Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-04-14
UNWILLING THE LINCOLN STATUE.
IContinued from First Pare, I

Abraham Lincoln or what Abraham Lin
mn and $1,000, S.n r. Inc answer Is fesay,
less than Rome, though the union was m IRE
10 him than our freedom or our future, under
MS wise and benencent rule we saw our
selves gradually lifted from depths OF sla.
very To the heights of liberty and manhood;
under his wise and benefcent rule and by
measures approved and vigorously pressed
oy MIN, we saw that the handwriting of ages
IN me form ofprejudice and prescription was
rapidly fading away from the face of our
Wnole country; under his rule and in due
time, about a. soon after all as the country
could tolerate the strange spectacle, we saw
our brave sons and brothers laying Off the
rags OF bondage, and being clothed all over
In the blue uniforms of the soldiers of the
United states; under his rule we saw two
hundred thousand of our dark aud dusky
people responding to the call OF Abraham
Lincoln, and with muskets on their should
ers and eagles on their buttons, timing their
high footsteps to liberty and union under the
national flag; under his rule we saw the in
the special object OF slaveholding aver
sion and horror fully recognized, and
her minister, a colored gentleman, duly
under his rule we saw the internal slave
trade which so long disgraced the nation
abolished, and slavery abolished In the
We saw for the FIRST time the law
enforced against the foreign slave trade,
and the first slave trader hanged like any
other pirate or murderer; under his rule
and his inspiration we saw the Confederate
states. based upon the Idea that our race
must be slaves and slaves forever, battered
To pieces and scattered TO the four winds;
under his rule add in the fullness OF time, we
saw Abraham Lincoln, after giving the
slave holders three months OF grace, in
which 10 save their hateful slave sys-
tenn, penning the immortal paper, which.
though special in its language, was gen
eral in its principles and effect, max
ing slavery forever impossible in the Unitet
States. Though we waited long we saw all
this aud more.
friendly to the freedom Of all men, ever for
get the night which followed the first day of
January, 1868? When the world was TO see
ifAbraha4n Lincoln would prove to be as
good as his word? / shall never forget that
memorable night, when in a distant city /
waited end watched at public meeting,
with three thousand others not less anxious
than myself, for the word of deiiverance
which we have heard read today Nor
shall i ever forget the outburst OF Joy
and Thanksgiving that rent the air when
the lightning brought to us the emancipa-
ton. In that happy hour we forgot all de-
lay, and forgot all tardiness, forgot that the
President had bribed the rebels to lay down
their arms by promise 10 withhold the bolt
which would smite the slave system with
destruction; and we were thenceforward
willing TO allow the President all the lati-
tude OF time, Phraseology. and every honor
aole device that craftsmanship might re-
quire for the achievement of q great and
benefcent measure OF liberty and progress.
Fellow citizens, there is little necessity
II
cally of this great and good man, and of his
high mission in the world. That ground has
been fully occupied and completely covered
both here and elsewhere. The whole field of
fact and fancy has been CLEANED and gar
nered. Any man can say things that are
true of A braham Lincoln, but no man can
say any thing new OF A braham Lincoln. His
personal traits and public acts are better
known to the American people than are
those of any other man of his age. He was
a mystery TO no man who saw him
0VNd orsfN Trl,<rr sob xNrIr
the humblest could approach him and feel at
home in his presence. Though deep, he was
transparent; though strong, he was gentle;
though decided and pronounced in his con-
victions, he was tolerant towards those who
differed from him, and patient under re-
proacbes. Even those who only knew him
Inrough ms pubic utteranees obtained toll
erably clear idea of his character and his
personality. The image of the man went ont
with his words, and those who read hum knew
him. have said that President Lincoln was
white man, and shared the prejudices COM
mon TO his countrymen towards the colored
race. Looking back to his times and to the
condition OF the country, this unfriendly
feeling on his part may be safely set
down as one element of his wonder
full success in organizing the loyal Ameri-
can people for the tremendous conflict
before them, and bringing them safely
through that conflict. His great mission
was 10 accomplish two things; first, to save
bis country from Acknowledgement and ruin,
ga second, 10 free his country from the
L
otter, or both, he must have the earnest
sympathy and the powerful CO opel alton of
his loyal fellow cOuntrymen. Without this
primary and essential condition To success
his efforts must have been vain and utterly
iruitless. 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 to rebellion impossible. Viewed
from the genuine abolition ground, Mr. Lin
coin seemed tardy, cold, dull aud Indifferent;
mo incl Ewrf
country, a sentiment he was bound as a
statesman to consult, he was swift. jealous
radical and determined. Though Mr.. Lin
Colin shared the prejudices of his white feI-
low cOuntrymen against the negro, it is hard
~ necessary 10 say that in his heart OF
hearts he loathed and hated slavery. He was
willing while the south was loyal that IL
should have its pound OF flesh, because he
thought IL was so nominated in the bond,
but farther than this no earthly power could
make him go.
Fellow citizens, whatever else In this
world may be partial, unjust and uncer-
tain, time time is impartial, Just and GER
tain in its action. In the realm OF mind, as
well as In the realm of matter, IL is a great
worker, and often works wonders. The hon
est and comprehensive statesman, clearly
discerning the needs OF his country, and
though covered and blistered with re.
proaches, may safely leave ais course TO the
silent judgment of time. Few great public
men have ever been me victims of fiercer
during his administration. He was often
wounded In the house OF his friends Re-
proaches came thick and fast upon him from
within and from without and from Opposite
quarters. He was assailed by abolitionists;
he was assailed by slave holders; he was as
sailed by the men who were for peace at any
price; he was assailed by those who were for
more vigorous prosecution OF the war; he
was assailed for not making the war an
abolition war; and he was most bitterly as.
sailed for making the war an abolition war
But now behold the change; the judgment
OF the present hour is, that taking him for all
in all, measuring the tremendous magnitude
OF the work before him, considering the ne
cessary means TO ends, and surveying the
end from the beginning, infinite wisdom has
seldom sent any man into the world better
fitted for his mission than was Abraham
Lincoln. His birth, his training and his nat
uTsl endowments, both mental and physical,
were strongly IN his favor. Born and reared
among the lowly. stranger TO wealth and
luxury, compelled TO grapple single-handed,
with the hintiest hardships, from tender
youth TO sturdy manhood, he grew strong in
the manly and heroic qualities demanded by
the great mission to which he was called by
the votes OF mis- cOuntrymen. The hard con-
dition OF his early life, which would have
depressed and broken down weaker men,
only gave greater life, vigor and buoyancy
10 the heroic spirit of Abraham Lincoln. He
was ready for any kind and any quality of