The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1916-09-05
President. on Behalf of the
United States, Accepts
Lincoln Homestead.
SPEECH CONTAINS
NO POLITICS
Declined Invitation of Po1iti-
cal Nature All Along
the Route.
BY ASSOCIATED PRESS.

Hodgensville, Kr., Sept 4.-Stand-
ing before the log cabin in which
Abraham Lincoln was born, now
housed in a magnificent memorial
structure, President Wilson today, in
behalf of the United States, accept
ed the Lincoln homestead, acquired
by popular subscription through the
Lincoln Farm Association. The pres
ident made his trip to Hodgensville
wholly one of tribute to the memory
of Lincoln, declining all invitations
to make speeches in the political
campaign.
"How eloquent this little house
within this shrine is Of the vigor OF
democracy" exclaimed the president
as he spoke of Lincoln exemplifying
the American spirit as showing the
heights which men of lowly birth
may attain.
1--WE are not worthy to stand here"
said he, unless we ourselves be in
deed and In truth real democrats and
servants of mankind, ready to give
our very lives for the freedom and
justice and spiritual exaltation of the
great nation which shelters and nur-
lures us"
The presidents address In part,
was as follows:
mo more significant memorial
could have been presented to the
nation than this. 1t expresses SO
much of what Is singular and note
worthy in the history Of the country;
It suggests 80 many Of the things
that we prize most highly In our life
and in our system Of government.
How eloquent this little house with
in this shrine IL Of the vigor of
democracy There IL nowhere in the
land any home so remote, SO humble
that it may not contain the power
of mind and heart and conscience to
which nations yield and history sub
mits its processes. Nature pays no
tribute to aristocracy, subscribes to
no creed Of caste, renders fealty to
no monarch or master of any name
or kind. Genius Is no snob. 1t does
not run after titles or seek by pref
erence the high circles of society. 1t
affects humble company as well as
great. y Here is proof Of It This lit
tie hut was the cradle Of one of the
great sons of men, man Of singular
delightful, vital genius, who present
ly emerged upon the great stage OF
the nations history, gaunt, shy, I'M
calmly, but dominant and majestic.
a natural ruler of men, himself in
evitably the central figure of the
great plot. Such are the authentic
proofs of the validity and vitality
of democracy.
Place of Mystery and Reinsurance.
"Here, no less, hides the mystery
of democracy. Who shall guess this
secret of nature and providence ane
a free polity? This is the sacred mys
terry of democracy, that its riches
fruits spring up out of soils which
no man has prepared and in circum
stances amidst which they are thu
least expected. This is place alik'
of mystery and reinsurance.
att is likely that in society order
ed otherwise than our, own Lincob
could not have found himself or tn
path of fame and power upon whic'
he walked serenely to his death. L
this place it is right that we shoui'
remind ourselves of the solid an
striking facts upon which our fait
in democracy is founded. Many an
other man besides Lincoln has serve
the nation in its highest places Q
counsel and of action whose origin
were as humble as his. Though tn
greatest example Of universal energ
richness, stimulation and force 9
democracy, he is only one exampl
among many. The permeating an
all-pervasive virtue Of the freedol
which challenges US in America
make the most of every gift and pow
er we possess every page in our his
tory serves to emphasize and lllu:
trate. Standing here in this plac
it seems almost the whole of Il
stirring story.
"Here Lincoln had his beginning
Here the end and consummation {
that great life seem remote and
bit incredible. And yet there was T
break anywhere between beginnir
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