Evening star., 1922-05-31
and strong enough to meet ali de.

and strong enough to meet ali de-
| mands
Washington and Lincoln offered
outstanding proof that a representa-
J tfonally founded. can find it's own
way to salvation and accomplish
ment. In the very beginning our
American democracy turned to wash
ington, the aristocrat, for leadership
In revolution. and the greater ask of
i rounding permanent institutions The
wisdom of Washington and Jefferson
and Hamilton and Franklin was
! proven when Lincoln, the child of
privation. of hardship. of barren en-
Vlronment and meager opportunity,
| rose TO unquestioned leadership when
| dlsunion threatened.
/ Lincoln came almost as %humhly as
the Child of Bethlehem. His parents
/ were unlettered, his home was devoid
OF every element Of culture and re-
nnement. He was no infant prodigy.
no luxury facilitated or privilege has
! God-giVen intellect. a love for work,
willingness to labor and a purpose
| to succeed.
Biographies differ about his ambi-
| tion; but Herndon. who knew him
| as did no other, says he was greatly
ambitious. I can believe that. Am
bition Is a comnpendable attribute,
without which no man succeeds Only
| inconsiderate ambition imperils.
Lincoln was modest. but he was
sure Of himself, and always greatly
simple. Therein was his appeal to the
| confidence of his country. When he
believed he was right q nation be-
lieved him to be right, and offered
all in his support.
Greatest OF Presidents.
His work was so colossal, in the
race or such Encouragement. that
none Will dispute that he was incom-
paraoly the greatest of our Presi-
the republic was beset by foes at
home and abroad. and e-established
union and security. He made that
gesture of his surpa ssing generosity
which began reunion. Let US forget
me treachery, corruption and incom-
petence with which he had to COM
, bat. and recall his wisdom, his un-
selnshness. his sublime patience. He
resented no calumnies upon himself:
ne held no ran his enemy who had
the power and will to serve the
i. Union. his vision was blinded by no
jealousy. He took his advisers from
among his rivals. invoked their pa
triotism and ignored their plottings.
, He dominated them by the sheer
greatness of his intellect, the SINGLE
ness and hoesty of his purpose, and
. MADE them responsive to his hand for
purpose. Amid it all there was a
sentleness. kindness. a sympathetic
[ sorrow. which suggests a divine in
tent to blend mercy with power in
supreme attainment
Th1s memorial, matchless tribute
that 1t is. is less for Abraham Lin
coin than for those Of US today and
for those who follow after His sur
passing compensation would have
been in living. to have his ten thou
SAND sorrows dissipated in the re-
joicings of the succeeding half CEN
tury. He loved his boys" in the
Army. and would have reyeled in the
great part they played in more than
half century of the pursuit of peace,
and concord restored. How he would
have been exalted by the chorus Of
the Union after the mystic chords"
were touched by the better angels Of
our nature" How it would comfort
his great soul to know that the states
n the southland join sincerely in
honoring him, and have twice, since
his day. joined. with all the fervor of
his own great heart. in defending the
flag! How it would soften his anguish
to know that the south long since
came to realize that vain assassin
potent friend when it was PROSTATE
and stricken. when Lincoln's SYM
lathy and understanding would have
helped to, heal the wounds and hide
the scars and speed the restoration!
How. with his love of freedom and
Justice, this apostle of humanity
would have found his SORROWS ten
lions to whom he bequeathed reunion
and nationality giving of their sons
and daughters and all their for
tunes to halt the armed march Of