Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1916-09-04
WILSON ACCEPTS
LINC0LN'S HOME
BEHALF OF us.
is NOW HOUSED IN MAGNIFICENT
MEMORIAL STRUCTURE BUILT
BY POPULAR SUBSCRIPTION.
PRESIDENT MAKES ADDRESS IN
WHICH HE AVOIDS IN EVERY
WAY SUBJECT OF POLITICS

Abraham Lincoln was born, now housed
in magnificent memorial structure,
President Wilson today, in behalf Of the
United States, accepted the Lincoln home
stead, acquired by popular subscription
through the Lincoln Farm Association.
The president made his trip to HodgenS-
vile 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 J. of the vigor of democracy"
exclaimed the president as he spoke of
Lincoln a. cNemplitying the American
spirit as ahowng the heights which men
Of lpwly birth may attain.
Ne are not worthy To stand here"
SAID he, unless we ourselves be in deed
and truth real democrats and servants of
mankind, ready 10 give our very lives for
the freedom and lustide and spiritual ex-
altati0n OF the great nato nwhirh shell
tcr- and nurtures as
The president address IN fun follows:
No more significant memorial could
have been presented To the nation than
tins. Il expresses 20 much of what is
singular and noteworthy III the history
"t the country II suggests - many of the
Things that We prize most highly III our
HE and IN our system of government How
eloquent this little house within this
shrine - of the vigor Of democracy. There
j. nowhere IN the land any home - re-
mote. 50 humble that it may not contain
the power Of mind and heart and con~ci-
ence, 10 which nations yield and history
submits NJ, processes. Nature pays no
tribute to aristocracy, subscribes TO no
creed "a caste. readers iealty - no muH-
arch or master of name or kind. Genius
D. no SnOb. II does not run after title or
seek by preference the high circles Of 50
cIcty. 1t affect, humble company as well
as great Ii pays no special tribute TO
universities or learned societies or con
ventional standards Of greatness, but se-
renely chooses its own comrades, it, own
haunts, H. own cradle even and ilS own
life of adventure and of training Here i
proof Of IL. This little hut was the cradle
ot one of the great sons of men a man of
singular delightful, vital genius who pres
entity emerged upon the great stage OF the
nation history, gaunt, shy. unganly, but
dominant and majestic, a natural ruler oi
men, himself inevitably the central figure
OF the great plot. No man can explain
tins but every man can see how il dem
onstrates the visor of democracy where
every door i open, Ia every hamlet and
countryside IN city ana wilderness alike.
Tor the ruler 10 emerge when he will and
claim his leadership ia the free life. Such
are the authentic proofs OF the validity
and vitality Of democracy.
Here, no less, hides the mystery oil de
mOcracy. Who shall guess this secret "
nature and providence and a free p,lifve
" Whatever the vIgor and vitality of the
stock from which he sprang, its mere Wig
or and soundne~s 10 not explain where
this man got his great heart that seemed
70 comprehend AL mankind in it, catholic
and benlgnant sympathy, the mind that
sat enthroned behind thocs broodinr. mel
ancholy eyes, whose vision swept man,
an horizon which those about him lreamcd
not oiLthat mind that comprehended
what II had never seen and understood the
language of affairs with the ready ease
oi one to the manner born-or that nature
which seemed IN it, varied richness 10 be
the familiar OF men of every way of life
This l. the sacred mystery Of democracy.
that Hs RICHEST fruits spring up out of
>oil> which no man has prepared and in
circumstances amidst which they are the
least expected. This j. a place alike OF
mystery and OF reinsurance
Il j. likely that in socity ordered 9th
erwISe than our own Lincoln could not
have found himself or the path Of fame
and power upon which he walked serene
ly 20 his death. In this place it j. right
that we should remind ourselves Of the
solid and striking facts upon which our
faith IN democracy j. founded Many
another man besides Lincoln has served
the nation in its highest places Of counsel
and Of action whose origins were a hum
bic n his. Though the greatest example
of the universal energy. richness, slim
ulation and force of democracy. he j. only
one example among many. The perme-
ating and all-pervasive virtue of the free
dom which challenges US in America to
make the most of every gift and power