CHAPTER XV.
Celebration of the Centennial Anniversary of Lincoln's Birth
Preparations—General Observance—President Roosevelt Lays Corner-stone of Lincoln Museum at Lincoln's Birthplace—Extracts from Addresses at Various Places—Closing Tribute.
Never, perhaps, in the history of mankind has such general recognition been given to the anniversary of any man's birth as was given to the one hundredth anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth on Friday, February 12, 1909. For weeks in advance the newspapers, both religious and secular, and the magazines were decorated with his pictures, and other pictures illustrating many scenes in his life. The recollections of personal friends and acquaintances, war incidents, stories, anecdotes, and his personal traits were placed on record, with various announcements and programs for the coming anniversary, showed the great interest attached to his name and his history.
The day was made a national holiday by Congress and the proclamation of the President, supplemented by legislatures and governors of many States. The event was celebrated, almost without exception, by all the common schools, colleges, and universities throughout the nation. Churches, Grand Army posts, Young Men's Christian Associations, the various temperance organizations, clubs, trades unions, and almost every form of organized bodies celebrated the day. Courts and legislatures adjourned and joined in the general anniversary exercises, or held separate exercises. The wheels of the general Government at Washington, D. C., stopped to recognize the great memorial day. Business in many places was practically suspended in honor of the day. In every community, town, and city the praises of Lincoln were heard.
Orations delivered by great and undistinguished men and women, pertaining to many phases of Lincoln's life and character, were given. Prayers, religious and patriotic songs were heard. Pictures, flowers, flags, parades, and banquets were greatly in evidence. The Gettysburg address, the Emancipation Proclamation, the second inaugural address, Lincoln's favorite poem, "Oh, why should the spirit of mortal be proud?" with many other selections, were recited and read.
The Southern people, as well as the Northern, joined in the general exercises of the day. The colored people were enthusiastic in showing their appreciation of what Mr. Lincoln had done for their race. In many cities in foreign countries, including London, Berlin, Honolulu, and Rome, the anniversary was observed.
The center of attraction was the celebration at Lincoln's birthplace, on the farm three miles from Hodgenville, Larue County, Kentucky. A large tent had been erected for the occasion, with a platform inside for the speakers. In front of the platform was placed a rebuilt little cabin, sixteen feet square, which had itinerated in many parts of the country and exhibited as the cabin in which Abraham Lincoln was born. The little cabin, set in flowers contributed by the school children of Kentucky, and decorated with the national colors, very fitly illustrated the kind of a cabin in which the great emancipator was born. When Lincoln was born in a log cabin on that spot, no one could imagine that a future President was born there, and that a hundred years later another President would stand on the same spot to assist in celebrating his birth.
Five extra trains came from Louisville to Hodgenville, bearing persons from various points in the United States. These were conveyed by carriages to the place of celebration. The day there was rainy, but the foreign and local attendance was estimated at eight thousand. Among the distinguished persons present were President Roosevelt, Mrs. Roosevelt, and daughter, Miss Ethel; Mr. Loeb, the President's private secretary; Ex-Governor Joseph Folk, of Missouri, president of the Lincoln Farm Association; Governor A. E. Willson, of Kentucky; General James G. Wilson, and Luke E. Wright, Secretary of War.
There were various committees, guards and police. Good order prevailed. All lines of the North and the South were blotted out in representation, men of both sections taking part in the exercises. Twenty-six negro citizens, appointed by Governor Willson, as a reception committee, represented their race.