Forty-six years ago the hand of the martyred LINCOLN rested gently upon
the head of a child, who looked into the rugged, kindly face made
beautiful by the divinity of the SAVIOR OF THE SLAVE, and gave instant
and unquestioning love to the MAN “with charity for all.” Time came when
the boy, with crepe on his arm and the ache of childhood in his throat,
watched the sad and solemn pageant for the Nation’s dearest dead.
Fifteen years ago EUGENE VICTOR DEBS stretched out two generous hands
and “the warmest heart that ever beat,” to clasp as his own the hands
and heart of a man that loved, trusted and honored him at first sight.
And in the close intimacy of our brother-comrade-hood I have found no
fault in GENE; for he is as faithful and tender as my dear old Mother,
who loves him, blessed him and bade him kiss her, as brave as a lion, as
gentle as a woman, as honest and straightforward as a little child, as
white, clean and sweet of soul as his elder brothers, LINCOLN and
CHRIST—and these three are Nature’s noblest noblemen.
W. E. P. FRENCH, U. S. Army.
Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York, Saturday, June 27, 1908.