The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-02-12
Anniversary AND MEMORIAL.

The anniversary OF the birth of Abra-
ham Lincoln, the great War President,
has again rolled around and with the
rolling Of the successive years the fame
of Lincoln grows brighter and grsnder.
IL is now recognized as Providential
that the Nation turned to him as its
leader in The great conflict between
the powers that had slavery for their
basis and the powers that stood for
free men, free institutions. and free
land.
This year the Lincoln anniversary
is made specially conspicuous through
the adoption by Congress of plan
Tor a great Lincoln memorial in Wash
| ington. 1t is fortunate that all of
the schemes for road building and for
petty utilities that sought to connect
themselves with Lincoln s name were
brushed aside by Congress, and that
| memorial devoted to no other purpose
than the memory Of Lincoln was de-
clded upon. There are criticisms OF
the form OF the memorial adopted by
| Congress It is stated, and with truth,
that the design puts one in mind of
Greek temple, and is Of the Grecian
order of architecture throughout. This
is objected to by many, and particu-
larly by the Illinois Chapter Of the
American Institute Of Architects,
which protests against the design of
the memorial as being unpatriotic, and
not in any way tvpifying or represent
ing the Americanism Of Abraham Lin
coin, and also because II 'would de-
clare the architectural poverty and
sterility OF America in assuming the
necessity OF our imitation of the classic
style, and would also represent lin
coin as an Athenian instead of what
he was, true American. Further,
the Illinois architects object TO the
design in that ''it does not associate
him with his great work as President
of the United States during its stu
pendous struggle for unity and exist
ence, and therefore is not Of historic
significance.
IT seems to us that this protest is
at once just, patriotic, and expert.
L
back TO classic models for memorial
of Abraham Lincoln On the contrary,
the proprieties would call for An es-
pecially American design for this me
mortal, something, as stated, OF rep
reseptative American character. and
with the Nation which that work pre-
served 1t may be too late to change
the form of memorial. but that it ought
to be changed is certain; and further,
it is certain that coming ages will
view this memorial as an evidence of
the sterility of American architectural
design ut this time, and will look with
contempt upon the adoption Of classic
memorial for Lincoln when an espec-
tally American design, appropriate and
connected with Lincoln g great work,
would have been the natural expecta-
tion.
What Lincoln was to the United
States is just beginning to be fully
and the thorough permea"
tion in the American mind OF the ap-
probation of Lincoln S character, abil-
ity, and triumphant work is, perhaps,
more fully attested by the desire Of
loud-mouthed would-be public servers
to connect themselves and their aims
with the name of Lincoln than in any
other way; for, nothing can be surer
test OF the deep-seated appreciation by
the American public Of any ones char
acter than to see the feverish anxiety
Of self seekers to connect themselves
with his name and fame.
But all these efforts are in vain.
The sham OF it all is apparent Lin
coin stands alone, unapproacha BILE; and
yet he stands closer to the heart of the
great American public than any other
man, not only OF his time, but in the
history Of the Republic; for, while the
recollection OF and reverence for George
Washington can never fade in bright
ness and glory, the achievements OF
Lincoln, the character of Lincoln, and
the specially American traits which
he represented, have in a measure gu
persedod the Washingtonian ideals, and
brought public service closer to the
minds and hearts Of the common peo
pie than was ever done before.
Thus Lincoln s fame increases as the
years 20 by, and will continue TO in
crease as long as the great and lofty
ideals Of popular service. Of popular
government, and Of self-abnegatiou in
the interests of the people, are cher
ished among mankind.
GENERAL MILES ALSO SPEAKS" i"