"My Dear Judge. - It is a matter of sincere regret to me that I am unable to be present at your great anniversary celebration of the birth of the immortal Lincoln and to welcome to my home city the ambassadors of Great Britain and France and the distinguished guests who are to be with you.
"Abraham Lincoln, greatest of Amercans, greatest of men, emancipator, martyr, his service to his country has not been equaled by any American citizen, not even by Washington. His name and life has been an inspiration to me from my earliest recollection.
"On this one hundredth anniversary of this birth the people, without regard to creed, color, condition or section, in all parts of this union which he saved, are striving to do honor to his memory. No American has ever before received such deserved universal praise. Not only in his own country, but throughout the civilized world, Abraham Lincoln is regarded as one of the few, the very few, truly great men in history. His memory is as fresh today in the minds and hearts of the people as it was forty years ago, and the passing years only add to his fame and service to give us a truer conception of his noble character. The events of his life, his words of wisdom, have been gathered together in countless volumes, to be treasured up and handed down to generations yet to come.
"I knew him intimately in Springfield; I heard him utter his simple farewell to his friends and neighbors when he departed to assume a task greater than any president had been called upon to assume in our history; it was my sad duty to accompany his mortal remains from the capital of the nation to the capital of Illinois, and, as I gazed upon his face the last time, I thanked God that it had been my privilege to know him as a friend, and I felt then, as I more fully realize now, that the good he had done would live through all the ages to bless the world.
"Springfield, his only real home, the scene of his great political triumphs, was his fitting resting place. 'In the the midst of this great continent his dust shall rest a sacred treasure to myriads who shall pilgrim to his shrine to kindle anew their zeal and patriotism.'
"Again expressing regret that I cannot be with you to take part in honoring the memory of our greatest president on the one-hundredth anniversary of his birth, and feeling sure that the Springfield celebration will be the most notable of all, as it should be, I remain,
Sincerely yours,
"S.M. Cullom"
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