Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1865-08-04
THE FIRST OF AUGUST.

This is one of the great days of history. On
this day great moral enterprise-carried on
through nearly quarter of century of toll,
oboquy and f-sacrfce-carried on against
the opposition of wealth, rank, talent, and al
most the whole power of great nation-in
behalf of a poor, neglected, despised and out
ragged race-triumphed, and their chains fell
from the limbs of 500 900 human chattels. And
not that alone, but that great nation poured
out her milliono of money to set them free.
Amid the thunders and lightings of heaven, on
their Bonded knees, these victims of untold OPP
preston received the boon-and yet only their
natural rght--of freedom. To the salvos of
the artillery of the skies which greeted the au-
spicious hour, they responded with thanksgiv-
ings and haelujahs.
The thirty-frst anniversary of.shat sublime
day has come and gone. Noticed by how few
and yet it contains teachings of great joy for
not only the black man, but for every human
being. That day began new era for mankind
1t says again and forever that Right, Truth and
Liberty shall triumph, though their enemies be
mailed in triple steel and their host as the sands
of the seashore for number.
In some respects this thirty-frst anniversary
is more important than the first. 1t comes very
nearly at the close of generation since what
many thought "the experiment Of liberty" be-
gan. Many looked with misgivings upon
emancipation. The planter class prophecied
its total failure. If we may judge them by their
deeds, they were resolved that it should fail.
Emancipation freed only their slaves, not them.
They were bound in the chains Of q darker and
lower bondage, from which they are not delv-
cred. Short-sighted, or proud and selfish, or
both, they hndered the freedman's progress in
every way they could But in pain. Their
efforts were only hindering not stopping pro-
gress. The progress went on. In spite Of
enormous obstacles the absence of help, the
evil habits and ideas created and fostered by
long bondage, the ignorance and hostility OF
those who should have enlightened and be-
friended them-and last, but far from least, the
cold looks of an unsympathzing world, forward
and upward toward a higher manhood the ne
gro went, until now he has justified his eman-
SiP"'ioh S'Sh uHto sugar anu Soiu. lIue, TINS
is denied-but it is denied for purpose and
the denial cannot be sustained.
The day has its lesson for US. We are in the
crisis of far larger emancipation than that Of
the West Indies, an emancipation fraught with
vast results to ourselves and to our country.
Heed we the West Indian lesson. 1t tells us
that apprenticeship absolutely failed, that moth
ing but outright liberty would answer 1t tells
us, moreover. that the negro will progress il
free-if not with us, in spite Of us. And so it
tells us, most emphotcally of all, to treat him
as becomes a mantle, to lay on him the du-
ties and responsibilities and give him the priv
ieges of manhood, to help him if ignorant, to
protect him when wronged, to make no differ
ence between him and any other man. In this
way shall we not only in a marvellously short
time add four millions Of good citizens to our
population, secure splendid loyalty to our in
stitutions, get distracting element out of pol
itics, gain for our Southern country a growing
population TO whom it is dear and native, and
who can and will cultivate it and redeem il
from all the curse of slavery: and thus win
and deserve noble prosperity; but shall also
win self-respect and the respect of the world
and, to crown all, do a mighty work towards
the deliyerance and elevation of mankind.