Lincoln’s legacy celebrated this week

Copyright © 2009
Gallup Independent
By Elizabeth Hardin-Burrola
Staff writer

GALLUP — Two hundred years after his birth, President Abraham Lincoln’s legacy is still studied and valued by millions of Americans.

This week in Gallup, two events have been planned to commemorate the bicentennial of Lincoln’s birth, which took place on Feb. 12, 1809, in Kentucky. Wednesday’s event at UNM-Gallup is free to the public, and anyone interested in Lincoln’s legacy — including his impact on Native Americans of the West — is encouraged to attend.

Thursday’s dinner and historical program at Sammy C’s is open to the public, but tickets are $25 and must be reserved by 5 p.m. Tuesday.

Local historian Martin Link is helping organize both events. On Saturday, Link discussed the different presentations the two events will feature.

UNM-Gallup Forum

Four guest speakers will give presentations on different aspects of Lincoln’s legacy during “The Lincoln Bicentennial Forum” from 6:30 to 9:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 11, in Gurley Hall Room 1124. Link’s history class, “The Civil War in the Southwest,” will host the event, and Link will act as forum moderator.

Jason Galbraith, an attorney with the McKinley County District Attorney’s Office, will discuss Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. Describing Galbraith as a local “Lincolnphile,” Link said Galbraith will explain the complexities behind Lincoln’s slavery policies involving the southern and middle border states.

Dr. Dale Mason, of UNM-Gallup, will talk about Lincoln’s Indian policy. Link believes two of Lincoln’s political policies — the Homestead Act of 1863 and the subsidizing of the transcontinental railroad — proved devastating to Native American tribes of the West. Mason will discuss Lincoln’s impact on Native people.

UNM-Gallup instructor Jack Crowl will give a presentation about Lincoln’s legacy in American Literature. More than 17,000 books have been written about Lincoln, Link said, which is almost more than the combined number of books about all other U.S. presidents. Crowl will address that literary legacy and talk about Lincoln’s own poetry.

Larry Winn, director of Connections, Inc., will discuss Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. Lincoln’s famous speech was only 10 sentences long, Link explained, but each word was carefully chosen and each sentence carefully crafted. Winn will talk about some of the commonly held beliefs about the speech and its lasting importance.

Bicentennial Party

Tuesday is the last day to purchase tickets for “Abraham Lincoln’s 200th Birthday Party,” which will be held from 6:30 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 12, at Sammy C’s, located at 107 W. Coal Ave.

“We wanted to do it specifically on the 200th birthday date,” Link said. As Lincoln’s political rise is almost synonymous with the beginnings of the Republican Party, he explained, the event is being sponsored by the Republican Party of McKinley County. However, he added, everyone is welcome to purchase tickets and a number of local Democrats are planning to attend.

Even though President Barack Obama is a Democrat, Link said, he has acknowledged the influence of Lincoln on his political views. Americans tend to credit Lincoln mostly for his support of the abolition of slavery and the importance of federal rights, Link said, but he believes Lincoln’s greater legacy lies in his staunch support of majority rule.

“The fact that majority rule works, that’s what makes a democracy,” he said. “It doesn’t mean you can’t be a dissenter, but you don’t walk out.” Obama’s recent election and inauguration is an example of that principle, Link said.

Thursday evening’s events will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a no host bar and Starbucks coffee, followed by a roast beef dinner and the historical program. During the program, Link will narrate a presentation about the life of Lincoln, which will be interspersed with 19th century songs sung by local musician Pat Neff. The program will end with the singing of the “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” a popular American Civil War song.

Tickets must be reserved by 5 p.m. by calling Mary Jean Christensen at Elite Laundry, Donna Jacobs at UNM-Gallup, Michael Lunnon at The UPS Store, or Martin Link at 863-6459.