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

speech? So il seems worth while to devote lit
tie space to him before continuing the narrative
Of the event in which he played leading part
even though the honors of the day went to an
other man.
Everett was born in Dorchester, Mass, April
II, 1874, member of one of the leading families
Of New England. After several years OF travel
in Germany and England he returned to this
country to occupy the chair of Greek literature
at Harvard and TO become the editor Of the
North American Review. One OF the earliest ex-
amples Of the scholar in politics." Everett be-
came successfully congressman, governor of
Massachusetts,, minister plenipotentiary to Eng
land and, after brief interim as president of
Harvard. secretary of state in President Fill
more's cabinet
But his chief claim TO fame lies in his being a
vigorous champion of American institutions when
it was the fashion in Europe to sneer at our de-
mocracy, and an equally vigorous champion Of
honesty in public affairs and of social justice.
He was resolute opponent Of white occupation
of Indian lands without the consent of the red
man. To him also was due the preservation of
sound currency in the panic of 1897 and the es-
Enlistment of the first board of education in the
United States. No mean record of accomplish
ment, this, and when there is added TO them the
fact that at the time he was the greatest orator
in the country, it is easy TO understand why
those in charge of the dedication of the Gettys-
him to deliver the Grafton at the dedicatory cere-
monies.
So important was Everett that when, in reply
TO the committees invitation TO be present on
the date which they had set October %. 1859,
he wrote that il would be impossible for him to
be prepared in such short time the dedication,
to suit his convenience, was postponed nearly
month, to November TO-
Perhaps it should be explained that at this time
yorfv huru was fha xVbia
it later became. even though the corporation
which controlled il was called 1.-The National Sol
diers' Cemetery This corporation had board
of trustees. made up of representatives appointed
by the governors of northern states IS in num-
Der. from which had come the Union dead at
Gettysburg Although these trustees had general
charge Of laying out the cemetery, of the work
of removal and reinterment of the bodies of the
Union dead and Of making the plans for imposing
dedication ceremonies, the directing force in all
or it David Wills. citizen of Gettysburg
and the representative from Pennsylvania on the
board OF trustees
After the date for the dedication ceremonies
had been finally set formal invitations TO attend
the ceremonies were sent TO President Lincoln,
TO the members of his cabinet of both
houses Of congress and of the diplomatic corps,
TO Generals Meade and Scott and TO many other
prominent citizens. president Lincoln's invita-
ton TO be present was not a written individual
request such Is had been sent TO Edward Ever
EFT and Others" says Doctor Barton in his book
Lincoln at Gettysburg" 1T did not occur TO any
member of the commission that such missive
should be addressed TO him. What was sent to
him printed circular OF which many hun
dreds were mailed and was in no respect differ
ent from that sent TO the most obscure congress
man from Minnesota consul from Patagonia.
The sending OF ii to the President was mere
formality. When Mr.. Wills informed his fellow
officials of Mr.. Lincoln's acceptance. that group
was very greatly surprised. and they cannot be
said TO have been overjoyed."
The statement. made earlier in this article
that Lincoln was an "alsoran' at the Gettysburg
dedication is based upon both verbal and written
statements of the late Clark E. Carr member Of
the board of trustees from Illinois. 1t was Carr
who suggested to the other members of the COM
mittee that the President be invited to speak and
we have his word for ii that his suggestion was
not received with any great enthusiasm by some
Of the other members. In his book, Lincoln at
Gettysburg" Carr says:
The proposition to ask Mr.. Lincoln to speak
at the Gettysburg ceremonies was an after
thought The President Of the United States had,
like the other distinguished personages been in
yited TO be present, but Mr.. Lincoln was not at
that time invited 10 speak. In fact it did not
seem to occur to any one that he could speak on
such an occasion.