The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1916-09-04
Former Governor Folk Presents Cabin
and Farm for Lincoln Farm
Association.
LARGE CROWD ATTENDS
PRESENTATION CELEBRATION
President Wilson in Able Address Ac-
certs Gift to Nation; Gift by
Common People.
(By United Press)


dent LjncOln's home farm and the
log cabin that he was born in were
formally presented to Uncle Sam by
the Lincoln Farm association, an or
ganizatiOn which rescued the place
from obscurity and neglect, here to-
day. Most of the contributions for
the purchase came from the common
people Lincoln loved so WE'LL
Former Governor Joseph w. Polk
of Missouri, president of the associa-
ton, in presenting the farm and cabin
to the government, emphasized the
need for Americanism in the every
day life of the individual American,
in the government and particularly in
the foreign relations of the United
States. Mr.. Folk said in part:
'The spirit of Lincoln is more alive
today than he lived in the flesh. His
ideals live in millions of American
freemen.
"He founded an Americanism that
is not matter of creed or national
descent, but an ideal of the soul and
of the mind; an Americanism that is
not merely union of political enti-
ties, but of a common aspiration and
common destiny.
LincOln's Americanism was so vir-
lie that there need be no nation so
strong we should fear it, or so power
full we should cover at it's feet; an
| Americanism so just that the Golden
Rule may be the supreme law guiding
us in our diplomatic relations with
other nations; an Americanism ready
to defend against the aggression of all
nations, but Intentionally offending
none in puholding the principles of
the rights of man throughout the
world; an Americanism that gives
hope to those who would preserve the
sacred fire Of brotherhood now In
danger of being extinguished in the
sanguinary floods across the sea; an
Americanism based upon service for
the common good and equality of op-
portunity for ALL"
A large crowd was present for the
presentation celebration.
Wilson Accepts.
President Wilson accepted the gift
of the nation in an able address. He
arrived here with Mrs. Wilson at
9:40 o'clock this morning and en-
route to the Lincoln farm stopped at
the court house and placed a wreath
on LlncOln'S statue.
"No more significant memorial
could have been presented to this ma
tion than this.'' said the president in
his address. 1T expresses so much
of what is singular and noteworthy
in the history Of the country; it sug-
gests so many of the things that we
prize most highly in our life and in
our system of government"
Needs No Eulogy.
He concluded his address as fol-
lows:
II have come here today, not to
utter eulogy on Lincoln; he stands
in need Of none, but to endeavor to
interpret the meaning of this gift
to the nation of the place of his
birth and origin. Is not this an
altar upon which we may forever keep
alive the vestal fire of democracy as
upon a shrine at which some of the
deepest and most sacred hopes of man
kind may from age to age be rekin-
died? For these hopes must con-
stantly be rekindled, and only those
who live can rekindle them. The
only stuff that can retain the life
giving heat is the stuff of living
ACe14 10. Anu L1c uOpcS VI luduhluu
cannot be kept alive by words merely,
by constitutions and doctrines of
right and codes of liberty. The OBJ
ject of democracy is to transmute
these into the life and action of So
ciety, the self-denial and self-sacri-
| flee of heroic men and women willing
to make their lives an embodiment
of right and service and enlightened
purpose. The commands of demo-
cracy are as imperative as it's privil-
eyes and opportunities are wide and
generous. Its compulsion is upon US.
1t will be great and lift great light
for the guidance of the nations only
if we are great and carry that light
high for the guidance of our own
feet. : We are not worthy to stand
here unless we ourselves be in deed
and in truth real democrats and SER
| wants of mankind, ready to give our
| very lives for the freedom and justice
and spiritual exaltation of the great
nation which shelters and nurtures
u.s."
SIX CENT BREAD