Daily Kennebec journal., 1910-02-14

and amidst those who from wounds,
disease and suffering laid down their
| lives that this Nation should not per-
Fish, see in memory's blissful land
| where the lines of mutability are not
| written. our Grant, Sherman, Sheridan.
Hancock Logan, Farragut and others.
| and above all those stars marShalled
| in that pale and glorious array on the
| battlement's heights that shall keep
this nation forever one and free, see
a commanding form, a generous, warm,
| true face kindled by a heart that had
malice toward none and charity for
| all, who followed the right as God had
given him to see the right, the i'm
| mortal Abraham Lincoln.
AS Washington entered upon the
stage of life to conduct a revolution
and create a nation, so Lincoln per-
haps unconsciously to himself and
| friends, was introduced into public
life for the purgation and preservation
of the integrity of this Republic. He
came prominently into the life of this
great Republic just at time when
such personality was required for
strikingly Divine purpose; as mani
festly so as did the manger- child OF
OBSCURE birth in the Judean village
stable who brought a new message to
the world, introduced a new religion,
new and higher civilization, going
out of 1t and into glory when his pur-
pose was accomplished. In Lincoln's
case note the returns; the emancipa-
ton of millions of human souls and
the preservation of the unity and mar
red calm of all the states, the chivalry
and valor of American hearts and the
deathless brotherhood of the American
people.
If man is made in the image of his
Maker. then Abraham Lincoln was about
| the best likeness we have ever seen. If
man is fragment of the Kingdom of
Heaven, then Abraham Lincoln was the
largest and most significant fragment we
will see for time to come, for he relaxed
his hold upon life, exalting the dignity of
American citizenship and making the
land of his birth and death, in truth and
| in fact, the land of universal liberty and
freedom, and today the name of Abraham
Lincoln shines highest of the high upon
the great white walls of American man.
hood; yea, standing alone and towering
1 above all the rest of surrounding OBJ
jects, by universal consent, and glowing
| with richer sheen in Gods own stainless
light will be found the name of him who
saved continent to liberty and humani-
ty Abraham Lincoln.
The image and lofty example of Lincoln
will be enshrined in every patriotic heart
| until the end of time. Through the un-
told ages he will fight for human free
dom in every cline and upon every soil.
The captains of the future will pe his
followers and patriot armies will feel the
inspiration of the spirit he has given to
the world. National liberty and freedom
will never die while his name is remem-
bered and the American people can~learn
| from his career the lesson that 1t teach
es; while mankind loves liberty more than
life, while civilization stands above bar
barism, while men love freedom more
than chains, and while human sympathy
links us to each other and draws us to-
ward God and heaven.
Lincoln, plain. noble, massive Abraham
Lincoln, the grandest of them ALL stands
out in undying characters on Times
deathless bead-roll, the splendid ruler of
| a mighty nation, when rocked in the wild
| waves of a brutal war. What a more
than Moses he was in leading us through
the Red Sea of rebellion before he sank
to rest under the cruel shot of the assas-
| sin. Great heart. immortal in human
| sympathies and saving common sense
| peerless in his brave simplicity-gentle
| and just true to every duty and honest
as the sun, this model American, the child
of our soil without foreign prejudices or
experiences. but simply one of the COM
mon people. will hold forever his place in
| the glowing affections of all Americans.
His life was four square to all the winds
| that blow" safe inspiration for youth
and age. The whole world acknowlcdg IS
| his fame peerless. without an equal
all in all-in>the circle Of the centuries.
When we think of the birth. the cradle.
the boyhood, the manhood, the poverty.
privations. tolls and struggles of Lincoln
until his last gasp, and of all the tri-
umphs of his hfe and its rich legacy to
us, we feel the glores of our life and
time: and wherever human rights is the
subject of contention. wherever civiiza-
ton throbs and pulsates wherever virtue
and sincerity are cherished and respected.
wherever the Stars and Stripes float re-
splendent under Gods unfading blue of
the heavens, beacon of hope and a
promise of delverance to the oppressed
and enslaved of every land, wherever a
struggling soul is fighting its way
through the darkness and into the light. |
the resplendent name of Lincoln is known
and honored. Cannons speak 1t, banners
wave it. human hearts treasure it. His
grand aggregate of honor will gid the
traditions of deathless centuries. The
lips of memory shall kiss it with a crown
of spotless roses that shall shed their
fragrance of unfading love around the
name of Abraham Lincoln.
The exercises were brought to a close
by the audience singing America" and
benedicton by Chaplain Burrage.