Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1918-02-08

! NJ ~ the hagdecorated STANDS at Fourth of
July celebrations. from the solemn
rostrums OF the centers of learning the Gettysburg
address has been repented times without number
and doubtless VIII continue TO be as long as the
/ spirit of democracy lives on
Yet with the strangely limited view OF those at
hand the great address was considered failure by
many az the time Il delivered. Lincoln him
self believed that he had failed TO speak anything
worthy Of the occasion and greatly dOwncast.
The sense Of his failure at such momentous event
added no little 20 the intoerable burdens that
weighed upon him in 1863.
The daily newspapers Of the North generally
took little notice OF Lncoln's words at Gettysburg
hut were lavish IN their praise of the long address
delivered by Edward Everett the great Boston
orator. on the same occasion. The Patriot and
Union. an influential newspaper published at Har-
risburg, Pa. with ability for msiudgment nj
most beyond all belief. said Of the address:
The president succeeded this occasion be-
cause he acted without sense and without con
straint In a panorama that was gotten up for the
benefit Of his party than for the glory of the
Nation and the honor Of the dead. We pass
over the silly remarks Of the president. for the
credit OF the Nation we willing that the veil Of
oblivion be dropped over them and that they shall
no more be repeated thought Of"
Even the usually keen-visioned John Hay. then
Mr. Lincolns assistant secretary. erred in his judg
ment Of the comparative importance of the adj
dresses made that November day at Gettysburg
Said Hay In his diary:
Everett spoke. as lie always does perfectly;
and the president. In firm. free way with more
grace than is his won't said his half dozen lines of
conservation"
In Mr.. Hays mind. as In the minds Of nearly all
present. Edward Eyerett's address overshadowed
all else on the program. Yet who today remembers
a half dozen lines Of the two-hour long speech
made by the Massachusetts orator.
Edward Everett almost alone Of all the thou
sands who had gathered at Gettysburg that day.
caught the deafness purport OF the presidents
words. He wrote 20 Mr.. Lincoln a congratulatory
note saying;
Il should be glad II could natter myself that
came as near to the central idea OF the occasion In
my two hours as you did In two minutes"
Even this praise from the man who was consid
cred the master speaker Of his day did not wholly
convince Mr.. Lincoln that his own utterances had
not fallen short In his reply 10 Mr. Everett he
said
IN our respective parts yesterday you could not
have been, excused 10 make short address, nor
a long one AM pleased to know that In yo,lr
Judgment, the little did say was not entirely
faiiure.s
There Is every evidence that the president wrote
his address hurriediy and at the scant moments
OF leisure given him In those troubled days That
he did not complete II until few hours before IL
Was delivered Is certain. IN fact. he did not know
until about two weeks before the date that he
had charge of the arrangements for the consecra-
ton OF the national cemetery az Gettysburg asked
Mr.. Everett long time in advance and had post
poned the date OF the conservation from October
10 10 November 10 at Mr.. Eyeretts request.
David Wills puble-spirited citizen OF Gettys.
burg aud the originator OF the idea OF n national
cemetery there, wrote 10 President Lincoln on No
yeinber 2 six weeks after Mr. Everett had been in-
ylted TO speak, as follows;
The states having soldiers who were killed at
have procured grounds prominent
part OF the field for cemetery and are having
the dead removed 10 them and property buried.
These grounds VIII be consecrated aud set apart
70 this sacred purpose by appropriate ceremonies
on the 18th. Hon. Edward Everett will deliver the
Grafton am authorized by the governors OF the
different states to avite you 10 be present and par
ucipate in these ceremonies which viii be very
imposing and solemnly impressive. 1t is the de
sire tiat after the Grafton, you chief executive,
SCI apart these grounds TO their sacred use by
few appropriate remarks :"