The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1933-11-10

Scarcely any member of the board, excepting
the member representing Illinois, had ever heard
him speak at all, and other member had ever
heard, or read from him, anything except politi-
cal discussions When the suggestion was made
that he be invited to speak, while all expressed
high appreciation of his great abilities po-
Htical speaker, shown in his debate with
Stephen A. Douglas, and in his Cooper Institute
address the question was raised as TO his ability
TO speak upon such grave and solemn occasion
as that of the memorial service. Besides, it was
said that, with his important duties and RESPONSE
bilites he could not possibly have the leisure TO
prepare an address for such an occasion In an
swer to this, it urged that he himself, better
than anyone else, could determine TO these
questions and that, if he were invited TO speak,
he was sure to do what. under the circumstances,
would be right and proper.
at was finally decided to ask President Lin
coin after the Grafton (that is to say after Mr.
Everett's oration) as Chief Executive of the ma
ton TO set apart formally these grounds TO their
sacred use by few appropriate remarks This
was done in the name of the governors of the
states, as was the case with others, by Mr. Wills;
but the invitation not settled upon and sent
to Mr.. Lincoln until the second of November,
more than six weeks after Mr.. Everett had been
invited to speak, and but little more than two
weeks before the exercises were held
vitation, went to Gettysburg TO make his "few re-
marks which the dubious members of the COM
mittee hoped. although they were not sure
would be appropriate" Even Lincoln himself
probably bit dubious about it for, as Doc
tor Barton says "he was painfully aware that on
the next morning he must make speech from
the same platform that TO be occupied by
scholarly and eloquent orator"
There was only one hotel in Gettysburg and it
was so crowded that there was room in il for
the President of the United States So he became
a guest in the home of David Wills. In his room
that night he made first draft of the speech
which he proposed 10 give and the next morning
he made a few alterations and copied it over
The next day he rode on horseback to the bat
tleground. albeit on horse which was too small
so that he was far from being an impressive fig
ure So, all In all. it would seem that the fates
were bent upon making of the greatest events
in American history veritable comedy of errors.
And then when he did arrive at the cemetery It
was discovered that Mr.. Everett had not yet ar
rived. So the exercises began hour late.
But eventually they were under way and at
last the great moment for which the crowd had
been waiting arrived. Edward Everett stood be-
fore them and the thrilling voice Of trained
orator began: standing beneath this serene sky,
overlooking these broad fields reposing from
the labors of the waning year. the mighty Al
leghenies dimly towering before Us. the graves Of
our brethren beneath our feet. it is with hesita-
ton that raise my poor voice TO break the elo-
quent silence of God and Nature"
But there seemed to be no hesitation as the
rich voice of the eloquent New Englander went
on and on. breaking the eloquent silence Of God
and Nature for a matter of one hour and 81
minutes. at the end of which his listeners. II we
are to believe the statements of some who were
there were somewhat wearied of the flow Of ora
tory. There was certain revival Of interest when
the President arose TO speak
-Four score and seven years ago'-the high
pitched voice shrilled out over the crowd and be-
fore his hearers could become accustomed to It,
be stopped just they thought he was begin
ming. After Everett's Grafton the Presi-
dents speech seemed almost no speech at all
People were disappointed"
Everett, great man himself. could recognize
greatness in another Il should be glad II / could
fatter myself that I came as near to the central
idea Of the occasion In two hours you did In
two minutes" he said. But not even this tribute
could cheer the Man Of Sorrows. He went back
10 Washington depressed IN mind as he was sick
In body. For he thought he had failed He did
not know, and he could not know any more than
the hundreds who heard his words but failed to
grasp their significance. that those few approprf
ate remarks" OF his would go ringing down the
years to deathless glory.
C BY western Newspaper Cnzony