Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-02-12

York delivered the address at the Lin
coin exercises here, as the representa-.
tive of the soldiers and sailors who
served at Lincoln's call during the
war of the rebellion. Gen. Wilson
said:
With pride and unfeigned pleasure
| appear in this place and in this
presence as the representative of the
survivors OF almost three millions rf
: LincO,n's soldiers and sailors who
served in the army and navy of the
| United States during what is officially
designated as the War of the Rebel
lion OF the 2,77S,304 men who. on
land and sea, fought for four fateful
years that this nation should not per-
ish from the earth, less than one-fourth
are now living In few decades the
Hast survivor who followed the dear
old nag on the fields of Shiloh, Gettys-
burg, Chattanooga, and Mobile Bay
will have joined our great president,
in honor of whose gracious memory
we are here assembled on the hallow-
ed spot of his birth.
One of Greatest Mysteries.
1T is among the greatest mysteries
iof modern history that the child born
in annus mirabilis. 1909, of illiterate
land impoverished parents in this I'M
promising place, and without any adj
lvantages whatsoever, should through
life have always been "a leader and
master of men. For hundreds of years
scholars have in vain searched for the
sources from which Shakespeare drew
the inspiration that has placed him
first among the sons of men. Lincoln
Diographers have been equally baffied
in similar attempts to discover from
whence came the truly wonderful pow
Ter to control and lead all sorts and
conditions of men that was certainly
possessed by the son of poor whites
of Kentucky who occupied yonder rude
Hog cabin.
Early Hailed as Leader.
"As youth, Abraham Lincoln s
aiertness, skill and strength easily
made him recognized leader among
ais rough companions in their amuse
ments and contests, including wrest
ling. When company was raised
!, in his county for the Black Hawk war
Lincoln. then about % years of age
twas unanimously elected by mis- sen
! Ors captain. At the Illinois bar hi
/. | was early recognized by his integrity
; | md ready wit. as the superior of his
, | iuller associates. AS a political de
, batter. Lincoln defeated one of tn,
| speakers of the United States senate
! md but a brief period passed as presi
tdent before the most gifted statesmen
v Iof his cabinet unhesitatingly recog
lsnized him as their master Gran
praised Lincoln as being in militar,
:, matters superior to many of his promi
nent generals. and your speaker heart
Sherman say that the president wa.
among the ablest strategists of tn
war The beau sabreur Sheridan wd
H of the same opinion as his two seniors.
II Rams 500 Miles I'm "a Hours.
II Louisville, Feb. 12.-After a run
which consumed almost "a hours tim,
land covered nearly 500 miles distance
II President Roosevelt left for Hodgen
Ilville and the Lincoln farm. The jour
llnoy was without especial incident.
II Few Stops ON Way.
II There were only three or four stop
on the way, none of sufficient conse
Itquence, before reaching Louisville, t
Ilcalf the president out of his coach A
IIniost of the towns crowds of peopl,
Hwere congregated on the station plat
HORNS, and in all of them school chill
Hdren largely predominated.
II Not Like Bryan.
Fl At watering tank just out of. Gin
iIcinnati there was stop of five min
flutes and the children ciamored vain
ily for the appearance of the president
J I'VE get up early and we don't Sc