The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1922-06-02
DELEGATES GREAT
LINCOLN TRIBUTE
President Harding Pays Honor
to Civil War Chief.
UNION FIRST HIS WATCHWoRD
Declares Former President Greater in
Saving the Republic Than Freeing
SIaves-Supreme Chapter in
History Not Emancipation.

Washington, May 81 Maintained
union and nationality rather than
emancipation" was declared TO be
the supreme chapter in American his
tory by President Harding in an adj
dress accepting the Lincoln memorial
in behalf of the American people. Lin
coin would have compromised with
slavery, Mr.. Harding declared, while
cleaving to his great purpOse-the
maintenance of the inheritance
handed down by the founding ia
TIERS"
Declaring that the new memorial
was fttingly placed near the tower
ing spire of the Washington monu-
ment, Mr.. Harding said that Wash
ingtOn, the founder, and Lincoln, the
saviour, offered outstanding proof
that representative popular govern
ment, constitutionally founded, can
find it's own way to salvation and
accomplishment
Foremost among the men who gath
cred at this eliminating ceremony OF
Decoration day were the aged vet
Grams of the Grand Army of the Re
public.
The Presidents Speech.
The President spoke in part as fol-
lows:
ut is a supreme satisfaction Off
cially to accept on behalf of the gov
eminent this superb monument to the
saviour of the republic. No official
duty could be more welcome, no Off
cial function more pleasing. This
memorial edifice is noble tribute,
gratefully bestowed, and in it's offer
ing is the reverent heart of America;
in its dedication is the consciousness
of reverence and gratitude beautifully
expressed.
Somehow my emotions incline me
to speak simply as reverent and
grateful American, rather than one in
official responsibility. l am thus In
clined because the true measure Of
Lincoln is in his place today in the
heart of American citizenship,
though half a. century has passed
since his colossal service and his
n,artyrdOm. In every moment of
peril in every hour of discourage
ment, whenever the clouds gather,
there is the image of Lincoln to rivet
our hopes and to renew our faith
Whenever there is a glow of triumph
over national achievement, there
comes the reminder that but for Lin
coins heroic and unalterable faith in
the Union, these triumphs could not
have been.
No great character in all history
has been more eulogized, no rugged
figure more monumental, no likeness
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
rugged greatness and the surprising
tenderness and unfailing wisdom of
this master martyr
History Is concerned with the
things accomplished. Biography deals
with the methods and the individual
attributes which led to accomplish
ment.
Emancipation Only Means.
''The supreme chapter in history is
not emancipation, though that achieve
ment would have exalted Lincoln
throughout all the ages. The simple
truth is that Lincoln, recognizing an
established order, would have COM
promised with the slavery that exist
ed, if he could have halted it's exz
tension. Hating human slavery as he
did, he doubtless believed in it's ulti-
mate abolition through the develop
ing conscience of the American peo-
pie, but he would have been the last
man in the republic to resort to arms
to effect its abolition. Emancipation
was a means to the great end-rnain-
tanned union and nationality.
"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, tn unalterable pur-
pose, the unyielding intent, the foun-
dalton of faith. 1t was worth every
sacrifice, justified every cost, steeled
the heart to sanction every crimsoned
tide of blood.
Here was the great experiment
popular government and constitutions
al union-menaced by greed expressed
in human chattels. With the greed
restricted and unthreatening, he
could temporize When it challenged
federal authority and threatened the
Union, 1t pronounced its own DOOM"