Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-04-18
UOVTHETT TO LINCOLN.

The unyailing Of the Lincoln statue at Lincoln
square, in the eastern portion of Washington city,
took place on the 1lth. The coloied population
were ont in large numbers. The procession was
LARGE. including colorei troops, Knights Tempiars,
Kniohis of St. Augustine, the Sons Of Purity, Sons
ofIevi. Good Samartans, the Labor League and
other uniformed benevolent associations, accom-
nsried by music. Previous to their arrival there
was an immense a.sem5iage at the Park.
| The statue. covered with flags, was the great
ohicc. Of interest. The first contribution to the
statue fand was made on the morning after the
assassination of President Lincoln, by Charlotte
scott. a colorcd woman of Marietta, Oho who
gave 81 The original cost of the monument
| (Sl7 ,000) AMI other Incidental expenses have all
been paid by subscriptions by the colored people.
The last Congress appropriated $1,000 for the pc
destal, and the statne was allowed to pass the
Custom House free of duty. The statue, which
i. of bronze is of colossal size, being II feet high
resting upon pedestal l6 feet high. 1t repre-
sents Mr.. Lincoln standing erect, with the Proc
lamation of Emancipation in his lett hand, While
the right hand is outstretched over the KneeiinS
figure of Slave from whose limbs the shackles
have lust been freed. Upon the base OF the mon
ument is the word emancipation
On the speakers stand there were the President,
members OF the Cabinet, Justices Of The Supreme
Court, Foreign Ministers, Senators and Represen-
ia ives and other persons OF prominence Alter
music by the Marine Band-"llail Columbia
PRAYER, and the reading of the Emancipation
Proc amation, Prof. Iangs.on formally accepted
the statne in behalf of the entire nation, and then
called upon President Grant TO unvaii ii. a pro-
longed applause greeted the words oil the speaker,
ard increased when the President stepped to the
front, srasped the rope that was attached to the
flag ysiling the statue, gave one firm pull and the
banner gded down amid the deaiening cheers OF
the multitude, the playing of music, ami the BOOM
ing of cannon. A poem was read, composed by
Miss Cornelia Ray, colored, of New York.
Frederick Douglass was then introduced amid
applause and delivered the Grafton, in the course
OF which he said
'Iincoln's great mission was to accomplish two
things-frst to save his country from diSnenber
mept and second, to free his country from the
great crime of slavery. To do one or the other.
or both, he must have the earnest sympathy and
the powerful cooperation of his loyal fellow -coun-
trynen. Without this his efforts must have been
vain and utterly fruitless. Had he put the aboi-
ton Of slavery before the salvation of the Union,
| he would have inevitably driven from him pow
eiful class of the American people and rendered
re, i.tance to rebellion impossible. Viewed from the
genuine abolition ground, Mr.. Lincoln seemed to-
dav cold dull and ind fferent but measuring him by
the sentiment of his countrv-a sentiment he was
bound as a statesman TO consult-be was swift,
jealous, radical and determined. Though Mr..
Lincoln shared the pre- JUDGES OF his white fellow
countrymen against the negro, it Is hardly neccs-
sary to say that IN his heart of hearts he oathed
| and hated slavery. lie was willing, while the
South was loyal, that it should have its pound of
flesh, because he thought it was so nominated in
the bond; but further than this no earthly power
could make him go.