Omaha daily bee., 1922-05-31
Nations Tribute
to Heroes Paid at
Lincoln Memorial
Thousands u Americans,
Among Them Many Of Most
Distinguished Citizens Of L.
s., Gather at Washington.

dead reached IL climax today At the
dedication ai the memorial erected
beside the Folamae 20 Abraham Lin
coin bY he grateful eouniFYmsn, 4
former president headed the CONF
mission witch was layished un.
Teltnting energy on making this
slpne emblem OF AmeFiea's gratitude
worthy oi the man whose memory
L will perpstuate for Americans al.
ways The president IN person ae'
otpted the work IN the nations name
Distinguished Men.
Spread across the wide terraces,
the lawns and the eiFeling dFlyewayS
that have been wrought TO give the
memorial building 4 setting. were
thousands oi Americans and the
most distinguished men in this eoun-
Try. from foreign lands, come TO pay
homage al a new shrine OF demo-
cratic liberty. Close IN about the
rising tiers Of marble steps were
gathered the men who today hold IN
their hands the destinies oi that
government "Oi the people, for the
people. and By the people" which
Lincoln gave his lie 10 maintain.
but behind these. over a mile-wide
sweep OF the mall. and clear away
to the base OF Washington monu-
ment a mile distant from the
memorial were the comon folks
from whom Lincoln came. for whom
he eeaselessly ioiled and from whom
he drew his greatest inspiration.
Aged Veterans.
Foremost among the men who
gathered at this eliminating cere-
mony OF Decoration day were the
aged veterans OF the Grand Army OF
the Republic. when who at Lin
coins call put aside their implements
oi husbandry for army uniforms OF
blue, and set out for battle deter
mined TO seal with blood ii needs be
the unity OF the American nation. To
these old soldiers who knew him
and obeyed him in life was given
the place OF honor in this last and
greatest tribute to the leader under
whom they had served-and with
them, as mute testimony 10 the
greatness of the emancipator's vi
sions. stood other old aud feeble men
in the gray OF the southern coniedc-
racy. also come TO pay homage TO
the memory OF the charitable Lin
coin.
The uniforms of the veterans, mill
tary attaches and OF the marines
who guarded and patrolled the path
ways through the great throng, were
the only signs today OF martial life
except that officers and men Of the
British flagship Raleigh, now at
Washington navy yard, were min
gled with the thousands OF domestic
patriots who stood i'll a blazing sun
to hear the addresses OF former
President Taft and President Hard
ing.
Transparent White Marble.
The speakers rostrum was at the
head of the wide stairway leading to
the square marble bulk of the memo
rial, in which the huge statue OF Lin
coin is the only object in stately
chamber, rooted with transparent
white marble. Below the platform
stretched the general crowd and the
ampliicrs from the roof of the me-
rlorial carried the words of the
speakers far across to the wooded
sweeps of lawn on either hand that
reach toward the monument to
Washington in one direction and
towards the looming bulk of the
capitol in the other.
The statue is masterpiece of the
sctilptor's art. 1t shows Lincoln in
the pose and with the expression that
kave long been endeared to Amer
ican hearts. 1t is cut from a solid
block Of Georgia marble and from
the base OF the statue itself to the
head of the seated figure is nearly 20
feet. Above the statue on the back
wall of the memorial runs the SIM
pie legend that tells of the greatness
of this man and OF the love his coun-
trymen, north and south alike, have
ccme to, bear his memory.
The sculptor has seen Lincoln as
Iincoln's son, who came here today
despite age and inhrmities to attend
the impressive ceremonies, often
must have seen him in life when he
sank back in his heavy chair at the
White House desk and brooded over
the havoc that civil war would make.
The figure is relaxed with arms out
spread on the arms ot the chair; the
wide shoulders are pressed back for
support, but the head is erect, and
the quiet, gaunt, deeply-lined face is
but the setting of the brooding eyes
looking thoughtfully, almost in sor-
rowing pity over the memories Of
the scenes they witnessed, of the
anxious days they knew.
There were others who partici-
pated in the ceremonies besides Chief
Justice Taft and President Harding.
There was little handful of veter-
ans who solemnly and with full ritual
dedicated the colors in honor of this
dead leader. There also was DR..
Robert r. Motion to speak for the
negroes of America to whom Lin
coin gave so much. and there was
Edwin Markham who read a poem
OF his own written to commemorate
this day.
Speaks for Negroes.
Washington, May 30.-Lincoln did
not die for the negro alone but upon
that race rests the immediate OBJ
legation to Justify emancipation, DR..
Robert r. Motion OF Tuskegee insti-
tute declared today in his address
at the dedication OF the national men,
orial to Abraham Lincoln.
No one is more sensible than the
negro himself OF his incongruous
position in the great American re-
public" DR.. Motion said. "but be it
recorded to his everlasting credit. no
failure to reap the full award of his
sacrifices has ever in the least degree
III YYYYNr@%