Evening star., 1922-05-31

1t is a supreme satisfaction on
cially to accept on behalf Of the gov
ernment this superb monument to
the savior Of the republic. No off,
cial duty could be more welcome, no
official function more pleasing. This
memorial edifice Is a noble tribute,
gratefully bestowed, and In its offer
ing is the reverent heart of Amer
lea: in it's dedication is the conscious
ness Of reverence and gratitude beau
tifully expressed.
Somehow my emotions incline me
to speak simply as a reverent and
grateful American rather than one
in official responsibility. lam thus
inclined because the true measure OF
Lincoln is in his place today in the
heart of American citizenship. though
near half century has passed since
his colossal service and his martyrdom.
In every moment of peril, In every
hour of disbursement, whenever
the clouds gather, there is the image
of Lincoln to rivet our hopes and to
renew our faith. Whenever there is
glow of triumph. over national
achievement there comes the remind
er that but for Lincoln's heroic and
unalterable faith in the Union these
triumphs could not have been.
Most Eulogized Character.
No great character in all history
has been more eulogized, no rugged
more portrayed. Painters and sculp-
tors portray as they see. and no two
see precisely alike. So, too, is there
varied emphasis in the portraiture OF
words, but all are agreed about the
a6 nd hn n
tenderness and unfailing wisdom OF
this master martyr.
History is concerned with the things
accomplished. Biography deals with
the methods and the individual at
tributes which led to accomplish
ment.
The supreme chapter in history is
not emancipation, though that
achievement would have exalted Lin
coin throughout all the ages. The
simple truth is that Lincoln. recog--
nizing an established order. would
that existed. if he could have halted
it's extension. Hating human slavery
as he did. he doubtless believed in
it's ultimate abolition through the
developing conscience of the Amer
-ican people. but he would have been
to arms to effect its abolition.
Emancipation was a means to the
great end-maintained union and ma
tionality.
Here was the great purpose. here the
towering hope, here the supreme faith.
He treasured the inheritance handed
down by the founding fathers. the ark
of the covenant wrought through their
heroic sacrifices and builded in their
inspired genius. The Union must be
preserved. 1t was the central thought,
the unalterable purpose, the unyielding
IN 1afi Of foi c
worth every sacrifice, justified every
cost. steeled the heart to sanction every
crimsoned tide of blood. Here was the
great experiment-popular government
and constitutional union-menaced by
greed expressed in human chattels.
With the greed restricted and unthreat-
ening. he could temporize. When it chal-
lenged federal authority and threatened
the Union 1t pronounced Its own doom.
In the first inaugural he quoted and re-
iterated his own oft-repeated utterance:
II have no purpose. directly or indi-
rectly. to interfere with the institution
of slavery in the states where 1t exists.
l believe have no lawful right to do
so. and I have no inclination to do So"
He believed in maintaining inviolate the
rights of the states, but he believed no
less firmly in the perpetuity OF the
Union of the states. The Union. having
been contracted. could not be dissolved
except by consent Of all PARTIES to the
contract. He recognized the conflicting
viewpoints, differing policies and con-
troverted questions. But there were
constitutional methods Of settlement,
and these must be employed.
Inaugural Address Quoted.
In the first inaugural address he
stressed the great general principle
that sin our constitutional controversies
we divide into majorities and minor
tiles. II the minority will not acquiesce,
the majority must, or the government
must cease. There is no other alterna-