Speech at Hotel Continental, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania June 16, 1864

FELLOW CITIZENS: I attended the Fair at Philadelphia to-day in the hope that possibly it might aid something in swelling the contributions for the benefit of the soldiers in the field, who are bearing the harder part of this great national struggle in which we are engaged. I thought I might do this without impropriety. It did not even occur to me that a kind demonstration like this would be made to me. I do not really think it is proper in my position for me to make a political speech; and having said at the Fair what I thought was proper for me to say there in reference to that subject, and being more of a politician than anything else, and having exhausted that branch of the subject at the fair, and not being prepared to speak on the other, I am without anything to say. I have really appeared before you now more for the purpose of seeing you and allowing you to see me a little while, and, to show to you that I am not wanting in due consideration and respect for you, when you make this kind demonstration in my honor. At the same time I must beg of you to excuse me from saying anything further.

Source: Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln, edited by Roy P. Basler.