The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1909-02-19
LINCOLN MEMORIAL
The Nation Did Honor to the Mem
ory of Lincoln on the Farm.

Roosevelt, as the representative OF
the whole American people, today
Formally accepted the little one
room cabin which was the birth
place of Abraham Lincoln. and
which, with the ITO acres of rough
land surrounding it will be trans
formed into national shrine in
honor of the great president. The
cornerstone of the noble memorial
hall and Lincoln museum, a great
granite editice to cost quarter-m
Ion dollars. was laid by Presidpn.
oosevelt as a feature Of tie day 5
exercises.
In addition to the president
whose address in eulogy Of Lincoln
was considered a masterpiece Of III
spired oratory by the thousands who
heard 1.-THE particulars IN today's
notable exercises included General
Luke e. Wright, who spoke on be-
half of the confederate soldiers
General James Grant Wilson, who
represented the veterans Of the
union army; Governor Augustus Z.
Wilson, Of Lincoln's native state;
Ex-Governor Joseph w. Folk, of Mis-
souri,; Cardinal Gibbons; Bishop Gal
loway, of Mississippi, and other dis
tinguished men.
Four Thousand persons, all it
would accommodate, crowded into
the big tent, in the center of which
the speakers platform was erected
and the cornerstone laid by the presi-
dent. Thousands Of other people
swarmed Hodgenville and lined the
road to the Lincoln farm, two miles
of the village, and cheered the presi-
dent and other notables. The road
to the farm was spread with cinders,
affording a fine highway for the We
hicles engaged by the Kentucky COM
mittee to carry it's distinguished
guests from the railroad station to
the Lincoln farm. Veterans repre-
senting the Grand Army and the
United Confederate organization act
ed as an escort Of honor to the presi-
dent.
The project for building a Lin
coin memorial in Kentucky origin
ated with prominent New Workers,
who formed the Lincoln Farm Asso-
citation. John Russell Pope, New
York architect, was awarded the
commission. A large part of the
funds needed has been contributed
by people all over the country, and
the project is now assured
The buildings will be constructed
of Tennessee marble and fireproof
material throughout. 1t will con-
tain central court, over which will
be built a movable roof, and in which
the birthplace cabin will be restored.
Around this will be the museum
halls, the main room being convert
ible into an auditorium for the use
of any patriotic gatherings that may
choose to use it in this way. Once
every year at least, on the twelfth
day of each February, the nation
will hold in this hall the central
Lincoln's birthday celebration.
Address of President Roosevelt.
eve have met here to celebrate the
hundredth anniversary of the birth
of one of the two greatest Americans;
of one of the two or three greatest
men Of the nineteenth century; one
of the greatest men in the worlds
history. This rail splitter, this boy
who passed his ungainly youth in
the dire poverty of the poorest Of
the frontier folk, whose rise was by
weary and painful labor, lived to
lead his people through the burning
flames of struggle from which the
nation emerged, purified as by fire,
born anew to loftier life After
long years of iron effort, and of fail
ure that came more often than VIC
tory, he at last rose to the leader
ship of the republic, at the moment
when that leadership had become the
stupendous world-task of the time
He grew to know greatness, but new
er ease. Success came to him, but
never happiness, save that which
springs from doing we'll painful
and vital task. Power was his, but
not pleasure. The burrows Deepen
ed in his brow, but his eyes were
by either hate or fear.
His gaunt shoulders were bowed,
but his steel thews never faltered as
he bore for burden the destinies of
his people. His great tender heart
shrank from giving pain; and the
task allotted him was to pour out
like water the life blood of the
young men, and to feel in his every
fiber the sorrow of the women. Dis
aster saddened but never dismayed
him. AS the red years of war went
by they found him ever doing his
duty in the present, ever facing the
future with fearless front, high of
heart and dauntless of soul. I'm
broken by hatred, mistaken by
scorn, he worked and suffered for
the people. Triumph was his at last;
and barely had he tasted it before
murder found him, and the kindly,
patient fearless eyes were closed for
ever.
"As people we are indeed be-
yond measure fortunate in the char
acters of the two greatest of our
public men, Washington and Lin
coin. Widely though they differ in
externals, the Virginia landed gen
tleman and the Kentucky backwoods-
man, they were alike in essentials,
they were alike in the great quail
tieswhich rendered each able to rem
der service to his nation and to all
mankind such as no other man of
his generation could or did render.
Each had lofty ideals. but each in
striving to attain these lofty ideals
was guided by the soundest common