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every house and home in our city, so there will go forth from, this spot, 

 hallowed by precious thoughts and memories, an influence that shall 

 animate and strengthen all hearts ; that this influence may descend 

 from generation to generation, advancing whatever is worthy of 

 emulation in the past or present. And so our work of to-day shall be 

 blest. 



From the lips of another you will presently be called to contemplate 

 the influence exerted upon our own age by the life and death of him 

 whose virtues we seek to commemorate — whose loss we cease not to 

 deplore. The same voice, always welcome to our ears, was heard 

 not long since in glowing eulogy at the funeral obsequies of the 

 departed. 



We have come here to-day by invitation of the War Fund Commit- 

 tee, to take part in the consummation of this long cherished purpose, 

 to celebrate with appropriate ceremonies the unveiling of the statue 

 of our late lamented President, Abraham Lincoln. 



The President of the United States, the Governor of the State of 

 New York, the Mayor and Common Council of our city, Judges of 

 the respective courts, officers of the army and navy, soldiers and sailors 

 who shared in the perils and in the glories of the war, and all who con- 

 tributed to the erection of this monument, have been asked to be pre- 

 sent, to witness the transfer of this gift of the people to the city 

 of their pride, and, on the part of the Park Commissioners, to 

 whose charge it is to be committed, the acceptance of this sacred 

 trust. 



Permit me, in concluding these introductory remarks, to associate 

 with the rich memories of this hour, and of this occasion, the ever 

 memorable words uttered by Mr. Lincoln at the close of his second in- 

 augural — the last, I believe, publicly addressed by him to the Ameri- 

 can people. They will endure longer than bronze, however im- 

 perishable it seems. What better inscription can be put upon this 

 monument ? 



" With malice towards none, with charity for all, with firmness in 

 the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish 

 the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him 

 who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow and orphans, 

 to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace 

 amono- ourselves and with all nations." 



