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

TWO CENTS.
whose investment you and your associates
OF the "Western Sanitary Commission"
have been charged tender % you sir and
tnr ugh you 10 the commission our sincere
lbs ks for The prompt and wise performance
OF the trust and duty committed TO your
care. The finished and appropriate work OF
art presented by you we accept and dedicate
through the ages in memory and honor Of
him who is TO be forever known in the rec
ords OF the worlds history as the emancipa-
tor of the enslaved OF our country. We I'M
veil IL TO the gaze, TO the admiration OF man.
kind.
Prof Lsngston then drawing the coris,
the fags dropped from the statue amid the
cheers Of the sssemblage, the band playing
"Hail TO the Chief"
The Monument.
The monument, on a granite pedestal ten
feet in hCight, Is Of bronze. and colossal in
size, the statue OF Liucoln being twelve feet
in height. The martyr President is repre-
rented as standing beside a monolith. on
which is the lace Of Washington In has relief,
and he holds in his left hand the prOclama-
ton. while his right hand is stretched over
the figure OF a slave. TO whom his ewes are
directed. This latter figure is especially fine
The slave Is almost PROSTATE, but apparently
just about 10 rise, the chaih which connected
the shackles on his limbs having been sun
dered. and his face is lightened up with an
expression Wfllcn lnOlCateS wonder anu 10Y.
The physical development OF the slave, his
muscles clearly defined, give evidence OF
hard labor. On the base OF the monument is
the word Emancipation" which would
seem entirely surperfuous in view OF the story
neing so vividly portrayed by the design.
The statue was designed and executed by
Thomas Ball. an American sculptor. residing
at Florence, Italy. The original cost OF the
monument was Si1 GOO, and this sum, with
expense of transportation, &c, have been
paid by the colored people, the first money for
* afrfh a0N
Scott, a colored washerwoman, OF Marietta
Ohio, on the morning following the a ssaSSi-
nation OF Mr.. Lincoln, April Il, 1881 and
this contribution was followed by other SUBJ
scrptions, especially by the colored troops.
The Poem.
Mr.. w. K. Matthews was introduced. aud
read the following poem, being interrupted
several times by applause:
Lincoln.
BY MISS II. CoRDELIA RAY, OF NEW YORK
Read by W'Rlidn X. Md,tte,Us, Esq.
To-day, o, martyred Chief, beneath the sun,
We would unveil thy form; 10 thee who won
The applause OF nations for thy soul sincere,
A loving tribute we would offer here
Twas tnine-not worlds TO conquer, but
mems hearts,
To change to balm the sting OF slsvery's
In lowly charity thy JOY TO find,
And open ''gates of mercy on mankind"
And SO they come-the freed-with grateful
From whose sad path the shadows thou
didst lift.
Eleven years have rolled their seasons round
found.
Yet through the vistas OF the vanished DAVIS
We see thee still responsive 10 our gaze
AS ever 10 thy cOuntry's solemn needs,
Not regal cOronets, but princely deeds
Were Thy chaste diadem;-of truer worth
my modest virtues than the gems OF earth.
Staunch, honest, fervent I'm the pureSt cause,
Truth was Thy guide, her mandates were thy
laws.
Fare herOism, spirit. purity,
The stored Spartan's stern simplicity
Such moral strength as CLEAN like FURNISHED
Amid the doubts OF men OF weaker mould
were thine. Called in the country's sorest
When brother knew not brother, mad for
To guide the helm through bloody deeps Of
war,
While distan nations gazed in anxious awe.
Unfiinchingly in the task, thou didst fuldIi
Thy mighty mission with deathless will.
Born TO a destiny the most sublime
Thou vert. o, Lincoln! in the midst OF Time,
God babe the pause-and babe the oppressed
go free
Most glorious boon, giv'n TO Humanity
While slavery ruled the land, what deeds
were donei
What tragedies enacted meath the sun!
Her page is blurred with records OF defeat
or lives heroic lived in silence-meet
For the worlds praise; OF woe, despair aud
tears,
The speechiess agony Of weary years.
Thou utteredst the word! and Freedom fair
Rang her sweet bells on the calm winter air
She waved her magic wand, aud loi from far
A long procession came! With many a scar
Their brows were wrinkled:-in the bitter
strife,
Full many had said their sad farewell to life.
but on they hastend-free-their schackles
The agtd-young-e'en infancy was borne
To offer unto thee loud pedIlS of praise
Their happy tribute after saddest days.
A race set free! the deed brought Joy AMI
1t babe calm justice from her sacred hight
when falth and hope and courage slowly
waned,
Unfurl the stars and stripes at last uustained,
The nations rolled acclaim, from sea TO sea
AND heavens vault rang with Freedoms
harmony.
The angels mid the amaranths must have
hushd
Their chanted cadences as upward rush-d
The hymn sublime; and as the echoes pealed
God's ceaseless benson the action sealed.
As now we dedicate this group TO thee.
True champion in all humility,
And solemn earDestness we would erect
A monument invtncible, unlocked
Save by our allied purpose TO be true
To Freedoms Hottest precepts, SO that
through
The fiercest contests we may walk secure,
Fixed on foundations that may still endure
When granite shall have crumbled to decay,
And generations passed from earth away.
Exalted Patriot Illustrious Chief!
Thy LIES immortal work compels belief
To-day in radiance thy virtues shine,
And how can we fitting garland twineg
Thy crown most glorious, is rdaSOmed race
Hlgh on our country's scroll we fOndly trace
In lines of fadeless light-thet softlybiend
Emancipation-Hero- Martyr-Friend!
While Freedom may her holy sceptre claim
The world shall echo with "Our Lincoln's
name"
Grafton OF Frederick Douglass
Hon. Frederick Douglass was introduced,
and delivered the following Grafton:
Friends o,ad FeLiOlV CIisenr-l warmly con-
graduate you upon the highly Interesting
object which has caused You 10 assemble in
such numbers and spirit as you have 10 day
This occasion is in somesrespects remarkable.
wise and thoughtful men of our race who
snail come after us. and study the Lesson of
our history In the United States; who shall
survey fhe long and dreary space over
which we have travelled, who shall count the
INKS In the great chain OF events by which
We have reached our present position, will
make note Of this occasion-they will
mink OF II, and with q sense OF manly pride