Omaha daily bee., 1909-02-13
EXERCISES AT OLD HOME
CONTINUED from First Page.)

course with educated people, with no friend
to back him except those whom the i'm
preston of his own personality brought
around him. should 50 rise. A second is
the gentleness of his heart. He who has
to refuse every hour requests from those
whom a private person would have been
glad to indulge, he who has to punish
those whom a private person would pity
and pardon, can seldom retain either ten
derness or patience. But Lincoln's tender
ness and patience were inexhaustible.
Great men are the noblest possessions
Of a nation said Mr.. Bryce in conclusion,
land are potent forces in the moulding of
national character. Their Influence lives
after them and IL they be good as well
as great they remain as beacons lighting
the course of all who follow them. They
set for succeeding generations the stand
ards Of public life. They stir the spirit
and rouse the energy of the youth who
seek to emulate their virtues in the service
of the country. Thus did the memory of
George Washington stir and rouse Lincoln
himself. Thus will the memory OF Lincoln
live and endure among you, gathering
reverence from age to age, the memory OF
one who saved your republic by his wis
dom, his constancy, his faith in the people
and in freedom, the memory ola plain and
Slilplt man. yet CIOWHSu Win n hniBuNiy
virtues of truthfulness, honor and cour-
age"
Address of M. Jusserand.
M. Jusserand, the French ambassador,
spoke as follows:
On two tragic occasions, at a century's
distance the fate of this country trembled
in the balance. A leader was wanted on
both occasions. This boon from above wa
granted to the American people who had a
Washington, when a Washington was
needed, and a Lincoln, when a Lincoln
could save them. Both had enemies, both
had doubters, both were recognized by the
nation at large as the men to shape the
nations destinies.
After reviewing briefly the early life OF
Lincoln and showing that it was his
peculiar a%raining that had fitted hor for
great responsibilities, Ambassador lesser
and said:
He was accustomed not to be surprised,
but to decide and act, And so, confronted
with circumstances which were so extra-or-
binary as TO be new to all, he was the
man least astonished In the government.
His rough and shrewd instinct proved of
better avail than the clever minds Of his
more refined and better instructed seconds.
1t was Lincoln's instinct which checked
Stewards complicated schemes and danger
Gus calculations. Lincoln could not calcu-
late so cleverly, but he could guess better.
His instinct, his good sense, his personal
disinterestedness, his warmth OF heart for
lIltIQ VI luz Ills HA6h aAAAlo ACa iAAAh AAAOhoh
the awful years of anguish and blood-shed
during which, ceaselessly, were increased
the number of fields decked with tombs,
and no one knew whether there would be
one. powerful nation or two weaker ones,
the odds were so great. They led him
through the worst and through the best
hours; and that of triumph found him none
other tina what he had been before, a
man OF duty, the devoted servant of his
country, with deeper burrows on his face
and more melancholy in his heart. And so,
affar having aayed the naliOn. he went IN
his doom and fell, as he had long fore
seen, \ victim to the cause for which he
had fought. The emotion caused by the
event was immense. Among my com
patriots, part were for the south, part for
the north; they should not be blamed; IL
was the same in America.
When the catastrophe happened, there
we're no more differences and the whole
French nation was united in feeling. From
the emperor and empress who telegraphed
TO Mrs. Lincoln, 10 the sumblest workman,
the emotion was the same; a wave OF SYM
patty covered the country, such a one as
was never seen. A subscription was opened
to nave a medal struck, and a copy in gold
presented TO Mrs. Lincoln. In order that
II might be a truly national offering, II
was decided that no one would be permitted
to subscribe more than two cents. The
necessary money was collected in an in
stant, and the medal was struck bearing
these memorable words: Dedicated by the
French Democracy TO Lincoln. honest man.
who abolished slavery, re-established the
Union, saved the Republic. without veil
ing the statue of Liberty"
The French press was unanimous in ex-
pressiOns OF admiration and of sorrow.
IA Christian" said the Gazette de France,
has just assembled before the throne OF
the Final Judge, accompanied by the souls
of 100000 sleeves. created like ours I'm the
image Of God, and who have been endowed
with freedom by a word from him"
When, in a log cabin Of Kentucky, 100
years ago this day. that child was born,
who was named after his grandfather.
killed by the indians. Abraham Lincoln,
Napoleon first swayed Europe. Jefferson
was president of the United States and
Tie second war OF independence had not
vet come to pass. II seems all very remote.
But the memory of the great man whom
we try 10 honor today 10 as fresh In every
eli is" says Plutarch, "the fortune OF
ali good men tina their virtues rise In
glory after their death, and that the envy