New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-02-13
LINCOLN MEMORIAL
STARTED AT CAPITAL
Former Southern Officer OF
Civil War Breaks Ground
for 50, 100000 Pile.
GREATEST AMERICAN
OF ALL, HE DECLARES
Both Houses Pause to Observe
Birthday and Hear Gettys-
burg Address.

Washinston. Feb. l2.-While freezing
winds swept across the Potomac from the
Virginia hills where stands the Lee man
sion. at Arlington. q bsre-hesded South
.rn oflcer Of the civil War to-day opened
the simple exercises that marked the
breaking OF the ground for the construc-
ton OF the great white marble memorial
the nation is about Ia erect TO Abraham
Lincoln. This DAY, the lo5th anniversary
Of Lincoln's birth. was chosen for the
breaking OF the ground. from which the
s.. co.. 90 structure will rise as rapidly as
the contractors can push the work.
only A small group gathered to witness
the significant event Joseph I. .
Blackburn, former Senator from Ken
lucky. was the first TO sink spade into
the ground. and then, with uncovered
head. he spoke in high praise OF the
memory or the President against Whom
he fought half a century ago.
This memorial will show that Lincoln
is now regarded as the greatest of all
Americans" said Senator Blackburn
and that he is so held by the South as
well as the North. To-day We let the
country know that this great work has
been begun and will he carried on steadily
until its completion"
NJ. F.. Conner. of Toledo: Colonel W. W.
Harris. Lieutenant J. A. O'Connor. L. :.
A II. 4. Vale. John +. Bethune and
Henry Bacon sought turns with the
spade for the honor of aiding in starting
the building OF the memorial.
I'm the Senate it was a Southerner who
made the motion to adjourn out OF re-
spect TO the memory Of Lincoln. The
motion was made without prearranse-
ment by Senator Overman. of North
Carolina. following the reading Of the
former Presidents Gettysburg address by
Senator Bradley. Of Kentucky. II was
Senator Kenyon. OF Iowa. who had sus-
eested that the Senate might well pause
moment to observe the birthday ami
versary.
The House also paused in its daily rou-
tine for more than an hour 10 pay trib-
ute to the memory Of Lincoln. The
Gettysburg address of the martEfeu
President was read by Representative
Russell. Missouri Democrat and then
Representative Fess. an Ohio Republican,
who described Lincoln as the greatest
of all Americans" thrilled the House
membership with word picture of the
emancipation. Members from the North
and South joined in appiaudne the ono
Representative. particularly When he
turned 10 Southern Democrats and said.
Il believe that YOU and all Of us now
realize that when the asssssin's bullet
took Lincolns life the South lost its
best friend
Representative Goulden, of New York,
paid an unusual tribute 10 Lincoln when
he said:
Il have the distinction to-day OF being
the only man in Congress who heard Lin
coin deliver his Gettysburg address more
than fifty Years ago. ! stood Wltnin
thirty feet OF him AT the time. lie spoke
less than three minutes, yet his speech
IS immortal while other speeches deliv-
cred there are but little remembered. ]
shall never forget that picture and | felt
that az a survivor of that historic coca
sion / ought TO add word 10 the elo-
ouent tribute Of the gentleman from
Ohio"
The celebration found deeper sgnih-
canoe than usual IN Washington, be-
cause this was the last lincoln's Birtn-
day which will see standing Two OF the
most historic OF the landmarks connected
with the life and death OF the great
emancipation. They are Ford's Theatre
where Lincoln was assassinated, and the
Lincoln Toyshop," where Lincoln. with
his little son. Tao. sought relief from the
cares OF the civil War III play with lead
soldiers.