Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-04-14

prophecy Of still greater national enlightsn-
ment and progress In the future. i refer 10
the past not IN malice, fOT this IL no day fof
malice, but simply 20 place more distinctly
In front the gratifying and glorious change
which has come both 20 our white fellow
citizens and ourselves. and 20 Congratulate
all upon the contr AIT between now aud then,
the new dispensstion Of freedom with It's
thousand blessings TO both races, and the old
olspensatoo OF slavery with It's tea thou
sand evils 70 both races-vhite aud black.
10 view, then, OF the past. the present aud
the future, with the long and dark history OF
our bondage behiDd as, and win liberty.
seain congratulate you upon this suspicious
Friends and fellow citizens The story
of our presence here IN soon and easily
told. We are here in the District OF Co
lnmbia; here In the city OF Warrington,
the most luminous point Of American terri.
tory city recently transformed aud made
beautiful IN It's body and In its spirit. we are
here, in the place where the a0lest and b at
men OF the country are sent 70 deylse the
policy, enact the laws, and shape the destiny
pillars and majestic dome of the capitol
OF The nation looking down upon AS; We are
mere, win the broad earth freshly adorned
with the foliage and flowers OF spring FOR our
church, and all races, colors and conditions
OF men for our congregation-in a word We
are here 10 express, as best we may. by APP
propriate forms and ceremonies. our grateful
sense of the vast, high and pre-emi.
nent services rendered "a ourselves
10 our race, TO our country, and 20
the whole world by Abraham Lincoln.
The sentiment that brings as mere 20 day ia
one "a the noblest that can stir aud thrill the
human heart. lt has crowned aud made glo-
rious the high places OF all civilized nations,
with the grandest and most enduring works
of art, designed 10 illustrate characters and
lt Is the sentiment which nom year % year
adorns with fragrant and beautiful lowers
the graves OF our loyal, brave. aud patriotic
soldlers VINO Eel In defence OF the aiou and
emf n
appreciation which often. ia presence of
many wLo hear me, has flled yonder heights
oI Arlnglon with The eloquence OF eulogy
and the sublime enthusiasm OF poetry aud
song, a sentiment which can never die while
the republic lives. For the first time IN the
history OF our people. and IN The history OF
the whole American people, we join Ia this
high worship and march cOnspicuously In
the line OF this time hOnoret custom. First
Things are always interesting, and this is
one OF our first things. IL il the nnst time
that, In this form and manner, We have
great man, however deserving ana IL
lustrious. j commend the fact 20 no.
uce; let a. be told i'm every part OF the
repubhci let men OF all iarties aud
opinions hear IL; let those who desplse
us, not less than those who who respect u.s.
know that now and here, In the spirit OF
iloerty, loyalty, and gratitude, let IL be
known everywhere ana 10y everybody who
takes interesl IN human progress and In the
amelioratioO OF the condition OF mankind,
that In the presence aud with the approval of
the members Of the American House OF Rep
resentauves, rejecting the general senfi-
ment OF the country; that in the presence of
that august body, the American Senate,
representing the highest intelligence and the
calmest Judgment OF the country; In presence
OF the Supreme Court and Chief astice of
the United States, 20 whose decisions we ali
patriotically bow; In the presence and under
the steady eye Of the honored and trusted
President OF the United States, we. the coll
ored people, newly emanclpated aud rejoic-
Ing in our blood bought freedom, near the
close OF the nrst century in the life OF this
republic, have nov and here UaDeled, SCI
apart, and dedicated a monument OF endur-
ing granite and bronze. IN every line, feature
and ngure OF which the men OF this genera
ton may read, and those OF aftercomiDg
generations may read something OF the ex-
allied character and great works on braham
Llhcoly, the hrst martyr PresideOt of the
Fellow citizens: In what we have said
and done 10 day, and In what we may
s.sy and do hereafter, we disclsim every
ming ike arrogance and assumption.
We claim for ourselves no superior
devotion TO the character, history and
memory OF the illustriOus name whose
monument we have here dedicated to-
day. We fully comprehend the relation OF
Abraham Lincoln, both To ourselves and the
white people OF the United States. Truth IL
proper and beautiful al all times aud ia all
places, and II is never more proper aud beau
tiful In any case than when speaking of q
great public man whose example Is likely 20
De commended for honor and Imitation long
after his departure TO the solemn shades tue
silent continents OF eternity. II nust be
admitted, truth cOmpels me 10 admit, even
here IN the presence OF the monument we
have erected 10 his memory, A Graham Lin.
coin was not, 10 the fullest sense of the word
either our man or our model. In his inter-
esfS, i'm his assOcia ions. in his habits of
thought, and in mis- prejudices, he was a
white man. He was pfe-eminently tae
white mans President, entirely devoted 10
the welfare OF white men: He was ready
and willing al any time during the first years
OF his administration 10 deny, POSTPONE and
sacrifice the rights Of humanity in
Sns 70 @ oo no 90 people, 70 promote the
try. In q VI his education and feeling be was
an American OF the Americans BE came
into the Presidential chair upon one prir,.i
PIE alone, namely; opposition TO the exten~
sion OF slavery. Bis arguments in nlrfber-
ance OF this policy had tcyIr mott Ve and
handspring In his Patriotic devotion 10 the
i .l Oh .-Is own race. To protect, de-
Iend and perpetuate slavery in the states
where IL existed, Abraham Lincoln was not
less ready than any other President 10 draw
the sword OF the nation. He was ready 70
execute All the supposed constitutional guar
antees OF the constitution IN favor OF the
save system anywhere inside the slave
sIaes. de was willing 10 pursue, recap
lure. aud send back the fugi tive slave 10 his
master, and 10 suppress a slave rising for
noerty, though mis- guilty master were
5IIready IN arms against the government
Inc race 10 which we belong were not the
special objects OF his consideration Kaoy-
ing thls, concece TO you, my white fellow
clIizens, q pre-eminence In this worship al
once full and supreme. First, midst and
last You and yours were the object OF his
deepest affection and has most earnest
solicituce. You are the children OF Abra-
ham Lincoln. We are at best only his
step-children, children by adoption, children
by force OF circumstances and necessity. To
you IL especially belongs 10 sound his praises,
TO preserve and perpetuate bis memory, 20
multiply his statutes, 20 hang his pictures
on your walls, and commend his example,
for 10 you he was great and glorious friend
and benefactor. Instead OF supplanting You
al this altar, We would exhort you TO build
high his monuments; LEI them be OF the most
costly material, OF the most cunning work
manship; let their forms be symmetrical.
beautiful and perfect; let their bases be upon
solid rocks, and their SUBMITS lean against
the unchanging blue overhanging SKY, aud
let them endure forever But while ID The
abundance OF your wealth and in the fuIuess
OF your just and patriotic devotion, you do
all this, we entreat you 10 despise not the
humble Offering we this day unvel % view:
for while Abraham Lincoln saved for you a
country, he delivered us from a boDdage, ac-
cordiDg 10 Jefferson, one hour OF which was
worse than ages OF the oppression your
fathers rose in rebellion tooppose.
fellow-cltlzens: Ours is no newborn zeal
and devotion-a thing OF the hour. The
name OF Abraham Lincoln was near and
dear hearts N 10