, 1922-05-30

htS1 y ~ a. n0SL "
my dog" says jock Dempsey. So
when Jack YEA his monocle
"Cheaters." police dog. wear
war vas threafsnIng; but Lincoln lief,
the Union unohaIlenged for all sue.
ceeding time. No. only was our ma.
ton given a new birth OF freedom.
but democracy was given a new sane,
tion by that hand Of divinity itself
which has written the rights of hu.
man kind and pointed tho way 70
their enjoyment.
abraham Lincoln WIS no super
man. Like the great Washington,
whose monumental shaft towers near.
by as a fit companion to the memo
rial we dedicate today, the two testi,
flying the grateful love of all Amer.
leans to founder and saviour-ifkc
Washington. Lincoln was n very nat.
ural human being. with the fraiities
mixed with the virtues of humanity.
There arc neither superman nor demf-
gods in the government OF Kingdoms.
empires or republics. 1t will oe bet
ter for our conception OF government
and its institutions II we will Under
stand this fact. 1t Is vastly greater
than finding the superman IL we Jus
tify the confidence tina our institu-
tions are capable OF bringing into au-
thority, in time of stress. men big
enough and strong enough to meet
all demands.
washington and Lincoln offered
outstanding proof that a representa-
tive popular government. constitu-
tionally founded. can find it's own
way to salvation n accomplish
ment. In the very beginning our
American democracy turned to Wash
ington. the aristrocrat. for leadership
in revolution and greater task of
founding 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-
vi-onment and meager opportunity.
ros. to unduestioned leadership when
disun.on threatened.
"Linco.- came almost as humbly
as the child of Bethlehem. His par
ents were unlettered. his home was
devoid of every element of culture
and refinement. He was no infant
prodigy. no luxury facilitated or priv.
ilege fastened his development, but
he had a god-given intellect. a love
for work, a willingness to labor and
a purpose to succeed.
Biographies differ about his ambi.
ton, but Herndon, who knew him as
did no other. says he was, greatly am.
bilious. I can believe that. Ambi-
ton is a commendable attribute, with
out which no man succeeds. Only in.
considerable ambition periis.
Lincoln was modest. but ne was
sure of himself and always greatly
simple. Therein was his appeal to
the confidence of his country. When
he believed he was right a nation
beloved TO be right, and offered all
In his support.
His work was % colossal, in the
face of such disbursement. that
none Win dispute that he was incom-
parahly the greatest of our presi-
dents.He came to authority vixen the
republic was beset by foes at home
and abroad, and re-established union
and security. He made that gesture
Of his surprising generosity which
began reunion.
ruption and incompetence with which
he had to combat and recall his wis
dom, his unselfishness. his sublime
patience He resented no cafumnies
upon himself; he held no man his
enemy who had the power and will
to serve the Union. his vision was
by no jealousy. He took his
advisers from among his rivals, in
vokcd their patriotism and ignored
their ~plottings. He dominated them
by the sheer greatness of his intellect.
the singleness and honesty of his
purpose and made them responsive to
his hand for the accomplishment of
the exalted purpose. Amid It all there
was a ~gentleness, a kindness, a SYM
pathetic sorrow, which suggests n
divine intent to blend mercy with
power in supreme attainment.
This memorial, matchiess tribute
that it is. is less for Abraham Lincoln
for those of us today and for
those who follow after. His surpass-
compensation would have been
to have his 10000 sorrows dis
in the rejoicing of the sue
ceeding half century. He loved his
boys in the army, and would have
in the great part they played
In moro than a half century of the
pursuit OF peace and concord restored.
He would have been exalted by the
OF the Union after 'ahe mys-
tic o were touched by the bet
ter angels OF nature How It
would comfort his great soul to know
the states in the southland join
sincerely in honoring him. and have
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