Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-11-10
CABIN Of LINCOLN
DECIDED To NATION
AS MEMORIAL HALL
Great Granite Building That
EnShrines Rude Log House
Where President Was Born
Is Accepted by Taft

Tor the nation by President Taft.
The memorial stands where the cabin
stood. 1t was originally built by Lin
coins parents. n is in the center of the
farm, on which the Lincolns-Thomas and
Nancy Hanks-families settled after their
long journey from Virginia
,Todays exercises were, in a measure.
continuation OF those begun yesterday
at Frankfort when a statue to Lincoln
was unveiled in the state capitol. The
ceremony this afternoon, however mark
ed the contamination of nationwide
movement to convert the Lincoln birth
place into a national preserve.
GREAT CROWDS PRESENT.
Throngs. from all parts of the United
States witnessed the acceptance of the
memorial and farm for the nation by
President Taft. Former Governor Polk,
of Missouri, who is president OF the Lin
coin Farm association began a laudation
OF Lincoln, and to this was added tribute
by President Taft. Governor Wilson,
Senator Borah and Major General Black,
the Republic.
Cut into one wall of the memorial hall
are these words:
Here, over the log cabin where Abra-
ham Lincoln was born, destined to pre-
serve tile union and free the slave, a
grateful people have dedicated this me-
mortal TO unity, peace and brotherhood
among these states"
RUDE CABIN OF LOGS.
Within is the rude cabin of logs, the
NknN rIxr- "a ted
Lincoln and Nancy Hanks built when
they took possession of the farm that
today becomes a national park. Robert
j. Collier, chairman Of the executive
committee of the Lincoln Farm associa-
tion. has written Governor Wilson for
mally notifying him that the memorial.
costing $4,000, has been created and paid
for, and that a fund OF some $4,000 has
been completed and invested in safe Sc
curities, the income to provide the nee
essary maintenance fund.
Governor Wilson, who made his reply
last night, has accepted the trust in the
name of the commonwealth, providing
only that formal transfer await the action
of his successor, Governor McCreary and
the next state legislature.
Today President Taft received the me-
mortal In the name Of the nation, Vet
Grams, Of both Union and Confederate
armies. notables of states and nation,
representatives of the army and other
departments are here in num-
bers or coming, and 20 special trains are
carrying people who have assembled in
louisville.
: There is nothing so fascinating on the
one hand and nothing so difficult ON the
other, as the tracing by heridity of the
development of genius and real great
ness" said President Taft, beginning
his address at the dedication of the
memorial hall to Abraham Lincoln
Perhaps" he continued. this is be-
cause there are so few instances in his
tory that prompt the search. The ex-
plantation OF Lincoln and his wonder
full character from his origin and en-
vironment is almost as difficult as the
explanation of Shakespeare, but the pas
sion of the world grows for more init
mate knowledge of his personality and
a deeper inquiry into the circumstances
OF his wonderful life"
MEMORIAL APPROPRIATE.
The president noted the appropriate
ness of the memorial on the Lincoln
farm. and went on. saying;
Few men have come into public prom
inence who came absolutely from the
soil as did Abraham Lincoln. It is diff
cult to imagine the lack of comfort, ac-
and the necessities of life
that there were in the cabin in which
he was born. With an illiterate and
shiftless father, and a mother who,
though OF education and force, died be-
fore he reached youth, his future was
dark indeed. In the stepmother that
his father found for him, however, he
and Of education enough to assist him."
Lincoln's lack of advantage for study
and the persistency with which he kept
up his reading were touched upon and
the president continued, saying in part:
'aThe almost squalor in which he pass
de his early life made him familiar with
the sufferings, thoughts and sympathies
of the plain people; and when he came
to great power, his understanding of
their reasoning and of their views gave
him an advantage in interpreting their
attitude which cannot be overstated.
His evident sympathy for the colored
race, his reused sense of justice in their
behalf, his earnest passions to. secure
them freedom and equality of opportu-
nifty, had their inspiration in the suf-
ferings and limitations of his own early
life.
CAUTIOUS-NOT SLOW.
HE was not slow, but he was cautious,
deliberate, attentive, as befitted one who
insisted on -eSldDllSillnS every pIOpOSi-
ton that he adhered to by original reas-
oning from fundamental postulates. The
lucidity and clearness of his thought
manifested itself in the simplicity, direct
ness and clearness of his style. He had
imagination and he loved poetry. He
had the rythm of language and though
purely self-educated. these circumstances
developed power of literary expression
that the world, and especially the liter
ray world, has come fully to recognize
and enjoy.
He was a 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 expect
ed from one of his mental make up. His
mind was luminous with truth. His con-
science was governed by devotion TO
right, and the tenderness of his heart
was only retained by his intellect and
his conscience.
DEALINGS WITH CABINET.
The story of his dealings with Nc
Clellan, with the members of his cabinet
and with others unconscious of the great
genius and heart with whom they were