The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1909-02-12
Abstrac, OF Speech Of Luke. E. Wright

Abstract OF Speech OF Luke. Z. Wright
IIodgcnvlle Ky, Feb. 12.-In an
address delivered today at Lincoln
farm, the spot whore Abraham Lincoln
was born exactly 100 years ago. Gen.
eral Luke r. Wright. secretary Of
war. speaking at the exercises held in
connection with the centenary of the
war presidents birth, paid high trib.
ute to the fame and name of Lincoln
Secretary Wright declared that Lin.
coin believed that slavery was
curse and a great moral wrong; and
I'm believing thus" he added" he was
right" After speaking Of the humble
origin and poor opportunities which
Lincoln had he went on to refer to
the question Of the right of state
secession, declaring that "it would be
unfair TO say that there was com
plete unanimity Of sentiment upon
this subject on either s,de of Mason &
Dlxon's line" Secretary Wright said
that slavery was not alone the sin
of the south although its expiation fell
heaviest upon her people"
In speaking of the work OF Mr..
Lincoln, he said that through It all
he uttered no word Of IN will or NAL
ice toward the southern people; that
when Lincoln saw victory resting up
on the northern arms he showed no
feeling of exultation; that If he mad
| lived there would have been speedy
union OF hearts between the north and
the south. and that reconstruction
did more TO postpone reconciliation
than did the war itself"
Alas" exclaimed the secretary Of
war. referring TO Lincolns first in
augural address. that the still small
voice of moderation and reason was
drowned in the angry cries Of deter
mined men marshalling for conflict.
the magnitude of which few, II any,
appreciated. ard the consequences of
which few, If any, foresaw. And yet
! there were among the combatants
tens of thousands of men who felt
| the sweet reasonableness of his dis
passionate statements, whose hearts
were touched by his pathetic cry Of
peace, yet who, caught up i'm the ris-
ing excitement of the time. aligned
themselves under the stress of cir
cumstances on the one side or the
other tens of thousands of men on
both sides dep,orng war, yet when
war seemed inevitable ranging them
selves with their neighbors, II seemed
the very irony Of fate that so gentle
spirit, so sympathetic and kindly 4
nature should be forced by the stern
logic OF events over which he had nc
control and for which he was IN NJ
way responsible, to assume the role
p of commander in chief in sanguinary
civil war between men of the samt
blood and the same traditions,
b Three years of war and destruction
during which he was president, Wills
p they plowed deep the lines Of car,
and grief upon his rugged face an,
. wrung his gentle heart, provoked NJ
I expressions OF bitterness from hi
, lips. His many acts of personal kind
y ness to southern prisoners and soutN
ern sympathizers demonstrated how
free from the spirit OF malice o
> vengeance he was. AS in the Pre-
gress of time IL became evident th
! union arms would triumph, he evince
no feeling of eXultation or sens o
! personal triumph, but only anXio ,
} desire 70 restore the southern sta't
to their former place in the union an
to heal the wounds OF civil s'"lt'