The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-02-13

of Anglo Saxon popular government
and save it from its foes. In wild
forest, in log cabin, among the poor
est of the poor, had been born the
Master Craftsman of democracy; one
who was yet to stand on a pedestal
hewn for giants; one who was to en-
body within his own self the hope, the
triumph and the majesty of the demo-
cratic ideal. His figure rises before
US. Ladies and gentlemen, we are
met to honor him and [ leave you to
give your own greeting tonight on this
hundredth anniversary-your own pa
triotic greeting to the great name of
Abraham Lincoln.
Nothing could have been simpler or
more obscure than the beginnings of
this great man. Here is what he wrote
of them himself: ~ was born Feb.
II, 1909, in then Hardin county, Ken
lucky, at a point within the now eoun-
ty of La Rue a mile or mile and a
half from where Hodgen s mill now is.
My parents being dead, and my own
memory not serving, l know no means
of identifying the precise locality. It
was on Nolin Creek
Contrast this simple record with a
page in Burke's Peerage and we shall
get the point of view of trans Atlantic
critics of that day. Could any good
come out of the region of Nolin Creek
in the County of Hardin, a little way
from Hodgen' S millf 1t was the mod
ern form of a very ancient question
which the rabbits put when some one
told them of strange event in
wayslde village beyond Jerusalem.
The First Charter,
There are three chapters in the life
Of Lincoln which tell his inspiring
story. We see him first as a child in
a, log cabin-a small, single room with
a latched door, a CLASHES window, a
chimney built outside of rails chinked
with mud The floor, perhaps, was of
pounded clay or rough slabs covered
with pine needles and the skins of
animals; beds of corn husk or ever,
green; rude stools in place of chairs;
a stump smoothed with saw and sand
stones for a table, This humble place
was sitting room, kitchen, parlor and
bedroom combined; and sometimes it
was the only schoolhouse. Outside,
was clearing where was a well with
a great sweep and a rude shelter for
stock. Crops grew among the stumps
and marauding animals and birds prey
ed upon them. There was never any
money; there was much hard work;
sleep was healthful and the daily bread
for which prayer was offered, was earn
ed by the sweat of the brow.
eve reached our new home' said
Mr.. Lincoln long afterward, "about
the time Indiana came into the Union.
1t was a wild region with many bears
and other animals still in the woods.
| There I grew up. There were some
schools, SO called, but no qualification
was ever required of a teacher be
yond readin writin and cipherin' to
! the rule of three. If straggler sup
posed to understand Latin happened to
looked upon as a wizard. There was
absolutely nothing to excite ambition
! for education. Of course. when I came
of age i did not know much. Still
somehow, 1 could read, write and eli
pher to the rule of three but that was
all. / have not been to school since
The little advance | now have upon
this store of education I have picked
! up from time to time under the pres
sure of necessity
The Second Chapter.
The second chapter of Abraham Lin
coin IS life opens in Illinois. He was
then % years of age and had not risen
above the humble place of farm
laborer He studied surveying while
a clerk in store and was able to carr
a little extra money, by his knowledge
of that business. When he could fine
book he pored over English grammar
and mastered it. For a little time hi
was volunteer captain in small In
| dian war, where he saw no fighting
But IL was his humble entrance upon tn,
| stage of affairs where he was destined
to stand first among the loftiest actors
A few years before he had got glimpse.
of the world by making a trip in {
fiatboat to New Orleans and on thu
way he narrowly escaped death at tn,
| hands of negroes.
In 1882 Mr.. Lincoln became a mem
| Der of the Legislature of Illinois serv
| ing five terms and at the same tim,
| studying law and gaining admittanct
to the bar. Later he went to Congress
for one term, returning to the law ant
practicing in the circuits. One may
| see him on horseback with the othe.
lawyers going from one county town t,
another; pleading in the courts ove
cases generally small and which yield
ed fees that a young lawyer would
now disdain; spending his evenings il
the only place where men met on weeI
day nights, the tavern bar-room will
its low-eeiling and smoky lamps and it
rough jests and horse play. Then cam
the third chapter of this life which
was to become one of immortal mem
ory.
On the Great Stage.
After the repeal of the Missouri
Compromise, Mr.. Lincoln, who had, u
to that time been losing interest il
politics, was aroused to sense of ma
tional duty. He made many speeehe
which attracted notice for their clear
ness, their patriotism and their fir
stand against the extension of slavery
Because of these he became finally tn
choice of the Republican party o
Illinois for United States Senator; an
| in heOiuDinp his eauy,airn 4rb;ob =,