The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-11-11
THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL.

Tincoln at Hodgenville. Kentucky, OF
Thursday. was remembrance of thu
oreat war President that was entirely
fitting. though much delayed. AS
son of Kentucky. il was emlnentli
propcr that the monument should be III
that State. and being in that State
that it should be something directly
! intimately. and personally associated
with the President himself. This me
mortal takes the form of granite
temple enclosing the log cabin in which
Lincoln was born. Nothing better or
more completely in accord with Presl'
dent Lincoln s well-known character
and characteristics could be imagined
| than this.
President Taft was the principal
speaker at the dedication of this me
mortal. and his address was splcndidly
patriotic and appreciative of the
mighty services which Lincoln rendered
TO this Nation. Ii was a speech noble
in conception and fine in analysis.
bringing out in splendid fashion the
supreme headship of Lincoln compared
with those around him in the great
time of trouble. Lincoln proved to be
lust the man for the time. One moro
impetuous, or more self willed, a weak
man. r man Of moro obstinacy. n man
quicker to act. might have failed in The
great purpose and triumph of preserv-
ing the union of these United States.
During the war Lincoln was blamed by
the radical element of the North for
his slowuess in action. He was de-
uounccd for superscding generals who
undertook to free the slaves by procla-
nation. and for annulling those procla-
nations. He prevented political moves
in the field, and delayed the action Of
statecraft until the time was entirely
ripe for decisive action; but when in
his Judgement that time had fully come
he acted firmly. decisively. with his
whole might Of brain and strength. and
never had to take anything back. His
work was lofty. grand, and of supreme
importance. In no part Of the work
during the times Of great trial was he
found wanting. He was a greater
diplomat than Seward. the Secretary Of
State. In the Trent affair, it was
Lincoln's diplomacy that averted war
with Great Britain. In the vicissitudes
and ineffective campaigns Of Mcclellan,
it is now seen that Lincoln IS letters and
advice TO Mcclellan were Of the
highest military value, and il Nc
Clellan had followed the counsel given
in them, he would have won triumph
after triumph IN place Of being baffled
as he was by General Lee s tactics, In
The western campaigns, also, it was
Lincoln who upheld Grant and Sherman
graded them and deprived them of com
mand, Lincoln had the clearness Of
vision that recognized soldierly quail
ties when they were presented and
he never lost sight of promising mill
tary man; he always secured the op-
Dortunity to that man to do the best
possible work for the Nation that was
II him.
As patriot and as President, Lin.
.oln devoted his whole purpose TO the !
,biect was not the sudden abolition of
lavcry, and he declared that he would |
ave the Union with slavery If he
ould. with part Of the States In
lavery abolishing that Institution,
md part of them retaining it. What
ver would serve best his purpose Of
aving the Union he would accept. And
II 1t all he was the great, central figure,
yho. measuring UP against the greatest
american Of his time. intellectually
S well as morally and physically,
ras found overtopping everyone else.
his was fully recognized as the ward
rogresscd. and the mastership of heart,
rain, and courage supreme In Lincoln
bove all others. was confessed by
ven those who at first were his de-
Factors. He was the great President,
so. but above all else he
Tas the great man. the great patriot,
ne great savior of the Union.
As time goes by his character is more
learIy understood, and the impcrish-
bic glory and grandeur Of his mission
nd his acts stand out in holder relief.
'ime will but add to his majestic
Iemory, and all that we can do in this
eneration succeeding him is TO so FIX
is memory in the minds Of mankind
hat he will grow greater and greater,
nd his personality Dttain more and
tore magnificent proportions as the
2cs roll by. and he becomes the typical
quality. and equal Justice among all
lankind