Norwich bulletin., 1922-05-31


 The homage of a people was poured out today at the shrine erected by a decade of patient labor to Abraham Lincoln. .Un- der the thoughtful gaze of his marble likeness, dim in the shadowy background Of the Eieamlng white temple his coun- trynen have raised to him. thousands of Americans were gathered.
 Men great in the councils of the na- ton were there. The president came to accept in the nations name the memorial reared at the river brim. former pres ident came gladly to give accounting of his trust as head of the commission that saw the great work to it's comple ton. Senators. .represents. ives, cabinet officers, admirals and generals all were there; but 1t was not these, lavish as were their tributes to the great dead who made the day historic in American an- nals. IL was the swelling tide of humble people who stood for hours in a blaz- 4nz sun to claim this temple of freedom and the man whose memory it enshrines as their own.
 Far = -Aa eye could reach from the high base of the memorial, Americans were spread over the lawns and clustering under the trees that grace the setting How many may have been there to hear the words of the speakers. caught up and flung to far distances by the ampI- ners atop the marble structure no man might estimate. But when the last word had been said, when the president had Erippsd hands with Robert Lincoln at The foot of the fathers statue the pub lice broke over the barriers and swept unchecked up the wide steps to see for lt'elf the things that have been wrought In the peoples name.
 Ritual of the Grand Army
 There was little of military splendor about the dedecation services Just flourish of trumpets to mark the coming and going of President Harding and the solemn ritual with which the men of the Grand Army of the Republic dedi- sated the aIken emblem of a reunited country on the steps of the memorial The words of the formel orders at this Service were spoken in voices shaken and thin with age and the hands that held Inc banner sloft trenbled under weight of years; but the high courage and re- soive that fired the veterans half a century ago are beyond the reach of time is the memory of the great leader they Along the front benches on a lower terrace facing the great statue above were gathered the veterans To the right, 8 handful of old men had donned again blue that gave them front place in tAe
 
 Of honor to the president Flanking 'eese to the left bare score Of gray clad veterans or the armies of the south stood proud ly 10 sale the flag that Locnoln's vision and high courage preserver as the flag on one people.
 Veterans Diverted Presldent Harding The sight of these bent men in gray, drew President Harding from the written h hHH 10 Lincoln greater than any other award he could have known would have been the knowledge that his vision had been full hEsd; that the broad water of the Pc. tonsc flowing within a stones throw ot the memorial marks no boundary be. tween two nations but that from sea tc sea American are on people Mir Hard ings voice thrilled as he paused to draw attention to the Eray-clad vet. Us and recall that twice since Llncol7, " ,d. mef ot the southern states, sons of s1ch mer as these old warriors, had come 1T, theil youth and strength to fight for the flag f, which their fathers returned after tn, bitter sixtieA
 How it, would comfort his rrea Youl." the president szid, ito know tha the states of the sodIh,Snd join sincereI, n honoring him anH hAve twice sine bis day joiuee with an the fs-vor o lls great heart iu defending ths rag. Hoy would soften his anguish to knoe-a Ina Inc south long ssics came to realize tka vain assassin robbed 1t of ltE lros iinesre ard potans frisad when !. wa proSttate and stricken when Lincoln VnpatHy and understanding would hay hslpsd to heal tNe Wouaka A.sc hide fh scare and speed tho ressu-a=ion.
 Flow with his love Uf freedom an justice this apostie of humanity woul have fcaad his sorroyvs tenfold renal Co see the hundred millions to whom h bequeathed reunion and nationality Riy Ing their sons and daughters and all thei fortunes to halt the armed march of al tocracy and preserve civilization, eve as he presedved union
 More, how his great American hear would be aglow to note how we are Roin on. Always on, holding to constitution al methods, amending to meet reouIr, ments Of progressive civilization elinging to majority rule. property re strained. which Is the only true Eoverefz of a free people and working to fb fulhllment of the destiny of the world greatest republic"
 In transferring the memorial from th commission to the head of the roverr snent. Chief Justice Taft told how fl nrst suggestion had come 20 years axo f ue tailoW decade before it was seize upon and wrought with close adheren,
 
 great American deserved of his con, trymen. into the stately structure of [, day. It was, perhaps. well, the form, president said, that half a century snotI have passed before the emblem Of Lii coins greatness should have been erect, for in that time American, had time Erow in the arts and appreciation tn; went back to the simple massive lines Greek architecture to find fitting prec Tent for such a work
 Tt is a magnificent gen." MT. Ia said of the memorial, "set in a love valley between the hills. commando them by it's isolation and it's entran ing beauty, the culnsination of the hig: est art of which America Is capable He on the banks of the Potomac, the boun Rry btveen the two sections whose co Gict made the burden, passion and u umph of his life. 1t is peculiarly appr priate that it should stand"
 The only other speaker was pr. Robe R. Morton. Of Tuskegee institute. spea inE for the negro Americans and laid weight upon the declaration that was Lincoln's name that stood first lhe hearts Of fheae twelve rnftltoue rof r