Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1866-02-23
IN MEMORIAM
ABRAHAM LINCOLN ,
THE MARTYR PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
O r A II 90 N
OF THE
HON. GEORGE BANCROFT
THE HISTORIAN,
AT THE REQUEST OF BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS,
IN THE HALL OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE:
OF THE UNITED STATES,
ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY I2, 1896.
Senators, Representatives of America:

~~N''NN'NNNNN
GOD IN HISTORY.
That God rules in the affairs of men is as
certain as any truth of physical science. On the
great moving power which is from the begin
ming hangs the world of the senses and the
world of thought and action Eternal wisdom
marshals the great procession of the nations,
working in patient continuity through the ages,
never halting, ard never abrupt encompassing
all events in its oversight, and ever effecling its
will though mortals may slumber in apathy or
oppose with madness. Kings are lifted up or
thrown down, nations come and go, republics
flourish and wither. dvnasties pass away like u
tale that is told; but nothing is by chance.
though men in their ignorance of causes may
think so. The deeds of time are governed, as
well as Judged, by the DEGREES of eternity. The
caprice of fheeting existense bends TO the immov-
able omnipo,ence which plants its foot Oh all
the centuries, and has neither change of pnr-
pose nor repose. Sometimes like messenger
through the thick darkness of light, it steps
along mysterious ways but when the hour
strikes for people, or for mankind. TO pass
into new form of being, unseen hands draw
the bolts from the gates of futurity,; an all
subduing influence prepares the mind of men
for the coming revolution those who plan re-
sstance find themselves in conflict with the will
vices and all hearts and all understandings,
most of all the opinions and influences of the
unwilling, are wonderfully attracted and COM
PEELED to bear forward the charge which be-
| comes more an obedience TO the law of univer-
sal nature than submission to the arbitramenI
OF man.
GROWTH OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLIC.
In the fulness of time republic rose up II
| 81 all Of A frbnneap1o If
had passed away before this child Of the age,
could be born. From whatever there was o
good in the systems of former centuries sh,
drew her nourishment the wrecks OF the pas
were her warnings. With the deepest senti
ment of faith fixed in her inmost nature, sh,
disenihraed religion from bondage to tempo
raj power, that her worship might be worship
only in spirit and in truth. The wisdom whcl
had passed from India through Greece, will
what Greece had added of her own the juris
prudence of Rome the medieval municipal
ties the Teutonic method of representation
the political experience of England the be
nignant wisdom of the eXpostors OF the law O
nature and of nations in France and Holland
all shed on her their selectest influences. Sh
washed The gold Of political wisdom from III
sands wherever il was found she cleft II from
the rocks she CLEANED it among ruins. Ou
out of all the experience of past human life, sh
: compiled perennial political philosophy, tn
primordial principles of national ethics. tn
wise men OF Europe sought the best govern
ment in a mixture of monarchy, arstocracy an
democracy and America went behind thes
names to extract from them the vital element
! of social forms, and blend them hormonousl
in the free commonwealth, which comes neal
3 est to the illustration of the natural equality
f, all men. She intrused the guardianship OF e'
tablshed rights to law: the movements of rt
form to the spirit of the people, and drew he
! force from the happy reconciliation of both.
TERRITORIAL EXTENT OF THE REPUBLIC.
e Republics had heretofore been limited
: small cantons or cities and their dependencies
9 America doing that of which the like had NJ
before been known upon the earth, or believe
by Kings and statesmen to be possible, extenC
ed her republic across a continent. Under HI
auspices the vine of liberty took deep root an
filed the land the hills were covered with /
!. shadows its houghs were like the goodly c
= dars, and reached unto both oceans. The fan
p Of this only daughter OF freedom went out in
r all the lands of the earth from her the humI
e race drew hope.
!, PROPHECIES ON THE CONSEQUENCES OF sLAv
u ny.
e Neither hereditary monarchy nor heredita
q arslocracy planted itself on our soil the on
4 hereditary condition that fastened itself up'
= us was seryilude. Nature works in sineerit
I, and is ever true to its law. The bee hives no
'e ey, the viper dislils poison the vine stores
!. juices, and so do the poppy and the upas.
like manner, every thought and every act