USA > Illinois > The centennial of the state of Illinois. Report of the Centennial Commission > Part 27
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"And these little destroyer-, threading in and out, have made, or helped to make, the danger zones safe for the transport of American soldiers, and American munitions of war.
"And so today to speak upon this great occasion, and upon this great theme, Stephen A. Douglas, it is my privilege and my honor to introduce to you, Josephus Daniels, Secretary of the Navy, who is responsible for these achievements of our navy in this war."
In his address, Secretary Daniels emphasized particularly the loyalty with which Senator Douglas supported President Lincoln at the beginning of the Civil War. He eulogized both Lincoln and Douglas, and drew from their lives lessons for the present great crisis.
Little Virginia Adams Douglas, eight years of age, the daughter of Robert D. Douglas, of Greenshoro, North Carolina, a grandson of Stephen A. Douglas, placed a wreath at the foot of the Douglas statue as the concluding act of the dedicatory exercises.
At 2:30 in the afternoon the statue of Abraham Lincoln, by Andrew O'Conner, erected immediately in front of the State Capitol, was dedicated with impressive services, the principal ad- dress being given by Lord Charnwood of England, statesman, author, and a life-long student of Lincoln. Lord Charnwood was introduced by Governor Lowden.
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Dr. O. L. Schmidt, Chairman of the Centennial Commission, received and read a telegram from President Woodrow Wilson con- gratulating the State of Illinois upon the achievements of its first century of Statehood and expressing regret that he was unable to be present and take part in the ceremonies.
Other features of the program were the recitation of Edwin Markhan's "Lincoln, the Man of the People," by Donald Robert- son, an address by Col. Clarendon E. Adams, National Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, representing the men of 1861-'65, who answered Lincoln's call to save free government for the world when the life of this nation was threatened, and Mr. Vachel Lindsay of Springfield recited his poem, "Abraham Lincoln Walks at Midnight in Springfield."
The exercises were closed by the placing of a wreath on the statue of Abraham Lincoln by Miss Florence Lowden, daughter of Governor Lowden.
Sunday, October 6th, was particularly observed in Springfield, as it was throughout the State, as Centennial Sunday. All the churches of Springfield held speci: I services in the morning.
A Field Mass in commemoration of the State's Centennial was held on the ground- of the Sacred Heart Academy, under the anspices of the Knights of Columbus and Daughters of Isabella, and was attended by more than twenty thousand people. Very Reverend Timothy Hickey, pastor of the Clairch of the Immaculate Con- ception of Springfield, and Vicar General of the Diocese of Alton, was the Celebrant. Reverend A. Smith, of Franklin, Illinois, delivered the Centennial sermon. Fether Smith spoke especially of the important part the early Catholics had in the exploration, development and settlement of Illinois.
A chorus of one hundred and fifty voices, under the direction of Reverend J. W. Cummings. of Ohio, Illinois, sang the Farmers' Mass in B Flat, accompanied by an orchestra. The Mass was pre- eeded by a parade of the Catholic Societies. A particular feature of this service w is the reproduction of both our National Emblem and the Centennial Banner as living flags. More than five hun- dred young ladies, dressed in red, white and blue, standing on a raised amphitheater, represented the stars and stripes in their
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proper relation. A group of younger girls dressed in the national blue and white of the Centennial banner represented that emblem. In the evening a bangdet was given at the St. Nicholas Hotel by the Catholic Societies. Right Rev. Monsignor D. J. Riordan and Judge John P. McGoorty, of Chicago, were the speakers. Rev- erend Frederic Siedenburg, S. J., was toastmaster. Lord Charn- wood and Robert D. Douglas were present, and spoke briefly as did also Dr. O. L. Schmidt, chairman and Mrs. Jessie Palmer Weber, secretary of the Centennial Commission.
In the afternoon a reception was held at the Executive Man- sion by Governor and Mrs. Lowden in honor of the former Gover- nors of the State, and their descendants, and of the Centennial guests.
Descendants of Governors Bond, Edwards, Ford, Carlin, Bis- sell, Oglesby, Paliner and Tarner were present. Mr. Craig Hood a great grandson of Governor Bond delivered an interesting ad- dress. Governor and Mrs. Lowden and their daughter Miss Florence Lowden received the guests.
