Los Angeles herald., 1909-02-13
DAY IS CELEBRATED
AT SOLDIERS HOME
Notwithstanding Rain, Veterans Listen
to Interesting Program and an
Address on Lincoln by
Judge Noyes

SOLDIERS HOME, Feb. 12.-The
heavy rain prevented the flag decora-
ton of graves in the home cemetery
this morning. By order of Colonel T.
c. Cochrane, governor, it was post
poned until Washington's birthday, or
AppomattOx day.
The day was celebrated by appropri-
ate exercises in Ward Memorial hall,
which was filed to it's full capacity.
Chaplain George w. Wilson delivered
the invocation. Colonel H. H. Mark
ham was introduced by Colonel Coch-
rane and presided over the meeting.
Mrs. Lusie Brown of Los Angeles sang
the "Star Spangled Banner" after
which Judge Charles J. Noyes was in
trOduced as speaker of the day.
Judge NoyeS spoke in part as follows:
"a century ago was born he whom
we know as Abraham Lincoln. Never
was human lot more uninviting. Want
nUrsed him at her breast and poverty
held him in her wasted arms. The
storm had contempt for the leaky roof
that sheltered his baby head, and the
wind came unbidden through the pane
less windows. The rude cabin had
nothing but common earth for its floor
He was born to coarse fare, rough
habit and severe duty; yet from these
harsh conditions God was calling him
to sublime service and immortal fame.
"Fifty-four years later many of us
with uncovered heads saw his funeral
cortege take it's way amid millions of
grief-stricken people-a nation melted
into tears.
Between these two periods he be-
came a colossal figure in human his
tory, one of the worlds immortals.
Locked Horns with Douglas
Across the prairies of Illinois he
1-xa1
and took part in the greatest political
debate Of modern times. For incisive
speech, close logic, keen satire and elo-
IQuent appeal, it easily challenges COM
parison with the campaign oratory of
all literature
Each was the candidate of his party
for the senatorial toga; each was in
some measure representative of COM
promise.
In sympathy, in ties of kindred Lin
coin was with the south. His convic-
tions, his sense of right, his sentiment
of justice, his ideals, were with the
north. He saw too clearly for doubt
the incompatibility of freedom and
slavery, knew that they could not live
together; that such a partnership could
not last; that in the end one must
lights at Washington he saw the eter-
nal beacons flaming in the sky. He was
a statesman.
Douglas, on the other hand, was
time-Server. Possibly honest in his
purpose, he was mistaken in his views
He cared not whether liberty was voted
UP or down on the virgin soil of the
republic, if only his party could win it's
offices. He was a politician.
"A statesman and politician differ at.
least in this: The one works selfishly
to gain his own endS-that the people
may serve him. A statesman seeks to
serve his country and his time. On
that narrow battlefield was fought the
opening contest of our Civil war. 1t
was the first dialogue in the worlds
fierceSt debate. Those contending
voices found an echo in the brazen-
throated cannon of Charleston harbor
and along the Rappahannock.
Lincoln was defeated; Douglas tri-
Umphed.
Nation Still Unmo'' ed
"The conscience of the nation was
not yet fully reused. The mill wheels
of the gods were grinding slowly Their
feeble Whirr could not be heard in the
turmoil of the market places. Con-
fused by their silence, men, merchants
eager for trade. politicians greedy for
office, thought them motionless. Capt.
tai was in hiding. The wiSest saw
dimly; thes bravest hesitated. 1t was
an hour to test the stoutest fiber The
south was defiant, insulting, arrogant
and determined. 1t did not mistake
the one purpose it had in mind; it
never faltered. The north was all di-
vided. A part held liberty (save their
OWN in contempt. They regarded the
rights of man, especially if black, less
sacred than the constitution.
"Such conditions could not last. Lin
coin knew it, and saw the right path.
Douglas did not stop to consider.
1.-The rebel flash in Charleston harbor
set the north afiame. Massachusetts,
in the early, grav dawn of the con-
fiict, poured her armed avalanche
through the blood-stained streets of
Baltimore. The 10Th of April became
again historic. The wrath of man was
beginning to execute the statutes of
the Almighty. Lincoln was being justi-
fed; Douglas answered.
"You know the story better than L
can tell it.
ION hundred battlefields whose
tumult shook the earth, those long