The Delta independent., 1909-02-12
Illustrious Emancipator Whose Birth Is Cele
brated Throughout Our Land Today.
An Interesting Sketch of His Life and Work by
One Who Knew Him From Early Man
hood.--A National Father.
BY CAPrAIN c. R. BRAGG.

The magazines are. just now,
freighted with articles suited to the
centennial birth of our late great and
good patriot and statesman Abraham
Lincoln. Several Lives of Lincoln"
are being conspicuously advertised, and
great professions and immense public
gatherings will emphasize the event
while the memory of the misguided
wretch whose bullet unwittingly and
prematurely hastened the completion
of the stately edifice which Lincoln's S
life and service rad builded will again
be held up to merited execration.
On this day OF rejoicing all friends Of
the nation, not excepting the rapidly
diminishing body OF citizens, who
earned the right TO be styled patriots
in the fore-f front of battle the very
men who shouted 1--WE are coming
Father Abraham" will have our es-
pecial rejoicing while those. il any re-
main. whose acts and speeches vexed
the righteous soul of our great Presi-
dent will remain silent.
1t is deeply regretable that on this
coming day of commemoration. just
honored by Congress as National Hol-
iday. many small villages will not find
time to at least spend an hour together
in public memorial Of this great man.
To me Abraham Lincoln Is vastly
more than an historical parsonage;
after many years record 0r The Won
derful history of our nation think of
him with deep feeling as my National
Father. AS young man / knew the
incidents and conditions of his 10 WY
birth; large chapter of his private
and public life was unfolded through
his nomination for the presidency by
the great Republican convention at
Chicago in 1860. was then in the
u. S. navy and being on leave of alb
sence heard him address a crowd of
people on his way to his inauguration
at the capitol and waved him an en-
couraging salute rs his train sped into
the darkness soon to pass through that
nest Of traitorous murderers at Balti-
iattt ICIGiNCu dii0 dCtCu dPou
his commands to the navy in severing
in twain the Confederacy at New Or
leans: Thus he was my crowniny au-
thority over the one nation which we
were seeking to perpetuate. In 1865
leave of absence took me home and on
April 18th while walking along a quiet
street an acquaintance hastened to my
side and almost gasped Lincoln was
assassinated last might" The ocean
Of tears following this event, shed alike
by stern menvand brave women was
the measure of the love Of the loyal
North for Lincoln and of their great
hope in himcwhich was shattered by
his DEATH My leave Of absence was
quickly revoked and on the deck of my
ship received the command from
Hon. Gideon:w elles then Secretary of
the Navy, tol wear Grape on my left
coat-sleeve...for period Of six months
in honor Of the.la president. Among
my precious souvenirs is piece of the
Grape with..which completed that SOL
emn service.
We need not speculate about it, Abb
raham Lincoln has been assigned a
place among the worlds greatest men:
his just, humane and wise conduct of
the war stamped him that. OF a home-
ly eloquence he was also master: At
the dedication of Gettysburg cemetery
the Hon. VIM. M. Evarts then Secre- ,
tary of State, admittedly the most pol
ished and eloquent speaker in America,
delivered an address an hour long. and
two months IN the preparation, not ten
lines of which l have ever seen re-
peated. On::.the dedication trip from
Washington to Gettysburg miles
Lincoln asked1for sheet of paper, and
retiring to a.corner Of the car spent
few moments in,deep thought, folded
the paper and placed it in his pocket.
That was. Lincoln's address at Gettys-
burg -250 words long. It has been
translated into more than 80 languages,
placed in enduring bronze in churches,
in schools and on board battle ships and
Is given place iamong the nations as
one Of the grandest epics ever written.
The great ;men-and women of Earth !