At seven o'clock in the evening a Patriotic Union Service was held at the State Arsenal, participated in by representatives of all the churches of the city, and attended by more than five thousand people. A brief address was given by Lord Charnsoul and the sermon was delivered by Dr. Z. Barney Phillips, Rector of the St. Peter's Episcopal Church. St. Louis, Mo. The congregational singing was led by Mr. William Dodd Chenery. A feature of the program was music by the Colored Centennial Chorus of one hundred and fifty vojens, under the direction of Prof. J. A. Mun- day, of Chicago.
The weather was exceptionally fine which added greatly to the comfort and impressiveness of the celebration.
ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR OCTOBER 4-5-6, 1918 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1918 4:00 to 6:00 P. M.
Reception to Sculptors of the Lincoln and Douglas Statues and Centennial Gue to by the Springfield Art Association at Edwards Place
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8:15 P. M. "The Masque of Illinois," Coliseum, State Fair Grounds
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1918 10:30 A. M.
Laying of the Cornerstone of the Centennial Memorial Building
11:00 A. M. Dedication of the statue of Stephen A. Douglas
Address . By the Honorable Josephus Daniels Secretary of the United State. Navy 2:30 P. M.
Dedieation of the statue of Abraham Lincoln
By Lord Charnwood Address
S:15 P. M. "The Masque of Illinois"
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1918
10:30 A. M.
Field Mass on the grounds of the Sacred Heart Academy under the anspices of the Knights of Columbus and Daughters of Isa- bella
4:00 to 6:00 P. M.
Reception at Executive Mansion by Governor and Mrs. Lowden in honor of former Governors of the State, descendants of former Governors and the Centernial guests. The people are invited to call and pay respects to the Governor and Mrs. Lowden and the guests at this time.
2:00 P. M.
At the State Arsenal, Patriotic Union Service nuder the auspices of the Illinois Centennial Commission and the Springfield churches. Choral and community singing
Sermon
. By Rev. Z. Barney Phillips of St. Louis, Mo.
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PROGRAML
1818 ILLINOIS CENTENNIAL OBSERVANCE 191S
COMMEMORATION OF THE CENTENARY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, OCTOBER 5, 6, 1918 PROGRAM SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1918 10:30 A. M.
Laying of the Cornerstone of the Centennial Memorial Build-
ing. . Lieutenant Governor John G. Oglesby, Presiding Officer Music-"Illinois" Led by Arthur Kraft
By thy rivers gently flowing, Illinois, Illinois, O'er thy prairies verdant growing, Illinois, Ilinois, Comes an echo on the breeze,
Rustling thro' the leafy trees,
And its mellow tones are these, Illinois, Illinois, And its mellow tones are there, Illinois.
Not without thy wondrous story, Illinois, Illinois, Can be writ the nation's glory, Illinois, Illinois. On the record of thy years, Ab'ram LinceIn's name appears, Grant and Logan. and our tears, Illinois, Illinois, Grant and Logan, and our tears, Illinois.
Invocation. Rev. Roval W. Ennis Presentation of Honorary Union Card to Governor Frank O. Lowden. . . Frank Cook, President Springfield Masons' Union
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Laying of the Cornerstone. By Governor Lowden Music-"The Star Spangled Banner' Capital City Band 11:00 A. M.
Dedication of the Statue of Stephen A. Douglas
Chairman-Dr. O. L. Schmidt, Chairman of the Illinois Cen- tennial Commission
Music-"The Star Spangled Banner
Invocation. Rev. Edgar DeWitt Jones Music -- Keller's "American Ilymn" "Speed our Republic, O Father on high, Lead us in pathways of justice and right; Rulers as well as the ruleJ, one and all, Gird with virtue, the armor of might ! Hail! three times hail to our country and flag! Rulers as well as ruled, one and all." Introduction of Gilbert P. Riswold, the Sculptor of the Douglas Statue
Song-Arthur Kraft
Presentation of Governor Frank O. Lowden as Presiding Officer Remarks by Governor Lowden, introducing the Hon. Josephus Daniels, Secretary of the United States Navy Address-"Stephen 1. Douglas" . Secretary Daniels Music -- "Battle Hymn of the Republic"
A wreath will then be placed on the statue of Stephen A. Douglas by his great grand-daughter, Virginia Adams Douglas
Music-"The Stars and Stripes Forever". . Band Luncheon at the Leland Hotel by the Centennial Commission in honor of Governor Lowden, Secretary Daniels, Lord Charn- wood and invited guests.
2:30 P. M.
