The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1911-11-11
LINCOLN LOG CABIN NATIONS SHRINE
memorial Hall. on the farm Hodgenville. KY,
Where the Emancpator was Born,
Is Dedicated
ACCEPTED BY PRESIDENT TAFT FOR NATION

had only the experience of two terms
, in the legislature, of one term in Con.
gress, of the political discussions and
debates in an interior district, and of
the great debate with Douglas. lie
had no training at all in administra-
tive matters, and when there was pre-
scented to him the awful task which
the threatened secession of the south
ern states presented, he had to. feel
his way.
Trials Met in His Cabinet.
Seward, 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 patron
age in various departments until in
that quiet, mastery but humorous
way, Lincoln took the reins and held
them to the end. With Seward, with
Stanton, with Chase, he had his trials.
With no knowledge of military
strategy, he developed out of his own
study clearness of perception and
a common-sense view of the needs of
the army which makes his letters
In the outset Mr.. Lincoln encoun-
tered the difficulties that fall to the
lot of any responsible head of govern
ment, difficulties which are intensi-
fled by the greatness of the issues at
hand, but which all have the same
characteristics when they arise from
the overzeal of moral reformers.
Those who had wished slavery abol-
ished felt toward Mr.. Lincoln a great
er degree of hatred and contempt dur
ing the two years of his administra-
ton than even the rebels themselves.
Brooking no delay, accepting every
excuse as a mere pretext, they
bounced upon Mr.. Lincoln with en-
phatic denunciation and bitter attack,
but he knew better than they what
was necessary before he took the step
of emancipation they were suppress
ing.
He knew better than they the loss
of support he would suffer in the bor-
der states. He knew better than they
that he must delay until the emanc1-
patton proclamation could be issued,
not to break up slavery, but to effect
a constitutional amendment, but only
for military reasons, and with mill
tary purpose, and so he barred his
breast to the shafts of criticism from
this most important element of the
Republican party, and waited.
No man in public life was ever so
much abused as Lincoln. The con-
trast between his position in history
today and the description of him by
his friendly critics during the civil
war can hardly be credited.
The great reason for the present
memorial is the constant reminder it
furnishes of the unexplained and un-
explainable 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 he worked with them and
awakened the love and devoted ad-
miration of the world.
Notable Crowd is Present.
Veterans of both Union and confed-
crate armies, notables Of states and
nation, representatives of the army
and other government departments
were here in numbers and twenty spe-
cial trains brought people who had
assembled in Louisville.
The farm and the old cabin were
not set aside to form patriotic shrine
until the centenary of the birth of
the great emancipation two years ago.
On that day prominent men and wom-
en- from all over the land, made
pilgrimage to the little place near
Hodgenville With patriotic addresses
the Lincoln Farm Association took
erect the proper memorial. Uutil the
over the place, and began the work
of raising the funds with which to
association took it over the title of
the farm had only changed twive pre-
viously. 1t had taken Mr. Collier four
years to clear Lincoln's birthplace Of
all legal entanglements and litiga~
ton.