The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-09-04

The president. 10 accepting the
memorial. said
No more significant memorial
could have been presented 10 the
nation than this. II expresses so
much OF what IN singular and note
worthy In the history 81 the coun-
try II suggests so many of the
things that We prize most highly in
our life and In our system OF gov
eminent There Is nowhere In the
land any home 80 remote. so hum
Bile. that IL may not contain the
power OF mind and heart and con.
science TO which nations yield and
history submits It's processes
Mature pays no tribute TO
arissoerscy. suoscribes 10 no
creed Of caste. renders fealty
TO no monarch or master Of any
name CT kind. Genius 10 no
snob. II does not run after
titles or seek by preference the
high circles OF society. u AZ.
feeis humble company az we'll
as great. u pays no special
tribute TO universities or
learned societies or convention
al standards Of greatness, but
sereneiy chooses iss own COM
raoes. its own hsunts, its own
cradle even, and its own life OF
adventure and OF training.
Here is proof OF IT, This little
hut was the cradle of one Of the
great sons of men. a man OF singu.
lar delightful. vital genius. who
presently emerged upon the great
stage Of the nations history. ganni.
shy. ungainly. but dominant and
majestic. natural ruler of men.
himself inevitably the central fig.
ure OF the great plot. No man can
explain this. but every man can see
how 1t demonstrates the vigor OF
democracy. where every door is
open. In every hamlet and country.
side. In city and wilderness alike.
for the ruler TO emerge when he
will and claim his leadership In the
tree life. Such are the authentic
proofs of the validity and vitality
OF democracy.
Mystery Here. Too
Here. no less. hides the mystery
OF democracy. Who shall guess this
secret OF nature and Providence and
a free polity7 Whatever the vigor
and vitality OF the stock from which
he sprang. its mere vigor and
soundness do not explain where
this man got his great heart that
seemed to comprehend all mankind
in its catholic and bcnignant sym.
pathy. the mind that sat enthroned
behind those brooding, melancholy
eyes, whose vision swept many an
horizon which those about him
dreamed not of--that mind that
what il had never
seen. and understood the language
of affairs with the ready ease OF
one to the manner born-or that
nature which seemed in its varied
richness TO be the familiar OF men
of every way of life.
This is the sacred mystery of
democracy. that it's richest fruits
spring up out OF soils which no
man has prepared and In circum.
stances amidst which they are the
least expected. This is place |
alike of mystery and of reinsurance. |
1T is likely that In society or
dered otherwise than our own. Lin |
coin could not have found himself |
or the path of fame and power upon |
which he walked serenely To his |
death. In this place IL Is right that |
we should remind ourselves of the !
solid and striking facts upon which |
our faith In democracy is founded. |
MANY another man besides Lin. |
coin has served the nation in it's |
highest places of counsel and of |
action whose origin was as humble |
as his. Tho the greatest example
of the universal energy. richness,
and force OF democ. I
racy. he is only one example among |
many. The permeating and all. /
peryasive virtue of the freedom |
which challenges us In America to /
make the most of every gift and
power we possess, every page OF |
our history serves to emphasize
and illustrate. Standing here I'm
his place, IL seems almost the