Dedication of Statue of Abraham Lincoln
Chairman-Dr. O. H. Selidt, Chairman of the Illinois Cen- tennial Commission
Invocation Rev. J. R. Thomas Musie-The Centennial Hyian, "Our Illinois". . Rice-Moore
Our father's God, Thy naine we bless And all Thy mercies ve confess with solemn joy;
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Our prairies rich with fruitinl low,
Our rivers singing as they rom, The happiness that iz our home, Our hope, our Illinois.
Eulogy-"Lincoln, The Man of the People." by Edwin Mark- ham. .Recited by Donald Robertson Song -- Arthur Kraft
*Introduction of Andrew O'Connor, the Sculptor of the Lincoln Statue
Music-"The Battle Cry of Freedom"
. Presentation of Governor Frank O. Lowden as Presiding Officer Remarks by Governor Howdeu, introducing Lord Charnwood Address -- "Abraham Lincoln". Lord Charnwood Song-Arthur Kraft
Music-"Tramp, Tramp, Tramp. the Boys are Marching". . . Root Address -- Col. Clarendon E. Adams, National Commander Grand Army of the Republic
Music-"America"
A wreath will then be placed on the statue of Abraham Lincoln
by Mies Florence Lowden
Music -- "The Star Spangled Banner"
PATRIOTIC UNION SERVICE, OCTOBER 6, 1918 UNDER THE AUSPICIS OF TIL ILLINOIS CENTENNIAL COMMISSION AND THE SPRINGFIELD CHURCHES EiGur O'CLOCK P. M., SIATE ARSENAL SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS PROGRAM 2:00 to 8:00 P. M.
Community Singing:
Under direction of Mr. William Dodd Chenery assisted by Mrs. Frank V. Partridge, soloist; Mr. R. Albert Guest, accompanist ; and the John L. Taylor Orchestra.
* Mr. O'Connor was unable to be present.
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The Colored Centennial Chorus:
Under the direction of Mesera. J. A. Mundy and A. Meek will sing a group of negro folk hymns as follows :
"Deep River." "Steal Away." "I Couldn't Hear Nobody Pray." "Swing Lov, Sweet Chariot." "Every Time I Feel the Spirit."
A PRAYER FOR OUR BOYS BY HENRY VAN DYKE
Most Holy Rightons and Mighty Lord God, we submit our country's cause to Thee, and we commend our soldiers, sailors and aviators to Thy gui lance and keeping in this war. Protect them amid the perils of the sea and the dangers of battle in a far land. Keep them sound in body, pare in heart, brave in spirit, ever loyal to Thee and to our country. Enable them to do valiant service for justice and freedom; strengthen them while they fight for the right ; comfort and succor them if they are wounded, and if they must fall, receive them iato eternal rest. But, Oh Most Merciful Father, we bestech Thee, bring these our sons back to us, with victory on their banners, with peace and love in their hearts. Accept and less their sacrifice and ours. Oh Lord Our Strength and Our Redeemer. Amen.
ORDER OF SERVICE 8:00 P. M.
THE REV. LESTER LEAKE RILEY
Rector of Christ Episcopal Church, Presiding
Hymn-"The Star Spangled Banner" Invocation
The Rev. T. N. Ewing Pi tor First M E. Chi h Responsive Reading -- Isnich 26:
Scripture Reading-From Samuel II :22. an 1 Psalm 121. ... .The Rev. I. Mortimer Bloom Minister Temple D'rith Sholm
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Hymn --- "Onward Christian Soldiers"
Address
Lord Charnwood
Solo-"Sancta Maria" -- Faure. Mrs. Helen Brown Read
Hymn -- "America the Beautiful"
Prayer The Rev. S. Willis McFadden Pastor Second Presbyterian Church
Sermon The Rev. Z. Barney Phillips Rector St. Peter's Episcopal Church, St. Louis, Mo.
America -- (With added stanza)
"God save our splendid mnen, Send them safe home again, God save our men. Keep them victorious, Patient and chivalrous,
They are so dear to us. God save our men."
Benediction The Rev. William H. Nicholas Pastor Grace Lutheran Church
ADDRESS BY HONORABLE JOSEPHIT'S DANIELS, SECRETARY OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY
The two presidents of the United States who more than any other have typified the real American spirit and glorified the pro- duct of the frontier in the days of adventure and development were Andrew Jackson and Abraham Lincoln. They touched the life of Stephen A. Douglas, the first his hero and his political mentor to whose teaching he gave full proof of loyal allegiance ; the second his political competitor with whom he contested for high honor, winning and lo-ing, and with whom, in his last days, he was co-worker in the preservation of the indissoluble union of indestructible states.
