Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-11-11
Granite Building Which
Houses Log Cabin Where
Great President Was
Born, is Dedicated.
PRESIDENT TAFT
ACCEPTS FOR NATION
Nations Chief Lauds Pre-
decessor in Speech Ac-
cepting Gift Secured by
Popular Subscription.

| OpNAC&A OuOONA l pVAoAAs
! Hodgenville. KY, Nov. 9.-Enshrin
ing the log cabin in which Abraham
Lincoln was born an imposing granite
today and accepted for the nation by
President Taft.
| The memorial stands in the center
of the farm on which Lincoln's parents
settled after their long journey from
Virginia.
Throngs from all parts of the United
States witnessed the acceptance of the
memorial and farm for the nation by
President Taft.
Former Governor Folk of Missouri,
who is president of the Lincoln farm
association, began laudation of Lin
coin. and to this was added tribute
by President Taft. Gov. Wilson, Sen
ator Borah and Major General Black,
former commander of the grand army
Of the republic
| The great granite building, COM
pleted, provided out of contributions of
( loyal Americans and endowed by them,
occupies the site of the cabin in which
Lincoln was born near the center of
the Lincoln farm, the shrine today Of
the whole country.
! Cut into one wall of the memorial
! hall are these words:
Here, over the log cabin where
Abraham Lincoln was born, destined
to preserve the union and free the
slaves, grateful people have dedi-
Gated this memorial to unity, peace and
brotherhood among these states"
Within Is the rude cabin of logs, the
same that the newly welded Lincoln
and Nancy Hanks built when they
took possession of the farm that today
becomes a national park
Today President Taft received the
memorial in the name Of the nation.
He said:
President Taft's Address
There Is nothing SO fascinating on
the one hand and nothing so difficult
on the other, as the tracing by hered-
ity of the development Of the genius
and real greatness said President
Taft, beginning his address.
Perhaps" he continued, this is be-
cause there are so few instances in
history that prompt the search. The
explanation of Lincoln and his won
derful character from his origin and
environment is almost as different as
the explanation Of Shakespeare, but
the passion Of the world grows for
more intimate knowledge of his per-
sonality and a deeper inquiry into the
circumstances Of his wonderful life."
The president noted the appropriate
| ness of the memorial on the Lincoln
birthplace and went on, saying:
Few men have come into public
prominence who came absolutely from
| the soil as did Abraham Lincoln. It is
difficult to imagine the lack of accom-
mediation, comfort and necessities of
life that there were in the cabin in
which he was born. With an illiterate
and shiftless father, and mother
who. though of education and force,
future was dark indeed. In the step.
however, he had woman of strength
of character and of education enough
to assist him."
Lincoln's lack of advantages for
study and the persistency with which
he kept up his reading were touched
upon and the president continuing,
said in part:
Familiar With Poor's sufferinas
"The almost squalor in which he
passed his early life made him fami-
liar with the sufferings, thoughts and
sympathy Of the plain people and
when he came to great power his un.
derstanding of their reasoning and
their views gave him an advantage in
| interpreting their attitude which can
not be overstated.
His evident sympathy for the col.
ored race. his reused sense Of justice
in their behalf. Of earnest passions to
secure them freedom and equality of
opportunity had their inspiration in
the sufferings and limitations of his
own early life.
"He was lawyer and a good one.
He studied his cases hard and he pre-
pared his arguments with the force
and clearness that might have been
expected from one of his mental make
I'D. His mind was luminous with
truth. His conscience was governed by
devotion to right and the tenderness
of hi sheart was only restrained by his
intellect and his conscience. The
diary Of his cabinet office shows how
under his very nose and generally
with his clear perceptions Of it. poll
tical conditions formed only to be dis
took the step Of emancipation they
we're suppressing.
"The grettest reason for the pres
ent memorial is the constant reminder
it furnishes of the unexplained and un-
explainabYe growth and development,
from the humblest and homliest soil
of Lincoln's genius, intellect, heart
and character that have commanded
the gratitude of his countrymen for
the good people worked with them
and awakened the love and devoted
admiration of world y
Former Governor Folk in his ad-
dress said: