The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1911-03-03

MI lOdSIIndSlcI.
mo word from you is needed to
warn me that am not expected to
instruct this distinguished company
upon the achievements of matchless
Lincoln. Such lesson you would
seek from one more deeply learned
than ever hope to be. Nor do !
come to lay the final wreath from his
children upon the memory of Father
Abraham Lincoln's chief handiwork
cur cwn, our matchless Washington,
himself a prince of peace, laid before
the nations the tribute of my race
that was redeemed by Lincoln's
mightiest act, and by his precious
blood baptized into the brotherhood
of man.
II am here simply to report to you
sons Of those that went to war to loose
the chain that held men bound, what
is the record of the freedmen making
their way with great difficulty towards
Gods hills of liberty, what be the
triumphs of democracy, in her own
country, and to learn from you if
faint you are under the burdens Lin
coin bequeathed to all to test whether
liberty is a dream, equality mock
cry and the brotherhood of man a
scholars creed, of whether God fixed
these ancient hills as citadels of peace
and righteousness and coursed out
streams to sing freedoms song.
LET me turn aside to the soldiers
of the Union, if there be any here
or to their sons-to thank you for
what you did on the battlefield, hot
for people, but for the grandest land
surveyed on Times giant map, and
for freedom the world over. Let a
nations heart hold you its cherished
flower, or the nations treasury be
emptied at your feet, still the debt
we owe you were not half paid. Or
let ungrateful youth of latter years
withhold from you the tribute so
richly deserved, and the eynic with
the pen seek to rob you of fame
claimed only by the brave-still down
the years you will remain the best
and bravest soldiers that ever went
to war.
"The talk of the streets to-day is
the verdict Of Truth tomarrow. Abra-
ham Lincoln, the Emancipation of my
Tace-himself "a slave chained by pow
erty and ignorance-bor in a Ken
lucky hut carpeted with boards and
finished in logs, who had no teacher
but nature, and who knew no religion
but right-the world has picked him
as the only uncontested contribution
of this continent to the roll reserved
for those born not to die. And yet he
was but simple man, who knew
God made all men. and who thought
he alone was noble who loved all men
alike.
IF Lincoln could come among us
tonight, if he could come and speak
he would say, tear up your books,
silence your orators, destroy your
poetry of praise and hush the song
upon your lips and write this as the
record of my life. Abraham Lin
coin-he made men free
81 count Lincoln the star witness
against the spirit of power and
blood and money that has, made of us
nation of dollar-chasers and money
changers, gluttonous of pomp and
ragged titles. If our hero had sent
in his card to a mansion of the
wealthy one year before he came out
of the west sealed to do freedom
work, he would have been denied ad-
mission.
II am in Newburgh, ancient citadel
of freedom. l come here each year
where great Washington made his
home when the humble colonists de-
fed old King George, who got vexed
when he heard that Boston Bay was
black with unexpected tea. go each
year to Vicksburg, where Grant tar
! ried a season when the cotton growers
attempted to raid constitutional gov
eminent. | was there recently
leaned against the canon that
marks the spot where the rebels, UNI
der Pemherton, surrendered to the pa
triots under Grant. At my left the
Mississippi sang a soldiers requiem;
before me stretched stately monu
ments erected by loyal common
wealths to cherish the memory of 10y
al sons; at my feet were the unknown
and unmarked graves Of 100000 sol
diers who there gave Their lives tina
the nation might live,> that all meI
might be free, and that the Constitu
at the First Baptist Church, Eight