Emsncipator 50 catholic and beauti
fuI tribute that it gave new significance
to the words. There Is TO North and
there is no South; there is common
cause and a common country
Not merely the North and the South
cIasped hands in the observance Of the
day. but all the Americas
Ambassador Nabuco. Of Brazil. was the
spokesman OF Latin America. and he at
tested Eincoln's mighty influence to
ward setting the slaves free IN that ooun-
try.
For the South Thomas Nelson Page
spoke. and never has southerner delivered
50 Just and comprehensive an apprecia-
tion Of the man who preserved the Union.
Moreover. ne claimed Lincoln for Virgin
las OWE, and gave strong proof that he
possessed Southern blood
Intimate side shown.
The venerabls former Senator. John 2.
Henderson. whose career is intertwined
with that Of the Emanoipator. although.
in his oWn words. he owned slaves. ard
represented a sisve-owning state" made
an eloquent address. dwelling upon the
intimate side Of lincoln.
Speaker Cannon characterized # as one
Of. the truest delineations Of IIncoln's
character he had ever heard. and hoped
.hst Il would he preserved for the benefit
! OF the Nation.
Many voice vas raised IN Washing
ton yestsrdsy-tne eloquent and the plain
spoken. the clerical and the Iav. some
spoke FOR great masses q men and for
great individuals. and others spoke but
for themselves. The response was equally
sincere and glowing. whether Il came
from dainty kid-gloved hands or the
horny hands OF the sons OF toll
The official observance Of the dav vas
held in the Masonic Temple in the after
noon. before possibly the largest gather
ing which has yet assembled in thar audi
tGrium-
Under the leadership Of COMMISSIONS
Macfarla1d. programme Of great
breadth and catholicity vas carried OUT.
among the speakers being Justice Wendell
Philips Stafford. Of the Supreme Court
Of the District OF Columbia: Thomas Mel
son Page. Joseph G. Cannon Speaker Of
the House Of Representative: former
Senator John b Henderson. who penned
the fourteenth amendment or the Con
stitution abolishing slavery. and Joaquin
NabUco. Ambassador Of Brazil
Many Of the churches, rich and humble
I,held services. among them the New York
Avenue Presbyterian Church. the Wash
ington Hebrew Congrega ton. and St.
Aloxsius' Church.
Organized labor paid appropriate tribute
in the Central Labor Union last evening.
among the speakers being President
Gompers, T. V PowdeTIy. Of the Bureau
OF immigration. Department Of Commerce
and Labor, and Senators Ia Toilette and
Gore.
Societies Paw Honor.
The Military Order Of the loyal Legion
gave a banquet at Rauscher's. and many
other posts and societies Of the veterans
of the civil conflict paid honor 10 their
great leader
A large number Of small clubs and So
cieiies cid not let the holiday pass with
out combining amusement and memorial
exercises for the benefit Of their men,
bers.
Prominent among those who spoke
were those Observation-Disclosures with an
''I-knew-Linccln" theme rich in anec-
dote and story. Washington is studded
with "oId-tlmers~ whose paths crossed
those of the martyred President during
his eventful career in the Capital. and
-out Of the hailowed past they brought
forth many a plain and commonplace in (
cident. which in the perspective Of nearly
half a century reveal the true greatness
OF the man.
The day was an inspiration 10 young
and old. and emphasized the fact that
the time is ripe for the building Of a
great national memorial to Lincoln n
this city as the final tribute Of the Amer
lean people.
Although declaring that 4 memorial
would not add one inch TO the stature Of
Lincoln as a national character. Speaker !
Cannon placed himself on record as IA /
Ftftlz - great i4NtitNita 10 "
at the Masonic Temple Observance.
Il am heartily in sympathy with the
movement 70 perpetuate his memory. with 7
monuments for the benefit O. the living 4
said the Speaker Lincoln was the 1
grandest character of all He was q 4
plain. simple man. Ike unto the Master /
in many respects. BY birth and by
struggle he came 70 know what the great /
mass OF the. plain people believed.
Kept Bounds of Wisdom.
He saw that emancipation was only
a question Of time. but he was wise
enough not to go too far in advance. Of
the people IN pressing this belief. Thevl
say he was j great story teller. and
clown, and tyrant You cannot ind one
word in ali his speeches that was ma
Iicious He appreciated the universe.
- believe there is more patriotism. in
tellgenee and earnest effort to-day in
the United States than ever before. Never
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