The Ellensburg dawn. [volume] (Ellensburg, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1909-02-18

LADIES AND GENrLEMFN-We are
- assembled here, 50 are others OF
-, oountrymen in every part of our
,.oa. gathered togethea today to do
Aouor TO the memory of one OF our Ma
loo,, greatest patriots, by celebrating
a. ono bundredth anniversary of his
hrsh. And it is with mingled feelings
a sorrow, pride and love that we at
M, time do honor to the memory of
lhr.hsm Lincoln; sorrow for his un-
timely taking OIL; pride in his achieve
.au,s; love for character, in all its
.,,ibutss, that appeals to US second
ouly 70 the man of Gallilee.
Forty.iour years ago this coming
Anil. our nation was stunned by the
tragedy At Fords theater, In the City
n Washington, when the news was
a..had over the wires that our Presi-
ANT had been assasinated. y gloon
avsn darker than the lowering clouds
Al "a seemed to settle over our people
an gil their hearts with inexpressible
arrow, The senseless act could not
N comprehended, that such man, in
The full tide OF his powers: who was
vishout malace in his own heart, who
had never been known to do or coun.
,anapce q cruel act in his life, should
h stricket down in such a way, and at
,uch Z time, when the sunlight OF peace
NJ just breaking through the pail
thst had snveloped the country for
iour long years, was past the under
sanding OF men, and seemed for time
TO psrslizs the nation itself. Lincoln
bad not yet reached the zenith OF his
powers when he died. His work, as
he conceived it was not finished. There
i not much doubt but that il be had
lived the history OF the period immed-
istely following the war would have
been differently written. II would
hare been more creditable TO both sec.
tious Of the country, and would have
recorded less sorrow in the South.
When peace was declared, and the
opposing armies laid down their arms
md returned TO their homes, was the
time when the peculiar character and
genius OF Abraham Lincoln would have
been brought into play to heal the
wounds incident to that awful war, and
rsunits the country.
Il Is not my purpose in this talk to
discuss the issues, or allude TO the war
Of the rebellion, other than as incident
70 the life OF Lincoln. The war has long
since been over; our people are reunit-
Cd. and the bitterness engendered then
b gone from our hearts forever, and
sectional hatred has been dead for
many years. Though over, the strug
gle has It's proper place and its lesson
10 history, as it 81 ould, but all acrim'
oaious illusions to it are now resented
and BY none so quickly as by the brave
men who wore the blue and the gray
md faced each other on the battlefield.
But that war was the supreme test
Of great soul 1t brought out the
qualities OF heart and mind the many
sided nature, the supreme courage
tolerance, patience, genius and magma
nimity, that marked the great enamel
ptor.
It almost seems idle at this time to
discourse the life of Lincoln, because Of
the supposed universal knowledge OF
bis life and work. His name has been
household word for half century,
nd No are supposed to know him well
Yet We all read with fresh zest hl'
constantly appearing descriptions o.
Do lite and labors, in our periodicals
and newspapers. Aud we frequently
sets new point OF view OF his life ano
work. Time has given US a better
understanding OF his character ano
soility, which seems to bear out the
prophetic words of the late Henr!
ward Beecher, uttered two days aftel
Llncoln's death in Brooklyn, n. ~ ne
sald: Even be who now sleeps, has, BY
TINS event been clothed with new IN
puence. Dead, be speaks to men VINO
now willingly hear what before they
"'used TO listen to. Now his simp''