New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-05

me the feeling. wonder. that he wss
permanently al home nowhere II
seems 20 me that IN the ease OF
man would rather say OF spirit
like Lincoln the question where re
was is OF little significance, that lt
is always what he was that really
arrests our thought and takes hold
Of our Imagination. Il IS the spirit
always that is sovereign.
Lincoln, Ike the rest Of US, was
put through the discipline Of the
world-a very rough and exacting dis
cipline for him, an indispensable DIS
pine for every man who would knew
what he is about IN the midst OF the
worlds affairs: but MS spirit got only
its schooling there. IL did not derive
its character or It's vision from the
experiences which brought il 20 rs
full revelation. The test OF every
American must always be. not where
he is. but what ne is. That, also. is
of the essence OF democracy, and is
the morsl of which this place is most
gravely expressive.
We would like 20 think OF men
like Lincoln and Washington as typi-
cal Americans. but no man can be
typica. who is so unusual as these
great men were. Il was typical OF
American lie that il should produce
such men with supreme indifference
as 70 the manner in which . pro-
duced them, and as readily here IN
this hu. as amidst the little circle of
cultivated gentlemen 20 whom Viz
GINA owed so much in leadership and
example.
And Lincoln and Washington were
typical Americans in the use they
made OF their genius. But there will
be few such men az best. and we viii
not look into the mystery OF how and
why they come. We will only keep
the door open for them always, and
hearty welcome-after we have
recognized them.
81 have read many biographies Of
Lincoln; 7 have sought out with the
greatest interest the many intimate
stories that are told OF him. the mar
ratives Of nearby friends, the sketches
at close quarters. in which those who
mad the privilege % being associated
with him have tried 20 depict for US
the very man himself in his habit as
he lived: but I have nowhere found a
real intimate Of Lincoln S. I nowhere
get the impression in any narrative or
Renaissance that the writer had in
fact penetrated the heart Of HE mys-
terry, or that any man could penetrate
70 the heart OF IT, That brooGing spirit
had no real famIliars. I get the i'm
preston that b. never spoke out IN
complete self-revelat.on, and that Il
could not reveal itself completely 10
anyone. 10 was a very lonely spirit
that looked out from underneath those
shaggy brows and comprehended men
without fully comEuning with them, as
II, in spite Of all q genial efforts az
cOmradeshIp, 10 dwelt apart. saw its
visions Of duty where no man looked
on.
There is a very holy and very ter
rible isolation for the conscience Of
every man who seeks 20 read the des-
tiny in affairs for others a. well as
FOR himself. for a nation as well as for
individuals. That privacy no man can
tntrude upon. That lonely search OF
the spirit for the right perhaps no man
can assist. This strange child OF the
cabin kept company with invisible
things. was born into no intimacy bu,
that o. It's own silently assembling and
deploying thoughts.
II have come here to-day not % Ut
ter a eulogy on Lincoln-he stands in
reed Of none-but 20 endeavor 70 in
terpret the meaning Of this gift 20 the
nation Of the place Of his birth and
origin. Is not this an altar upon which
we may forever keep alive the vestaI
ire Of democracy as upon shrine al
which some Of the deepest and most
sacred hopes OF mankind NAV from age
20 age be rekindled2 For these hopes
must constantly be rekincled, and only
those who i've can rekindle them. The
only stuff that can retain the life
giving heat is the stuff Of living hearts
And the hopes OF mankind cannot
be kept alive By words merely, by con.
situations and doctrines Of right anc
codes Of liberty. The object Of demOc
racy is 20 transmute these into the
life and action Of society. the self-de-
nial and self-sscritce o. heroic men
and women willing 70 make their lives
IN embodiment OF right and service and
enlightened purpose. The commands
Of democracy are as imperative "a rs
privileges and opportunities are wide
and generous. It's compulsion IS upon
US IL will be great and lift a grea,
light for the guidance of the nations
only II We are great and carry that
light high for the guidance Of our own
feet We are not worthy 20 stand here
unless we ourselves be IN deed aud IN
truth real democrats and servants OF
mankind. ready 20 give our very lives
for The freedom and justice and spirit
ual eXaltstlon Of the great nation
which shelters and nurtures US"