Before Jackson's clection all our Presidents came out of the schools of Virginia ant Ma -- achu-tts and either in culture or in views illustrated the training of Old England. To be sure they had been at war with what was then called "the Mother Country" before, out of all the stocks of Europe, the American became in
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the melting pot a coraposite of mingled blood and differing faith and the varying habits of all nations who have made it a mighty republic.
. Jefferson alone of them all lived amid the foothills of the mountains of the Old Dominion and from the heights of Monti- cello looked toward the West with the enthusiasm and faith of the seer. He saw in the rolling prairies and mountains, then just opening to settlement, the home of a people over whom a free air would always blow, building a civilization that would make the republie as vast in territory as it would be truly democratic in profession and in practice with the lateh-string on the outside, an invitation to all who wished to live in the atmosphere of equal opportunity.
That vision caused Jefferson to send Lewis and Clark on the journey of discovery where they trekked to the extreme west where rolls the Oregon-but, impatient as he often was at the conven- tionalities in the seaboard colonies which sometimes fettered, cribbed and confined, Jefferson's education was not different from that of well-to-do youthis of English birth.
But Jackson was the very incarnation of the day when the West caught the imagination and challenged the courage of young men to whom achievement is valned only when it overcomes ob- stacles. Born in the Seoteli-Irish settlement of Waxhaw, North Carolina, before he attained his majority, the unconventional and heroic Jackson began his journey to what was then the West -- the unbroken wildness of the forests of western North Carolina, where he fought his duel. established his fame and then moved on until he made his home in Tennessee, the farthermost western territory, into which men of adventurous spirit were moving from what, even then, men of his temperament were calling "the effete est."
In this congenial atmosphere Old Hickory became the central figure, and from the battle of New Orleans until his death was the dominant figure in America.
Abraham Lincoln was akin to Andrew Jackson in his early struggles. his unfettered mind, in his inflexible purpose. and in his devotion to the Union as evidoneed by Jackson's vigorous steps to prevent nullification, and Lincoln's like victory over secession.
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Where Jackson was a torrent of passion when aroused and none could stand before his denunciation, Lincoln was the incarnation of a patience born of power which was invincible and unconquer- able. How much these men influenced the life of the illustrious statesman of whom I am to speak is a field that invites speculation and throws light upon the carver of Stephen A. Douglas.
All youths of ambition are hero-worshipers. To the youthful Douglas, early orphaned and apprenticed to the trade of cabinet maker, the commanding and picturesque figure of Old Hickory was the perfection of the ideal American. Jackson's career as a soldier inspired his patriotism. Ilis resolution to brook no opposi- tion to his well conceived plans at New Orleans by arresting, im- prisoning and banishing a Federal judge, challenged the admiration of the youth of the Green Mountain state, and his defiance of power by his veto of the charter of the National Bank so stirred young Douglas that he ever regarded Jackson as the embodiment of political wisdom and sound statesmanship.
During the twenty-five years that Mr. Douglas was in public life-and he held almost every office in the gift of the people -- he followed the political paths blazed by Jackson, and was never so confidert of the correctness of his position as when he felt he was taking the course that Jackson would have followed. Born in a far eastern state, his eyes early turned toward the expanding West, and, like his great exemplar, he made his home on the frontiers of the American settlement.
The rolling prairies called him, they broad ned his conception of the future expansion of his country, and he became as truly western as though his eyes had first oponel on the Father of Waters. The career of Douglas, like that of Lincoln, is illustrative of American opportunity. From the rude cai'n to the most ex- alted station on earth is the epitome of Lincoln's life -- a life that has beckoned many a farmer boy to diligence and to study. New England training made Douglas a mechanic. As a boy he was a cabinet maker, and his greatness has been an incentive to the youth to labor to attain Skill in his era!t.
Illinois was "the west" in their youth. Its rich lands were giving reward to the industry e the farmer. The tide of immi-
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gration from Vermont and other New England states, and from Kentucky and other southern states, met in this commonwealth, al- ready conscious of the coming greatness, which the new settlers were making possible. In this tide of on-coming makers of a state caute the youthful and slender Douglas, with enough education to become a teicher, and Lincoln with less schooling, but with a latent. power which was to give him immortal fame. Douglas early gave proof of the eloquence which later commanded listening senates. Lincoln matured more slowly. Both were nourished under the same sky, practiced in the same courts, won the admiration of men of like patriotism. Today the commonwealth which gave them welcome, when poor and unknown, they knocked at its doors for admittance, pauses in its centennial io do honor to them- its two most illustrious commoners, statesmen and patriots. A distin- guished son of a noble empire will voice the world appreciation of Lincoln, who is too great to belong to any state or any nation, to any age or elime.
