The Washington herald., 1909-06-01

Hodgenville. KY. May S1.-With Robert
T Lincoln. Henry watterson. Chief Jus
tiee Edward Orear. and other distin-
guished citizens present the Weineman
statue OF Abraham Lincoln was unveiled
IN front Of the courthouse by Mrs. Ben
Hardin Helm, sister-in-law OF Abraham
Lincoln.
The crowd was larger than that which
assembled when President Roosevelt and
others participated in the ceremonies at
tending the laying Of the corner stone Of
the memorial han on the Lincoln farm.
Hundreds OF school children and Con-
federate and Union soldiers waved flags
and crowded about the bronze statue OF
the martyred President.
This was Robert T. ILncoln's first visit
to the birthplace OF his father. Mr.
Lincoln was prostrated by the heat during
the speech-making. He was assisted from
the stand By Mr.. Watterson. who accom-
panied him 10 the private Pullman car
OlivetJe. which brought Mr.. Lincoln
from Chicago.
NIr. Lincoln had fully recovered when
he started or his return trip TO Chicago
late this afternoon. Owing TO MS !ndls-
position. he was unable 10 visit the farm
where President Lincoln was born
WattersOn Principal Orator.
Henry Watterson was the principal
speaker OF the day. He was preceded by
John II. Atherton and Chief Justice Ed
ward Orear, OF the Court Of Appeals. and
followed by E. J. McDermott, Of Louis
Vile
After Miss Florence Howard recited the
blue and the Gray" Mrs. Helm, Of
Louisville, pulled the cord which caused
the huge American flag covering the
Etatue 70 fall, and the heroic bronze like
ness Of Lincoln glisIened n the sunlight
The speech OF acceptance, on behalf OF
she State. was delivered by Gov. A. z
Wilson. The thousands Of persons in
the public square cheered when the band
played America" and hundreds o. little
school children. all dressed in white and
carrying flowers. joined in singing the
national anthem
Henry WattersOn Speaks
henry Watterson, editor OF the Louis
vile Courier-Journal. when introduced.
Asgan with q sketch OF the men who laid
HE foundations Of the republic, and the
conditions which had provoked the war OF
sections. evolving Abraham Lincoln out
d the primitive elements OF American
lie and thought, and continued as fol-
lows.
I'VE are assembled to-day upon the
ypOt where Abraham Lincoln was born
% dedicate q memorial II his honor.
This memorial IS tribute from the State
Bf his nativity. II IS a fitting tribute.
for 4 comes uugrIId Eingly
The men composing q majority OF the
pfdciaI body which ordained il called
themselves Democrats he called him
self 8 Republican. They were par
tfsan Democrats. He was q partisan
Republican The Republican party and
the Democratic party still abide. They
face each other sometimes IN angry, and
always in spirited, controversy. How
comes Il that Democrats ind insp!ra-
don in the name Of that Republican
who mOre than any other, who more
than all others. gave life and perpetuity
10 the Republican party. and gather
lovingly about the site Of the cabin II
which he frst saw the light. 10 join their
Republican felIow-citizsns IN heartfelt
tonnage?
Party Second TO Country.
The answer It this question discloses
national asset and constitutes blessed
heritage. It is that, underlying the
thought OF the people. party is second
10 country; that party lines are not lines
Df battle. separating hostile armies, but
divisions Of sentiment and opinion touch
Ing exfgsucies which are constantly
shifting; that there ls usually a certain
amount OF truth and error on both sides
OF our popular contentious; that we
strive IN the ultimate equation 10 reach
the least Objectionable OF the sum total:
that. in short. disputing among ourselves
rs partisans al home. we are instant
ready when pressure comes from abroad
10 unite as Americans: and that after
election. the fight being over, its passions
are laid, under the genial influence OF z
political system Organicaliy resting upon
public opinion and party responsibility
''T grew 10 manhood IN the nidpertOd Of
the republic The keynote Of ths popular
aspiration was love for the Union Il
was intense. overmastering, all pervastve.
The merest handful al the North, scarce
" more than a group at the South,
veutured a discord. But when the final
trial came the one American who held 70
the keynCte was Abraham Lincoln He
stood. Doric, the embodiment Of the
Union
4 Second Washington
we owe It's preservation TO his wis
dom. 10 his integrity, 10 his frmRess and
his courage AS none other than Wash
tngton could have led the armies of the
Revolution from Valley Forge 10 York
town. none other than Lincoln could have
maintained the government from Sum
ter 10 Appomatox. All OF Us now are
Unionists; and though upon the South
side Of the schoolroom the educational
process was somewhat warming, seemed
extra disciplinary. paTtaking 0vermuch. as
some Of Us thought, Of birch and ferrule.
we are none the less Unionists that We
ranged ourselves in Confederate ranks
and made faces al the sChOOlmasteT.
God rules the world, the winds, and
the waves HS raises nlOrtals 20 the
skies and He casts them down beneath
the surface Of the earth. IN Abraham
Lincoln He gave Us g symbol Of Ameri-
can liberty and type OF American man
hood which might be marked and known
OF all men and seen from afar; gnsTled Of