The New York herald., 1922-05-31
Edifice Represents Grateful
Heart Of America, Ex-
ecutiye Says.
.TEMPLE FOR HIM ALONE
Former President Called the
Man of Surprising Tender
ness-Speeches in Full.

WASHINGTON, May 80. Following
ere the speeches of Chief Justice Taft
in presenting the Lincoln memorial
to the nation and that of President
Harding, in full, in acceptance.
Chief Justice Taft's Speech.
"The American people have waited
ffty-seven years for national memo
rial to Abraham Lincoln. Those years
have faded the figures of his contempo-
raries and he stands grandly alone. His
juster vista OF half century inspire a
higher conception of what is suitable to
commemorate him.
Here on the banks of the Potomac.
the boundary between the two sections
whose conflict made the burden, passion
and triumph of his life, 1t is peculiarly
appropriate that it should stand. Wis.,
ible In it's distant beauty from the Cap
itol, whose great dome typifes the
Union which he saved, seen in all its
grandeur from Arlington, where lie the
nations fonored dead who fell in the
conflict, Union and Confederate alike,
1t marks the restoration OF the brotherly
love Of the two sections in this memo
rial of one who is as dear to the hearts
OF the South as to those Of the North.
Here Is shrine at which all can
worship. Here an altar upon which the
supreme sacrifice was made in the
cause Of liberty. Here a sacred re-
ligous refuge in which those who love
country and love God can find inspira-
tion and repose.
"Mr. President in the name of the
commission. l have the honor to de-
liver this Lincoln Memorial into your
keeping"
President Harding's Speech.
Mr.. Chief Justice 1t is a supreme
satisfaction officially to accept on be-
half Of the Government this superb
monument to the savior of the Re-
public. No official duty could be
more welcome. no official function
more pleasing This memorial edlfice
is a noble tribute gratefully bestowed.
and in its offering 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 a reverent and grate-
full American rather than one in Off
cial responsibility. / am thus inclined
because the true measure of Lincoln
is in his place to-day In tho heart OF
American citizenship. though nearly
half century has passed since his
colossal service and his martyrdom.
In every moment of peril. in every
hour of discouragement, whenever the
clouds gather, there Is the image of
Lincoln to rivet our hopes and to re-
new our faith. Whenever there Is a
glow Of triumph over national achieve
ment there comes the reminder that
but for Lincoln's heroic and unaltera-
BILE 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 sculptors por-
tray as they see. and no two see pre-
csely alike. So, too, Is there varied
emphasis i'm the portraiture of words,
but all are agreed about the rugged
greatness and the SURPRISING tender
ness and unfailing wisdom of this
master martyr.
History Is concerned with the things
accomplished. Biography deals with
the methods and the Individual attri-
butes which led to accomplishment.
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 compromised with the
slavery that existed. IL he could have
49, t<xI -. -. I'll H.. l....~
slavery as he did, he doubtless be-
lieved in It's ultimate abolition
through the developing conscience OF
the American people, but he would
have been the last man In the Re-
public to resort to arms to effect its
abolition. Emancipation was a means
to the great end-maintained union
and nationality. Here was the great
purpose. here the towering hope here
the supreme faith. TIe treasured the
Inheritance handed down by the
founding fathers, the ark of the COW
enant wrought through their heroic
sacrifices and builded In their In
spired genius. The Union must be
preserved. IT was the central
thought. the unalterable purpose. the
unyielding intent. the foundation of
faith 1t was worth every sacrifice,
justified every cost steeled the heart
10 sanction every crimson tide OF
blood
Here was the great experiment.
popular government and constltu-
tional union--menaced by greed ex-
pressed In human cliattels. With the
greed restricted and unearthed, he
could temporize. when II challenged
Federal authority and threatened the
Union II pronounced It's own doom.
In. the first inaugural he quoted and
reiterated his own oft-repcated utter
ance--"r have no purpose. directly or
indirectly. 10 interfere with the In
stitution OF slavery In the States
where II exists. / believe I have no
lawful right to do SO and 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 ex-
cept by consent of all parties 60 the
contract. lie recognized the conflict
ing viewpoints, differing policies and
controvcrted questions. But there
were constitutional methods of settle
ment and these must be efnplOyed.