These were the headlines that everyone in Springfield, Illinois saw on the morning of February 13, 1909, the day after the centennial celebration of Abraham Lincoln's birthday. It was the most lavish and spectacular event in the city's history "surpassing all expectations in enthusiasm and decorative beauty." (click to enlarge)
"A myriad of flags waved... French, British and American colors
blended in patriotic harmony... A thousand lights shed
their brilliancy upon a vast assembly of banqueters...
A great expanse of white canvas concealed the
floors... Immaculate tables were laden with pretty ware...
while old soldiers in Union blue filled a great stand..."The gala event was sponsored and paid for by a donation of twenty-five dollars from each of the seven-hundred state members of the Abraham Lincoln Association, and it was money well-spent, for the old State Arsenal building had never seen anything like it and probably never would again. It had been jammed with over one-hundred tables, each table adorned with several stands of small French, British, and American flags, and at each setting, a gift-book of Lincoln's speeches and writings. When all of the honored guests finally arrived amidst bursts of cheers and applause, and escorted to their seats, a button was pressed and "thousands of more lights suddenly gleamed in star shape from a myriad of leaf-covered chandeliers... it was a picture of splendor...all who saw it could but be impressed." The wine flowed and the cigar and cigarette smoke "rolled up" toward the ceiling where "festoons of oak-leaves hung from gallery railings..." and where was displayed, a massive bust portrait of Lincoln, about twenty feet high, draped with flags, and brightly lit with a battery of shaded lights "especially arranged to shed illumination upon the features of the immortal Lincoln." At frequent intervals in the isles there were ferns and palms along with huge red poppies, the whole of which, according to the newspaper account, "added dignity to the scheme."
Beginning at 2:30 P.M., addresses were delivered by William Jennings Bryan,three times democratic candidate for the presidency, who was given a "rousing ovation" ; British Ambassador James Bryce; French Ambassador Jusserand; Sen. Jonathan Dolliver of Iowa, who gave the principal address of the afternoon, and numerous other offerings by dignitaries from across the land. There was also the reading of letters written by Booker T. Washington who, due to a previous engagement to speak in New York City, was unable to attend the festivities, and by Sen. Shelby M. Cullom, Springfield native and intimate friend of Lincoln.
Among the other visitors were such notable figures as Justice Hand - Illinois Supreme Court; William Barrett Ridgley - of Washington; James A Rose - Secretary of State; William H Stead - Attorney General; Judge K.M. Landis - United States Court, Chicago; General Alfred Orendorff - Springfield; Dr. Edmund James - president of the University of Illinois; John W. Bunn - president of Marine Bank; Judge J. Otis Humphrey - U.S. District Court; Governor Charles Deneen, and a host of others including the guest of honor - Robert T. Lincoln, the son of the martyred president.
It is interesting to note that, while an estimated nine-thousand people gathered for the celebration and probably thousands more having been turned away, across town the colored citizens, who had not been invited, had their own celebration at the A.M.E.Church. There was "great indignation expressed by the colored residents of the city because they were barred from the Lincoln banquet." Nevertheless, a large number of prominent African-American residents of the city - ministers, attorneys and professional men - met, and decided to have a "competition meeting". The Rev.L.H.Magee, a highly respected local minister said, in a speech "teeming with tributes" of the immortal Lincoln, "I would rather be one of the number of black devotees than toastmaster at the so called Lincoln banquet at twenty-five dollars per." Following the Rev. Magee's address, the Rev. E.T. Cottman also spoke to the assembled congregation of the greatness of Lincoln
Rounding out the afternoon the D.A.R. held a reception for many of the honored guests at the Lincoln home, after which the party went to the Y.M.C.A building where a dinner was served and speeches given by some of the ladies, including a tribute to Mary Todd Lincoln by Mrs. Bryan , "a speaker of unusual excellence."
.
Genealogy Home Page