The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-05-31


 some pertinent story. I was present in the east room of the White House when he was officially notified of his nomination for the second term, and l heard the pithy address which he made at that time. And I saw him at last as he lay in his casket previous to entombment. And so, MT. Mayor, l feel more than ordinary interest in alive exercises, fitting that something on an occasion like these commemor- ative exercises fitting that something should be said as to MT. Lincoln'S life, character and achievements.
 Striking Example.
 Abraham Lincoln, whose visit to Bridgeport and whose speech in this building we seek to commemorate, was a most striking example of what can be accomplished under God and the benign. institutions of our country. The apostle of that fundamental truth of the Declaration of Independence, that All men are created equaP' in rights all alike, rich or poor, black or white. are entitled to Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" be- cause the most illustrious example of the beneficial possibilities of this an- nunciation of the fathers of our Re- public.
 Born in abject poverty the like of which is seldom experienced in the present day, his birth place a clearing in the woods in the cabin of a pioneer, his sleeping place a loft in that cabin to which he climbed at night on pegs driven into the logs, his surroundings Of the most hum ole and iliiterate sort with no clientage of wealth or of in f1uence, far from any school house or institution of learning whatever. even those of the crudest kind, deprived by circumstances of every advantage. re- Hgious and educational, such as is pos sessed by every poor child at the pres 0n xxrtty hay fo what he received from the Almighty a sound body, an active brain of fine quality, a sensitive conscience, a sym pathetic nature, love of humanity, love of justice and fair play and reverence for God, and withal an ambition to climb, to rise from his low estate. By his own una1ded efforts, absorb ping none of the evil habits and vices in his surroundings for no spot or blem- ish on his character ,even in this try ing time of his youth, has ever been discovered; by his own hard work, plement of labor,-the crowbar, the shovel, the spade, the axe, the saw, the hammer, the scythe, the cradle, the plough, and the harrow, in the strug- ish on his character, even in this try every opportunity for education he fitted himself for the exalted position he subsequently occupied.
 Knew Struggle of Poverty.
 He knew the struggle of poverty and humility, for he had passed through it all himself. He had to bear the cross before he wore the crown. His broad sympathies extend- ed to the poor and the afflicted, to the unfortunate and the struggling. A be- liever in God, he ever reverenced the Deity and looked to Him for wisdom of mankind and the loyal follower of Christ. I have never he said once to friend, joined any church because I could never subscribe to all their conditions of membership without more or less mental reservations, but whenever any church will erect over it's altars that sum and substance of all of the Law and Prophets, as emu merated by our Savior, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy soul and strength, and thy neighbor as myself" and make that the condition of membership, that church will I join with ali my heart
 Left Literary Gems.
 ''In the midst of vice he did not be- come vicious. In the midst of pro- fanity he did not become profane. In the midst of ignorance he yet became wise. Trusting in that help that God gives to every man who honestly strives, and in his own manly efforts improving every opportunity, and con- scious of the purity and justice of his lofty aspirations, see him rise like green tree out of the desert, from rail splitter to a member and leader of the elective legislature, a lawyer, a member of congress, a powerful de- batter, and at last we see him as presi- dent of the United States, as com mander-in-ch chief of her army and navy. Though not a scholar, he had all the scholars methods and thor oughness of acquiring knowledge, and left the world examples of English dic- tion that astonished and delighted the world and are treasured as literary gems.
 To-day the city of Bridgeport. at the suggestion of one of our very ex- cellent citizens, Joseph H. Northrop, honors the memory of this great man and commentaries his visit to our city and the notable address that he made to our citizens, by placing tablet recalling the event in our city hall where it was spoken. In the lan- guage of MT. Lincoln on another occa- sion, Tt is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this But in a larger and nobler sense we cannot add to nor detract from the renown of his eloquent simplicity, his purity of pur- pose and his beneficent and patriotic achievements. They have gone out to all the world and are treasured by all mankind. Emperors, kings, queens and legislative bodies of every country were full of sympathy and grief at his un'i@a5S "How asauai Much Sid He 1eaveq.
 Tt is common question nowadays to ask, on the occasion of a mans death How much did he leave?' How much did Abraham Lincoln leave? How many leaves are there in the dense forest? How many drops of water in the ocean? How many stars glitter at night in the great Armament above? What Abraham Lincoln left is not to be measured in silver or gold, of which he had but comparatively little, nor by any material substance. He left united country; he struck off the shackles of slavery from three and the heroic Grand Army of the Re- public he made it possible to write upon our starry banner as it floats in the breeze the glorious legend that the prophetic eye of Webster longed to see as he gazed upon it for the last time, Liberty and Union, now and for ever, one and inseparable.'
 He left an example for every poor boy in the land that poverty and bad and unfavorable surroundings are no barrier to success. He left a notable example to politicians and public men throughout the land that goodness and greatness can be successfully com bined, and that humility is the road to exaltation.
 Such was the man whom we would commemorate to-day by this bronze tablet.
 Lord, who shall abide in Thy tab ernacle? Who shall dwell in Thy holy hill?'
 He that walketh uprightly and worketh righteousness, and speaketh f &krn %rsTH% %I~ I-s !,