The honor is mine to speak of the illustrious "Little Giant," who, dying at the age of 48, had for eighteen years been the most influential leader in the hall of Congress, of whom it may be truly said, he, like Lincoln awl Webster and Clay and Benton, belonged to the only American aristocraey of --
"Tall men, suncrowned, who live above the fog "In publie duty and in private thinking."
Mr. Douglas walled into the town of Winchester, Scott County, Illinois, in the autumn of 1833, with his coat on his arm, with thirty-seven cents in his pocket, all his carthily possessions. Within ten years he had been admitted to the bar, commanding a large practice, had been a member of the Ilinois Legislature, prose- cuting attorney, register of the land office, judge of the State Su- preme Court and member-el et of the National House of Represen- tatives. The succeeding eighteen years of his life he served as Representative and Senator in Congress, defeated Abraham Lincoln for the Senate, was defeated for President by Abraham Lincoln, and died in the middle of his senat opal trim with the love and confidence of the people of Illinois of all parties and creds, and
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with the respect of the whole country which he had served with ability, singleness of purpose and with a vision of its possibilities that few of his era had seen with the eye of faith.
I am to speak to day not of the Douglas of the period of the Lincoln and Douglas debate when Greek met Greek, or of the epoch-making campaign for the presidency in which the victor of 1858 was defeated by his old-time adversary. In all history no debate so challenged the attention of the country. It determined the candidates of the two parties for the presidency in 1860. What the outcome of the election would have been if the party to which he belonged had given united support to Douglas is a conjecture that may be left to those who delight in reflecting upon what might have been. Rather, let us think today upon Douglas as the man, as the orator, as the political leader, as the champion of popular sovereignty, as the disciple of Old Hickory, as the masterful national party advocate, as the unquestioned leader in the Senate: but high and above all as the constructive statesman who more than any of his contemporaries contributed to national expansion, to internal improvements, to the Americanism that thinks in big terms and had the faith in his country's future which placed no limit upon its growth and greatness.
It has been popula ly supposed because he was from early manhood engaged in the very thick of heated political campaigns. that polities was the breath of his nostrils. Superficial historians have failed to see that with him politics and office were never an end but always a means to securing the larger rights of the people and to promoting that national growth which were his earliest and latest dreams and his master passions. Other ambitions and loves had play in his bysy life, but he ever shaped his course by the steady North Star of faith in the ability and right of his country. men in each sovereign state to determine for themselves their local and domestic concerns, with the steadfast and fixed devotion to an indestructible union of indissoluble states. From these principles he never wavered.
The first public address Douglas made after his admittance to the bar was in defense of Jackson', veto of the National Bank
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charter. Small of stature, a briefless barrister, he attended a meet- ing in Jacksonville called to endorse President Jackson's action. In the very center of culture of the young State, the site of its only college, his eloquence, his argument, his sound reasoning so impres-ed his hearers that he stepped into State fame and retained this high place in forensic debate until the day of his death. As his first publie appearance was in defense of Jackson's actions which changed the fiscal policy of government, -o when at the age of thirty years he became a member of Congress, his maiden speech in the House of Representatives was in vindication of the hero who inspired his boyish admiration and had profoundly influenced his political convictions and public life.
There are times when the ordinary civil processes must give way to emergency measures, but only for the period of national crises. Let us never forget that America places the military over the civilian government only to preserve conditions that insure the civilian supremacy.
No militarist could endure in our country. So deep-seated is our devotion to a government where military force is under civilian control that when, as happened in the case of Grant, a general is elevated to the position of president and as such is com- mander-in-chief of the army and navy, he must doff his military uniform and don civilian garb. But there are brief periods when national existence demands temporary military supremacy.
Such a time emme when General Jackson was commanding the troops at New Orleans. He found it necessary in order to success- fully execute his matchless strategy to declare martial law, and when opposed by a Federal judge General Jackson found it neces- sary to arrest the judicial officer, imprison and banish hun. Jack- son stopped at no half way measures to insure victory. Later when military rule was replaced by civil government, the judge fined General Jackson $1.000 for contempt of court. Civilian govern- ment was again supreme and General Jackson howed to the decree. Though tenders of the money came from many friends, Genero! Jackson declined to accept the offer and paid the fine himself. There was never a better proof, that while the American people welcome martial law to save the life of the republic. they displace
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