Evening star., 1916-09-04
Loq Cabin Where He Was
Born Gift of Lincoln
Farm Association.
ENDOWMENT FUND, $50, 900,
AND TITLE TO PROPERTY
President Wilson Accepts the Home
stead in Behalf of the Nation and
Makes Eloquent Address.

HODGENVILLE, KY, Sep
tember 4.-Standing before the
log cabin in which Abraham Lin
coin was born, now housed in a
magnificent memorial structure,
President Wilson today, in behalf
of the United States, accepted the
Lincoln homestead, acquired by
popular subscription through the
Lincoln Farm Association. The
President made his trip to Hod-
genville wholly one of tribute to
the memory of Lincoln, declining
all invitations to make speeches
in the political campaign.
President Wilson arrived here
at 10 40 o'clock.
Thousands at the Ceremonies.
Many thousands of persons made the
pilgrimage to Hodgenville today by
train. in automobiles, afoot and in
horse-drawn conveyances to be present
at the ceremonies.
AS President Wilson's special train
passed through Louisville early this
morning he was greeted by a crowd of
several thousand persons. They surged
about the railroad station and cheered
The President today expressed great
pleasure over the receptions accorded
him by large crowds, which applauded
al every stop yesterday and last night
1t was his first touch of campaigning
this year and he liked it, West Vir-
GINA and Kentucky gave him very
warm welcome.
On the Presidents special train were
Mrs Wilson. Secretary Tumulty, DR.. C.
t. Grayson. the White House physi-
clan: Senators Williams and Newlands,
Representative Ben Johnson, Secretary
Baker. former Gov. Folk and Robert J.
Collier of New York
How eloquent this little house with
in this shrine is of the vigor of democ-
racy" exclaimed the President, as he
spoke of Lincoln as eXemplifvine the
American spirit as showing the heights
which men of lowly birth may attain.
We are not worthy to stand here"
sald he, unless we ourselves be in
deed and in truth real democrats and
OF mankind ready 10 give
our very lives for the freedom and JUS
tice and spiritual exaltation of the
great nation which shelters and nur-
lures us"
Nearly Century of Neglect.
After suffering the vicissitudes of
neglect and decay for nearly a hundred
years the cabin, once in the possession
of a travelling Snowman, is back on its
original site. sheltered within the walls
of a magnificent granite memorial hall.
Accompanying the title to the farm and
ca bin is an endowment fund of $4,000
for the maintenance of the grounds and
the memorial hall.
Gen. John 3. Castleman of Louisville.
a man Abraham Lincoln once stood
ready to save when he was in danger
of being condemned to death by Fed
eral court-martial. introduced former
Gov. Joseph W. Folk of Missouri, pres
ident OF the Lincoln Farm Association.
the first speaker at the ceremonies at
which the title was transferred.
A Plea for elf-Consecration.
plea that Americans of the present
day consecrate themselves to maintain
the Americanism of Lincoln inviolate
was Ildut ny IoiIIt1 ION II ok.
This country has produced many
men whose names have emblazoned the
pages of history, but no name is dear
er than that of the simple and sublime
who literally Sprang from this
soil to become the mishtiest of the
mighty. His birthplace was as lowly
as that of the Man of Galilee, whom he
resembled so much in the sorrows he
knew, the burdens he bore and the love
h,,y ifyyI h.
cabin, preserved in this magnificent
marble mausoleum, is consecrated by
the life of the man who here came into
the world No poets fancy, no dream
of fiction, can equal the emerging from
this humble hut of extreme poverty of
one whose steps were destined to shake
the world, and whose mission was to
rededicate a united nation to the cause
of freedom"
Former Gov. Folk was followed by
Senator Williams. who took as his sub
ject Abraham Lincoln and the South"
The presentation of the deed of gift
% the Lincoln homestead was made by
Robert J. Collier of New York. Secre-
.ary of War Baker was on the program
o make the speech of acceptance. The
inal address in connection with the
ceremonies was made by President Will
'on, who followed Secretary Baker |
President Wilson spoke as follows:
Cradle of Great Man.
No more significant memorial could !
lave been presented to the nation than |
his. 1t expresses so much of what is /
singular and noteworthy in the his ,
ory of the country; it suggests SO
many of the things that we prize most
lighly in our life and in our system of |
government. How eloquent this little
ouse within this shrine is of the vigor
If democracy! There is nowhere in
he land any home so remote, so hum
)le that it may not contain the power
If mind and heart and conscience to
which nations yield and history sub
nits it's processes. Nature pays no
ribute to aristocracy, subsoribes to no
reed of caste. renders fealty to no
monarch or master of any name or
lind Genius is no snob. 1t does not |
un after titles or seek by preference
he high circles of society. 1t affects
tumble company as well as great 1t
,ays no special tribute to universities
n learned societies or conventional
tandards of greatness, but serenelyi
hooses it's own comrades, its own
,aunts. it's own cradle even, and its
,Wn life of adventure and of training.
Here is proof of it. This little hut
vas the cradle of one of the great
ons of men. man of singular. de-
ghtful, vital genius who presently
merged upon the great stage of the
,ofion's history paunt shy nnpaipIv