New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-04-15
MONUMENT TO LINCOLN.
UNvAHING OF THE CoLORED PEOPLES MEMORIAL
THE PRESIDENT PERFORMS THE CEREMONY
ADDRESS By FREDERICK DOUGLASS.
GENERAL PRESS DIsPATCHJ

UNvAUING OF THE CoLORED PEOPLES MEMORIAL
THE PRESIDENT PERFORMS THE CEREMONY
ADDRESS By FREDERICK DOUGLASS.
GENERAL PRESS DISPATCH
WASHINGTON, April 1.-THE unyailing of
the Lincoln statue at Lncolnsquare, In the eastern por
ton Of the city was the main feature of todays legal
holiday The coiored population were out IN large num-
bers The procession large including coored troops,
Knights Templas, Knights OF ST. Augustine The Sons Of
Purity The Sons Of Lew, Good samaritans, The Labor
League and other uniformed benevolent associations,
accompanied by music. Previous TO their ary there
was an immense assembl1ge at the Park.
The statue covered with flags, the great object OF
interest. The first contribution TO the statue fund WIS
made the mOningaer the assassination OF President
Lincoln, by Charlotte Scott colored woman Of MARI
eta, Ohio, who gave So The original cost of the monu-
ment (17 900 and other incidental expenses have all
been paid by subscriptions by the colored people. The
last Congress appropriated 200 for the pedestal and
the statue was allowed to pass the Customouse free OF
duty. The statue which is OF bronze is OF colossal size,
being ~ feet high resting upon pedestal 10 feet
high II represents Mr. Lincoln standing erect with the
Proclamation OF Emancipation in mis- left hand while the
right hand is outsretched the kneeng figure of
slave, from whose limbs the shackes have inst been
freed. Upon the base OF the monument is the word
Emancipation"
On the speakers stand there were the President,
members OF the Cabinet Justices Of the Supreme Court
Foreign Minister'S Senators and Representatives, and
other persons OF prominence After music the Marine
Band-'Hail Columbia prayer and the reading Of the
Emancipation Proclamation, Prof. Langson formally
accepted the in behalf OF the entire nation, and
then called upon President Grant to unyail it, pro-
longed applause greeted the words OF the speaker and
increased when the President stepped the front,
rasped rope that attached to the flag vang the
statue gave firm pull and the banner glided down
amid the deafening cheers Of the multitude, the play
ing of music, and the booming Of cannon. poem
read composed by Miss Cornelia Ray colored Of New
York
Frederick Douglass then introduced amid APP
pausc and delivered the oraton in the Of which
he said
Iincolus great mission TO accomplish two things
first, his country from ACKNOWLEDGMENT, and
second, free his country from the great crime OF
slavery To do the other, both, he must have
the earnest sympathy and the powerful cooperation OF
his loyal fellowcountrymen. Without this his efforts
must have been vain aud utterly Ruthless Had he put
the abolition OF slavery before the salvation OF the UniOn
he would have inevitably driven from him powerful
class OF the American people and rendered resistance
rebellion impossible. Viewed from the genuine
abolition ground Mr. Lincoln seemed to-day cold
dun, and indinerent but measuring him by tho
statesman to consulthe was swift jealous radical and
determined Though Mr.. Lincoln shared the prejudices
of his white feuow-counrymen against the negro IL s
hardly necessary TO that in his heart OF hearts he
lOathed and hated slavery. He willing, while the
loyal that Il should have its pound of o sh,
because he thought 1t nominated In the bend but
further than this no earthly power could make him so.