The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1911-11-10

President Iatt and eX-GoVer-
nor Folk Speak at the
Dedication.
Hodgenville, KY, Nov. 10-In a driz-
cling rain. 10000 persons from all
sections of the nation yesterday as
sembled at the Lincoln farm near here
to take part in the dedication of the
granite temple. which enshrines the
cabin. in which Abraham Lincoln was
born 102 years ago. The skies clear
ed. however. shortly before President
Taft was introduced as the principal
speaker of the day.
Special trains from Louisville, New
York and other cities brought large
crowds to pay tribute to the memory
of the martyred president.
Former Governor Joseph w. Folk
Of Missouri. president Of the Lincoln
Farm association, presided. Besides
the president, the other speakers were
Gvernor Augustus Wilson of Ken
lucky, General John c. Black, former
commander-in-chief Of the Grand
B. Castleman of Kentucky. army Of
the south: Senator w. e. Borah Of
Idaho, and Clarence J.. H. Mackay,
treasurer of the Lincoln Farm asso.
citation.
There is nothing SO fascinating. on
the one hand and nothing SO difficult
IN the other, as the tracing of hereo-
ity of the development OF genus and
real greatness" said President Taft.
beginning his address.
Perhaps" he continued, that is
because there are some instances In
history that prompt the search. The
explanation of Lincoln and his won.
derful character from his origin and
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 appropri-
ateness of the memorial on the Lin
coin farm and went on saying:
Few men have come into public
prominence who came absolutely from
the soil as did Abraham Lincoln. II
is difficult to imagine the lack of COM
fort, accommodation and the associa-
cabin in which he was born. With an
illiterate and shiftless father and a
mother who. though Of education and
force. died before he reached youth,
his future was dark indeed. In the
step-mother that his father found for
him. however, he had a woman of
strength. of character and of educa-
ton enough to assist him."
Lincoln's lack Of advantages fol
he kept up his reading were touched
upon and the president continued say.
ing in part:
THE almost squalor in which he
passed his early life made him famil-
lar. with the sufferings. though sym
pathies of the plain people, and when
he came to great power his under
standing of their reasoning and Of
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. his earnest passions to
secure them freedom had their in
spiration in the sufferings and imita-
tons Of his own early life.
He was not slow. but he was eau
tious. deliberate. attentive as beftted
one who insisted on establishing every
original reasoning from fundamental
postulates. The lucidity and clearnesz
of his thought manifested itself in the
simplicity, directness and clearness of
his style. He had imagination and he
loved poetry. He had the rythme OF
language. and though purely self-edu-
Gated. the circumstances developed a
power of literary expression but the
world and especially the literary world
has come fully to recognize and en-
JOY.
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 ex-
pected from II Of his mental make
up. His mind was luminous with
truth. His conscience was governed
by devotion to right. and the tender
ness of his heart vas only restrained
by his intellect n his conscience.
The story of his dealings with Nc
Clellan. with the members of his cab
met and with others unconscious of
the great genius and heart with whom
they We're in personal touch exasper-
ates the sympathetic reader and
arouses a protest hat vents itself in
contempt toward many of those who
surrounded him and yet did not meas
ure the great nature they were priv.
ileged to know. The diary of his cab
met officers show how under his very
nose and generally with his clear pre-
ception of 1t political combinations
were forced. only to be dissolved and
fall harmless through his patient tact
of the master Of men, this greatest of
diplomats.
when he came to the presidency
he had only the experience of two
terms in the legislature. of one term
in congress. of the political discussions
and debates IN interior district and
OF the great debate with Douglas. He
had no training at all in %administra-
tive matters and when there was pre-
sented to him the awful task which
the threatened secession OF the south
ern states presented he had to feel his
way
Steward. having been beaten by Lin
coin by accident as he conceived. and
FEELING himself much better qualified
for the presidency. did not hesitate to
attempt to usurp %Lincoln's functions
as president. by distributing patronage
IN various departments until in that
quiet. mastery but humorous way,
Lincoln took the reins and held them
to the end. With Steward. with Stan
ton. with Chase. he had his trials.
With knowledge of military STRAIT
egy he developed out of his own study
a clearness of PERCEPTION and a COM
mon sense view OF the needs of the
army which makes his letters models
OF strategic suggestion.
In h outset Mr.. Lincoln encount.
cred the difficulties that fall t the lot
Of responsible head of a government;
difficulties which are identified by the