Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1917-03-16
PROCLAMATION WoRTH
MORE THAN GOLD CAN BUY

Bues ~ III - @iAb OA
TIN, top floor of the state department
building at Washington, the United
States government preserves a large mum
Der OF the most significant papers and
documents which have played :; part III
the history OF the nation. Conspicuous
among these relies is the emancipation
Iarocla mation ISSUED by Abraham Lincoln.
Indeed, fos that matter, all OF the preSi-
dental -prociamaticns issued during the
past century and q quarter by our more
than two dozen chief magistrates are
carefully filed away In this store room.
but II is not too much to say that Lin
coins emancipation proclamation is the
most interesting Of ali these autograph
documents of our presidents.
Persons who do no. realize how ccre-
fully Uncle Sam now guards and pre-
serves mis- precious documents have occa-
:sionaily expressed fear lest the future
hold for the emancipation proclamation
the unlucky fate that threatens our other
i~nonicntous nianuscript-the I1ec!a ration
OF Independence. The latter, be it eN-
planned, is in re~grettable condition. In
deed, the ink has so faded that, as the
only means of staying the ravases OF
time. the secretary os state has had the
document scaled in an alright, light
tight safe that may not be opened excep:
upon his written order. However, the
condition of the Declaration OF lndepen-
deiicc is due largely 10 lack of proper
care earlier in its existence II there is
little danger that the experiences which
the Declaration has undergone viii fiud
a sequel in the case OF the Emancipation
Proclamation
For one thing tho Characterization procla-
nation is almost never publicly exhibited
and 1t is never exposed for long intervals
to q strong light as some of our other
previous documents have been when dis
played at expositions, etc. On the con-
trary the emancipation edict is bound,
together with other proclannations by Lin
coin, in Il specially designed volume which
is Just about the best imaginable way to
preserve it
The boob IN which t;,is cpoeh-lnaking
document has place is one of the most
sumptuo,s vofumes which Uncle Sam has
ever produced. This de luxe volume is
I4sx17i2 inches In size, so as to accom-
modate the proclamation without folding
and is lu~xuriously bound in the richest
red leather. This gold-edged volume was
not prepared, 1t may be added. in Uncle
SANS regular book bintery attached to
the U. S. government printing office but
was bound by hand by the expert book
binders that are kept regularly in the
employ of the state department for just
such work as this,-that is. the fepara
ton of volumes too elegant to be pro-
duced in the routine of a commercial
plant.
There was another considerations that
prompted the officials of the department
VI q ~ AtdNC Liz III ii IIld
ton, including the Supremacy important
one on emancipation, bound by their own
experts in their own building. This was
the fear lest something should happen to
the valuable documents if they were al
lowed to pass out Of the state depart
ment. There is always a chance of acct
dental loss when official papers have to
pass through many hands. as would he
the case were the precious sheets to go
to the big bindery. and then, too. it is
impossible to ignore al element of dan
ger of theft by a chance dishonest, per-
son. for an autograph Of Lincoln always
commands a big enough price to prove
tempting, and the autograph Of Lincoin's
signature attached to his emancipation
proclamation is particularly clear and
characteristic.
The issuance of Lincoln's Emancipation
Proclamation was. OF course, one Of the
most important events of his entire ad-
ministration and the circumstances of the
submission of this document for the APP
prevail OF his cabinet are, as history re-
lateS them, among the most dramatic OF
the entire war period. As the story goes.
Lincoln. on this occasion. sent word. to
tho members of his cabinet that he wished
to see them. Secretary Chase, the first
member to arrive at the White House.
found Lincoln reading q. book. Chase.
did YOU ever read this book?' inquired
the president. What book is it?'' asked
Chase. "Artemus Ward rejoined Lin
coin, 'and just let ME read You this chap
ter on Wax WurN IN Albany He
launched into the amusing volume and
read Oh and on as one after another of
the cabinet members joined the circle.
HihalIy. as there appeared to be no pros
pect OF the president concluding. several
OF the members began 10 fidget and finally
Mr.. stanton minated rather testify that
ne mad work to do and that If the object
In calling the meeting had been to trans
act any business he would like to have
the business presented ut once SO that he
could return to his office. Thercupon Lin
coin laid down the open book, opened a
drawer. took out a paper that proved to
ne the emancipation" Proclamation and
prepared to read u to his official family.
But before beginning ON the contents he
looked up for a moment and said: Gen
tlefncn. j have called you together to
notify you what ] have determined To do.
! want no advice. Nothing can change
my mind After the reading tho menu
Dcfs fiied out in silence. but one, looking
BACK. saw that Lincoln had resumed the
perusa' OF Arternua WARD.
FOr all that Lincoln" seemed thus tn
TAKE so lightly tho Significance of this
nIstory-makin ed'ct there In abundant
sequences but the act itself held large
place IN his mind. both then ana later.
the artist. Carpenter. WHO In 1864 exec,,t.
"a for the United States government a
large painting representing tho reading Of
.ns Characterization Proclamation to the
IN every detail VI the work.
w communities where there ia a large
coIofed population each recurring ami
versary of the issuance of the lJvnnncipa-
uofi proclamation N made the OCCASION
"t a celebration of one kirtd or another.
The Rich Man.
49,.