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Ml!. WALLACE'S PRESENTATION ADDRESS. 



Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen : — I have the honor on 

 this occasion to represent a two-fold constituency. 



First. About thirteen thousand citizens of Brooklyn, without dis- 

 tinction of creed or political faith, men, women and children, who for 

 the love they bore a great and good man made up a contribution to 

 honor his memory. From the laborer on the highway, from the work- 

 shop, from the counting-room and store, from the stately mansion of 

 the wealthy, and from the scanty apartment of the industrious poor, 

 wherever reverence or love for Abraham Lincoln thrilled the heart, or 

 wherever was destation or horror at the dreadful deed which so sud- 

 denly terminated his useful life, thence came the little drops into the 

 treasury, a name with every dollar, and a dollar for every name. 

 Noble men ! noble women ! Names fragrant to the memory, worthy 

 to be preserved — and they have been preserved in the archives of the 

 Historical Society, that all who come after may know to whom 

 belong the honor of building up this monument to Abraham 

 Lincoln. 



My second constituency is a body of prominent patriotic citizens, 

 who banded together during the war, and contributed freely of their 

 time, of their influence, and of their means in support of the Govern - 

 ment, whose praise is in every mouth, and who are known as the War 

 Fund Committee of the City of Brooklyn. 



Under the auspices of the Committee, books were opened for sub' 

 scription immediately after the assassination. Not more than one dol- 

 lar was received from any person, that we might have pre-eminently a 

 People's Monument ; and the Committee bear testimony to the alac- 

 rity with which our citizens responded to the call. 



The Committee also bear testimony to the faithful management of 

 their treasurer, who not only kept safe his whole trust, but so invested 

 it as to make the $ 13,000 contributed earn $1,000 more, which sums 

 together make the amount expended for this statue. 



The Committee also bear testimony to the liberality of our local 

 press, which, without reward, except the consciousness of doing a good 

 deed, used its mighty influence to fan the flame of patriotism, and en- 

 courage contributions to this noble object. 



