Omaha daily bee., 1917-02-12
WARM TRIBUTES TO
MEMORY OF LINCOLN
Memorial University Celebra-
tion Hears From Many
Eminent Speakers.
SLOAN LEADS THE LIST

Cumberland Gap, Tenn, Feb. H.
A score or more of fve-minute ad-
dresses modelled on the brevity OF
Lincoln's Gettysburg address consti-
tuted feature today of the celebra-
tion of the twentieth anniversary of
the founding of Lincoln Memorial
university. Lincoln. the Orator"
was the subject of one Of these short
addresses by Congressman Charles
H. Sloan OF Nebraska, who said: .
Lincoln was invited to speak at
Cooper Institute, New York City, in
1860. Again his fearing friends said:
DO not go to New York. 1t is the
home OF Seward That speech made
at Cooper Institute will defeat you.
Again he had confidence in himself
and his cause. He went. He made
that memorable speech. That speech
made him the presidential nominee.
He revealed new and strange powers
of oratory to the east. 1t was not
the horid, ornate utterance of the
south. 1t was not the keen classic
analysis of the east. 1t was, that di-
rect and convincing express Of the
west proceeding from a eliza. brain
prompted by a good heart, that
swayed the Judgment and clinched
conviction. Throughout Lincoln's
speeches either in debate with Doug
las. at Cooper Institute, or later in
his masterpiece at Gettysburg, his ex-
preston was lucid and strong, his
establishment was through ideas
rather than words. These illuminated
rather than adorned his central prop
os;a;on. On the last mentioned occa-
si/ Lincoln underwent the supreme
oratoricaI test.
One Of Three Greatest.
Daniel Webster, who divides with
Edmund Burke the oratorical honors
of the English tongue, says true elo-
quence rests in the occasion, in the
theme and in the man. The occa>.sr
was the gathering Of the natio 5
greatest to commemorate the might
lest battle and victory of the great
war. 1t was on that field of fearful
carnage. The speech was by the CEN
trail figure of the triumphant north
He stood the test. He spoke as. man
had not spoken since Paul addressed
the Athenians on Mars Hill Lincoln
spoke with the .boldness of Paul and
the authority of the Nazarene. 1t was
the third in point of time of the three
great short speeches of ,earth-He-
brew, Greek. American"
Shaw's View of Lincoln.
Leslie M. Shaw, former secretary
of the treasury, explaining that every
one who attempts some revolutionary
policy claims some similarity between
himself and Lincoln, devoted his ad-
dress to pointing out what Lincoln
did not believe, touch or do
He was not an abolitionist," said
Mr.. Shaw. "He never belonged to
or affiliated with the abolition party.
The platform on which Mr.. Lincoln
was elected was not an abolition plat
form. Mr.. Lincoln set his face strong
ly against the spread of slavery and
his party promised that all free soil
should remain free, Thus far, but no
fsffhef,' was its position. 1t is note
worthy, however. that he signed the
emancipation proclamation with many
misgivings and after much delay. The
abolition OF slavery by proclamation
was war measure and an incident of
the war. When the constitution of
the confederacy was adopted it ex.
pressly prohibited protective tariff
and guaranteed slavery.
Lincoln a Conservative.
"Mr. Lincoln believed in three CO.
ordinate branches of government and
he did not believe in any subordinate
branch. He did not believe that the
judiciary should advise the congress
or the executive. He did not believe
that the congress should interfere
with the Interpretation of the admin
istration of the laws which it saw fit
to enact and he did not believe the
executive should attempt to dictate
to the courts or make appointments