33C 



The popular vote had been cast amid forebodings of evil, and the 

 future was to witness their worst realization. The President elect 

 would be the head of the army and navy, and few of all the people 

 knew their appointed leader. The foes of the Union were exultant. 

 War speedily followed the inauguration ; and at the close of the war, 

 a name so lately unknown had become illustrious in the annals of 

 our country. The fame thereof had spread throughout all the na- 

 tions of the world ; and when tidings of Abraham Lincoln's death 

 went forth, words of confidence and eulogy came back from courts 

 and kingdoms in such measure as to fill a capacious volume. The 

 compilation forms a priceless treasure in the Department of State at 

 the capitol of the nation. 



And thus it came to pass that as, in the earlier days of the repub- 

 lic, God raised up Washington to be, as he was justly styled, " The 

 Father of his Country," so, in these later days, God raised up Lin- 

 coln to be our country's deliverer. Washington gave to the States 

 of the Union independence and a standing among the nations. Lin- 

 coln put down a formidable rebellion, turned away the curse of slavery, 

 and left the States united and free. 



Lincoln was the providential man of our own time, and to per- 

 petuate his memory is our grateful duty ; to raise a statue to the 

 honor of his name is a just tribute of affection to the worth and wis- 

 dom of the lamented patriot, who died, as he had lived, for his coun- 

 try ! We thus manifest our gratitude to God for His gift of a life 

 so precious. 



The delay which has occurred is not to be misunderstood as man- 

 ifesting a want of zeal on the part of the Committee who have had 

 the work in charge. It was early committed to one of your gifted 

 townsmen, was long since perfected, and has been waiting the con- 

 venience of the Park Commissioners, under whose direction the 

 pedestal has been prepared on which the statue is henceforth to stand. 

 It seemed to be most fitting and proper that on this spot, destined 

 ere long to be the center of a vast city, this monument should be 

 erected ; that all our citizens who gather from time to time in this 

 Plaza, and look upon the form and features of this central figure, may 

 be led to ponder the example of the great original ; to recall, with 

 gratitude, the good he did, and the impress he made on his age and 

 generation ; that here beneath this statue, before entering upon paths 

 of pleasure now opening to our view, the vow may be renewed by 

 all faithfully to maintain and loyally to uphold the Union and the 

 Government established by our fathers. 



Let us hope that, as the waters which supply the fountain by our 



