The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1865-12-22
Mlistellaneons.
THE ASSASSINATION OF ABRAHAM
LINCOLN.
BY FREDERICK DOUGLAS.

REPoRrkp rHs UNION AND JOURNAL.
Frederick Douglas delivered his address on
the Assassination OF President Lincoln y in
Portland week before last, Of which the follow.
ing is report: --.. ..,........
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN Events are the
natural teachers OF u nation. A lew can com.
prehend principles and tendencies; the mass
must see thcm illustrated in events. The great
mass Of men busy in the great struggle OF life,
have little time or disposition Tor theories OF
any kind. BY actual results the few may CON-
prehend a rule or principle hnd the reasons Tor
IL, but the many require an illustration, palpa.
BILE and sometimes startling before they become
wise. Long ago, before our land was torn by
civil war. when the skies were all bright and
the nation was prosperous, lew men among
US, arranging themselves on the eide OF the op
pressed, foresaw NIL the calamitcs which have
since come upon our land, and warned us; but
the people listened to their warnings rs to an
idle tale. A few men saw the cloud arising
which was big with all our recent woe, but the
great body Of the people could not see, until
the lightning flashed and tho thunder roared
around them, whittier events were tending.
Thus has it ever been. Nothing short OF the
guns of Sumter could open the blind eyes OF
the nation to the evils OF slavery. The present
year will be ever remembered by this nation Tor
two remarkable events. Ono Of thcre was the
downfall Of q rebellion, undertaken solely Tor
tho purpose Of perpetuating the slave system
in this country. Ii was thought on tho down.
iull of the rebellion that this object would be
given up by the South, but in this We have
been mistaken. The sentiment OF the whole
people on the downfall Of the rebellion was,
!. Let us now settle the foundation Of our gov.
oInment once and forever r-. nL.
The other great event which forms the sub
iect Of my discourse mt the present time was
the Inauguration Of new crime born OF our
institutions, crime hitherto confined to other
countries and other institutions, atype OF de-
prayity which had until then no manifestation
among US. II was the assassination OF one OF
the beet men that ever presided over the desti.
mics Of this country or any other. The nation
nourned not 80 much that II bad loet It's Pres.
ident, but that the world had lost q great and
good man. This eventful year is now fast
drawing to q Close, and yet this same year,
marked nv 50 many features OF change in the
clouds of its political sky may take upon itself
another feature lar moro deplorable than the
assassination OF the beloved President OF the
United States, or the downfall OF the rebellion.
II is the surrender OF the principle Of placing
our government on the indestructable founda-
ton Of equal rights, aud equal justice. a.
The American people have experienced many
shocks during the dark days Of the rebellion
Just closed, in view OF the possible fate OF the
republic, but the btterest OF all, and the most
,ndescribable Of all, was this one most awful
crime, tho assassination OF our President. lts
effect upon the country can never TO told. IL
was M Il some great convulsion had occurred !;
as II some great earthquake had burst upon our
State. Had the grave opened and the shected
dead walked forth through our streets, the
skock could not have been much greater. The
people pauscd to learn It's meaning. The tran
s,tiou WINS 30 great from the joy and cIultatlon
of v;ctory. 20 sorrow and mourning, as low
could believe. The whole North were rejoicing
over the downfall Of the rebellion. The strong
hold OF the rebellion was in our hands. Mobile
and Wilmington had fallen. South Carolina
had received her well deserved chastisement at
the hands Of General Sherman, and loyal black
troops were timing their footsteps to the tune
Of "'Old John Brown" in the streets OF tho
rebel Q pital! (Applause.) The whole North
were jubilant in the prospect Of peace. Even
at that early day the loyal people gave signs
Of that magnitude which is now becoming the
chief source Of our present trouble. General
Lee was spoken Of with little less respect than
General Grant. Tho people were about a.
thankful to General Lee Tor surrendering as to
General Grant for making him surrender.
Laughter and applause.) Nothing, nothing,
but the strong arm Of power welded BY loyal
authority can make them even love or respect
Ne. ..-. .1.. .-. ~. IL,
au not here TO deliver lecture on our
martyred President, That has been done in
every form and BY every pres In our land,
prsising his character, and lauding his virtues.
All that can cay OF him would DO repeti.
tion. The most could do would be 70 give
back to my hearers their own feelings about
this great and good man. There 10 . charm,
however, about this man that will never tire,
when the achievements OF our generals shall Be
forgotten. When tho details ot this great war
shall have faded from history, Abraham Lincoln
will still bc remembered. Eloquent tongues
. Z.