Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-02
Reasons for the Selection.

Reasons for the Selection.
The opinions of Joseph G. Cannon as to
the proper location of the memorial to
Lincoln and his prediction of Washing
tons future glory are here given:
THE fiftieth anniversary Of the death
of Abraham Lincoln will arrive in a few
years more. The national memorial to be
erected in WASHINGTON should appropriate
ly be completed by that time.
The Lincoln memorial commission, ap-
pointed by Congress with authority to
select the site and design of the memorial
and to spend $1,000, 900 for it's construc-
ton. has met. has designated its chair
man and secretary, has generally dis
cussed the project. and has asked the
and an expression Of opinion as to the
choice of site and the character of the
memorial.
THE personnel of the fine arts commits
sion Is assurance of it's authority to
speak the last word in the realm of art.
No doubt its decision will reflect wisdom
that will aid the Lincoln memorial COM
mission to the best performance of it's
mission.
Lincoln was born in Kentucky, lived
few years of his boyhood in Indiana
and thereafter claimed the state of ILL
nois as his home. Therefore, We of Illi-
nois claim him as an Illinoisan, and as
sumo particular interest in the per-
PCtudI1oi oi Ills IucIuOIy.
SHELBY Moore Cullom, senior senator
from Illinois, more than any person
alive save Lincoln's son. Robert Todd
Lincoln, is interested in this memorial to
LincOn.
"Cullom is Lincolns oldest living friend
| Both were born in Kentucky; they served
| together in the Illinois legislature and
CullOm was speaker of the Illinois house
| of representatives when Lincoln took up
! his home in the White House. a lease to
hn vprnk hi ,,.s
later. They were associates. colleagues.
| intimates.
Senator Cullom is over eighty years
| of age. He would like to see the Lincoln
| least started before he goes on a Journey
He has done more than any other man to
further the project for the Lincoln me-
| mortal.
Belongs to the Nation.
'"Of course, Lincoln belongs to the ma
| ton and to the world, but we of Illinois
| regard him as peculiarly our own be-
cause he lived among us, grew up and
grew great in the air we breathe 1t is
| neighborhood pride.
Lincoln was great because he was the
| child of poverty. was schoOled in its
struggles and mlseries and so acquired
such knowledge Of the essentials of life as
4 has no other man intrusted with great
power. He was great because he could
shut his eyes and listen to the advice of
| his own great heart rather than public
| clamor or particular council
| There were those who came to him de-
| claring they We're the messengers of
heaven. demanding that he do things he
did not want to do. just because they
said it was the Divine VIII speaking
| through them. 1t seems to me- Lincoln
replied to them. that need divine
guidance more than anybody in the
world. A message from God would be
mighty helpful. Yet God knows how
much 1 need Him, and If he had a mes
sage for me, 1 believe, he would give it
| to me direct
1.-THE simplicity and directness of the
| man, his great humanity, found express
| sion in utterances that will live always.
| Edward Everett, one of the greatest or
ators of that day, makes a mastery ora
| tiOn, speaking for an hour or more I'm
| polished phrases. Lincoln gets up on his
| long legs to follow him with a three
| minute speech-just a few words Yet
| those words nearly everybody knows by
heart. while Everett's classical diction is
remembered only by those who live in
antiquity. Lincoln's words will live
they will live as long as the sayings OF
| ST. Paul l would have said that they
! would live as long as the Lords prayer
/ except that some people would not believe
Continued on Eighteenth Page.)