The National tribune., 1909-02-18
"LINCOLN DAY"
Congress Made a Mess of It-Presi-
dents Prc-signed Proclamation Con-
fusing-Big Celebrations just the
Same

Lincoln has come to his own. No
man who ever came to the Presidential
chair has ever had 1.-THE of the honor
and glory to follow him down the ages
that has been and is being layished
upon Lincoln. 1t reached its apotheo-
sis on the Tooth anniversary of his
birth, Feb. IL. The people of the
other continent, as well as the islands
of the sea, spent some portion of the
day in eulogizing Lincoln.
In Washington the city was decorat-
ed with Flags, and almost every civic
and military club and society took oc-
casion to hold meetings.: in honor of
the great War President. The city
schools got all balled up over the in
action of Congress, and part of them
celebrated on Thursday. while those
schools that did not celebrated on Mon
day. Congress had had bill before it
to make a legal holiday in the District
and the Territories, but failed to pass
the bill until late on the evening OF
Feb IL. By that time the President
was on his way to Kentucky, and it
was thought too late for proclama-
ton. Then it was discovered that the
President had written out and signed
coins Birthday. a legal holiday in the
District and the Territories. and left ii
behind to be issued if Congress did
take the action. OF course, the ques-
ton Immediately arose, when the proc
lamation was finally issued about 6
o'clock of the 18th, whether the Presi-
dent had the power to write out and
sign the proclamation before he had
been authorized to do so 10 Congress.
And equally. of course, people who
question the right OF the President 20
do so will meet up with the usual
Waterloo. President Roosevelt always
knows his rights in all matters, and
when he does thing you may as well
accept it as the right thing to do at
that time.
1t should always be remembered
too, that President Roosevelt asked
Congress to make Lincoln's Birthday
a legal holiday after special visit to
him made by Chief
Nevius, who presented to him the re-
quest of the Grand Army of the Re-
public and of the Woman's Relief
Corps that this be done. President
Roosevelt. in answer to this request,
sent a special message to Congress.
Congress wanted to make this whet-
stone to get some other axes ground,
and that is why the vote on the bill
came so late.
one Ol lHc very tilJOydDle features
of the daytime celebrations was that
given at Masonic Temple by Commits
sioner Mcfarland. The speakers were
selected from among the most distin-
guished in the city. Speaker Cannon,
who knew Lincoln, and who practiced
law in the old Eighth District In Illi-
nois; ex-senator John b. Henderson,
of Missouri, who wrote the law which
abolished slavery and which became
the 14th amendment of the Constitu-
tion of the United States; Senior Joa-
quinn Nabuco, ambassador from Brazil,
who spoke for the Latin American
States. and who was responsible for
the abolishment of slavery in Brazil:
Rabbi Simon, and Justice Stafford, the
silver-tongued; DIR. Butler, who knew
Lincoln; Thomas Nelson Page, who
spoke from the Southern standpoint
and compared Lincoln with Lee and
jeff Davis. There was all kinds of ora
tory from the rounded, polished SEN
tences of Mr.. Justice Stafford, delivered
in low, musical zones, to the brilliant
peroration Of Rabbi Simon and the
rough-and-ready speech 81 Speaker
Cannon. The band played patriotic
music, and the auditorium was packed |
Upon the platform sat representatives !
Of all the patriotic societies in the Dis
trict. Commander Walker, Of the De-