Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-31

The full text of the Presidents adj
dress at Gettysburg yesterday follows:
We stand today amidst monuments
| to the valor and glory of generation
of Americans, North and South, now
well-night gone. Most of those who
bore the burdens of the Civil War have
joined their comrades who sleep be-
meath these mounds. OF a thousand
brigades which marched in that great
conflict, scarce a score remain.
To the dead We pay again our tribute
of gratitude and devotion. To the liv-
ing we extend heartfelt wishes for a
continuation of peaceful years, serene
in contemplation of their glorious youth.
The time must come all too soon when
these living ties of our generation with
the historic past will have passed on.
Then we shall have only cherished
memories to remind us of those men
who heroically died and those women
who bravely suffered for great ideals,
or who lived on to consummate the
reunion of our country, to give stability
10 its Government and peace to its
people.
Recalls Lonely Figure.
Every Americans thought of this
great battlefield of Gettysburg flashes
with the instant vision of the lonely
figure of Lincoln, whose immortal words
dominate this scene. No monument
has been or can be erected here so
noble and enduring as that simple adj
dress which has become part Of this
place. Greater than the tribute of
granite or bronze remains that men,
orable message to the American peo-
pie. That appeal for the unity of our
people and the perpetuation of the
fundamentals Of our democracy Is as
~ III,
it was when Lincoln spoke. Behind
him were the 70 years of national ex-
perience that had passed between him.
self and Washington. His words from
their span of the past rang with cour-
age and assurance for the future
Though no President has been so beset
though no time in our history has been
so dark, though never have strong men
been so affected with doubt, yet in the
midst of all that turmoil he found
strength to lift his head above the
clouds and proclaim that vision which
the passing years have so fully con-
firmed.
Today nearly 70 years have passed
since Lincoln spoke. Ours is a new day
and ours new problems of the Republic.
There are times when these problems
loom ominous and their solution diff
ficult. Yet great as our difficulties may
sometimes seem, we would be OF little
courage If in our concerns we had less
of faith than Lincoln had in his far
greater task.
Lincoln's counsels sounded strangely
when spoken in the midst of war. His
was the call of moderation. Our history
would be even brighter than it is if his
predecessors and his contemporaries had
spoken as temporarily as he, if they had
been moved by charity toward all, by
malice toward none.
We shall be wise to ponder here what
precious wealth of human life might
have been preserved, what rivers of
tears might never have flowed, what
anguish of souls need never have been,
what spiritual division of our people
might have been avoided, If only our
leadership had always been tempered by
the moderation and calm vision of Lin
coin. Since his day reason has not al
ways ruled instead Of passion, knowl-
edge has not always been sought instead
of reliance upon improvised conjecture.
Patience has not: ever delayed the i'm
petuouS feet of reckless ambition, quiet
negotiation has not always replaced the
clamor Of the hastings, prudent common