New-York tribune., 1909-02-12

hundred years before goodiy company me
President Of the United SSates viii be tnere' as
matter of course He win come TO give enphasls
TO the occasion and to feel himself both hohoreo
and distinguished by Il. There will be music and
banners and speeches. What boots II to MIN!
He is immortal now. The screen has rolieo away.
He knows the truth at last The final earthlS Voro
Of him was spoken long ago. There Is need for not
arotber All is said that can be said by the poets
by the orators, by the varying pens or myriad OF
pressrnen. Turn exalted from the scene Dut'
Mother Of God must go before we nave looheu
into the heaven above us in unulterable love ana
homage with the thought Of a spirit there "leH
knew in this world naught Of splendor ana Po"ei
and fame whose sad lot II was to live ana eie
in ebscuritY penury, almost In want ana squ9'0i,
whose tragic fate it was after she had lain nam
a lifetime in her humble unmarked grave 70 %
pursued by the deepest, darkest calutnny that eaH
attach itself the name of woman-the haplesS'
fair haired Nancy He EksF
years ago somehow I took her story home to
myself ny own grandmother born less that
a hundred miles away about the same tlhae' anu
though she the daughter OF man FAMOUS Ia
his day and game OF grandiose people tof thoso
times, could not prove as much OF her as hooef'
Lincoln can prove of his grandmother because IA
my ease. the famiys papers were lost IN great
eonlagration. while the Lineoln-Hanks papers re-
main intact
No falser fouIer story ever gained currency than
that which inpeaehes the character OF the metheF
of Abraham Lincoln It had never any feunaaton
whatso Every known fact fatty eontraolets
it. Every boot heel of oireumstantal evidences
stamps It a preposterous lie
It was a period OF heroic achievement, tenpsreu
by religious fervor 1t was q decent Goa ieaFihs
neIRhborhood OF simple, hard working men anu
women Debauchery was wholly unknown Douple
living was impossible. Nancy Hanks came OF sooe
stock So did Thomas Lincoln. Historically IL
would not matter who were the parents of Aora-
ham Lincoln any more than it matters that ne
vvhou the English monarch rejoces TO call ms pro-
xeuitor was bastard; but 1t offends the soul OF
gallant and Just manhood, IL should arouse IN the
heart of every good sense of wronS mat
"a much as shadow should rest upon the memory
Of the little cabin in which Nancy Lincoln gave TO
the world an immortal son. born In honest, unchal-
Iensed wedocix nor thought of taint or shame any
where.
Let not the throng assembled there pass down the
eIore and fade away without heart salute TO the
gentle spirit OF Nancy Hanks Lincoln that maybe.
somewhere beyond the stars among the angels or
the choir invisible looks upon the scene. serene
and safe at last in the bosom OF her Maker ana
her God
~Let US here highly resolve" the words ring out
like trumpet call from the printed page that
these men shall not have died in vain that this
nation under God shall have new birth or free-
dom; and that government of the people. by the
peope and for the people shall not perish from the
earth Repeat we the declaration as we stand
,,pon the hillside where he born And. along
with it let us highly resolve that we will follow
no leader that we will her9!ze favorite who. In
hts private life and public counseis does not prac-
tise the moderation. emulate the Justice and display
The fortttude and patience OF Abraham Lincoln
Hotel Sevilla Havana Cuba n. W.