The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1868-01-10
The Eioqsence Of Tr.fh.

We can listen with admiration to the words
of studied eloquence and learning the beautiful
metaphor ola ChOate. the happy perOratOn Of
an Everett, and the moving eloquence Of Web
s,er, or Clay viii ever be remembered by those
who have been 50 fortunate as to have seen and
heard these great orators In their time. But
what so powerful and eloquent as the words
oftruth, springing as il were spontaneously and
almost unconciously from heart which feels
the weight and power Of justice We have in
mind single instance where learned and gin
ell orators were utterly extinguished in forgetfa-
hess by the eloqucnce Of truth-that Of short
speech BY Abraham Lincoln, the champion Of
the peoples rights, and at that time the chosen
leader Of the great party Of frccdom, as against
slavcry-of justice As against tynnny-Of equal
rights for all men as against privileged aris-
tocracy who believe in bondage and auction
blocks for the black soldiers, with reward and
honor for his rebellious and blaek-hcarted quou-
dam master-who would crush out and trsmPle
down the poor man, while they would liz up
and ornament his useless aristocratic neighbor
with congressional office, the peoples money,
AMI costly gcw-gsws,-and vest him alone with
the choice Of lawmakers and governors. The
eloquent words we allule to were spoken to that
grra: gathering which hsd met to consecrate the
Las, resting place Of the patriotic dead Of Gettys-
burg. in November, 1868. Though the elabOr-
atcly POLISHED Grafton Of Edward Everett on that
occasion was patiently listened to, Cabinet Min
istcrs AMI Governors were regarded with lively
curiosity,-the central figure Of the platform
was the tall, plain, unprsuming. ungainly yeo-
man from the prairie; and the only words ut
tcrci that the world cares to remember were
those Of the President. who-beins required to
say something-thus responded:
rourscorc and seven years ago, our fathers
L.nughi forth upon this continent a new nation,
c,n,cirel Ia liberty, AMI dedicated TO the propo-
si,ion that al men are crated equal. Now We
mr., cui-el in q great civil war. testing wheth-
or that nation, or any nation 30 conceived and
=, ,lslicatcl, can long endure. We are met on
"A great battlefield Of that war. We have come
to delicate a portion Of that field as final rest-
ing place for those who have given their lives
that that nation might live. IL is altogether fit
tipg AMI proper that We should DO this. But,
In a larcsr sense, VIC cannot delicate. We cannot
ccnscsrate, Nc cannot hallow this ground. The
brave men. living and dead, who struggled here
have consecratcl il Ear above our power to add
or ictract. The worll will little note, nor long
remember, what we say here but Il can never
forget what they did here. Ii Is for US, the hv-
inc rathc-. TO he dedicated here to the unfinished
work which they who fought here have thus fal
No nobly advanced. II Is rather for US TO b,
here dedicated to the great task remaining Be
E,ys as, that from these honorcd deal We TAX
incr,y,se,l devotion 10 that cause for which the,
give thu last full measure Of devotion that W
here hi.hly rcsolve that these dead shall mo
have dicl In vain that this nation, under God
.b,ll have new birth Of ffee'iOm and that III
saycrnmcnt Of the people, BY the people, an
for the people, shall not perish from the earth.