The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1878-02-21
TTME'S CHANGES.
Alexander H. Stephens EuIogium Upon
Abraham Lincoln.

Abraham Lincoln.
Upon the occasion Of the presentation
to Congress of Carpenters picture Of
Lincoln signing the emancipation proc
lamation, A. Fl. Stephens, ex-Vice Pres
1dent of the Confederacy, delivered an
address, from which we make the fol
lowing extract:
Every fountain of his Iincoln's) heart was
ovelfowing with the milk of human kindness.
So much deeper, from my attachment to him,
was the pang in my own breast as well as in
those of millions at the manner of his taking
off. That was the climax of our woe, of our
| trouble, and the spring from which came after
ward uunuRbered woes AS to the great his
t0rical event which this picture commentaries,
and which we are here to commemorate, this
is q subject, perhaps, as remarked my friend
from Ohio (Garfield), which the people of this
day and generation are not exactly in q condi-
ton to weigh rightly and judge correctly. One
thing has been remarked, emancipation was
the chief object of Mr. Lincoln What was the
chief object? The idol with which his whole
soul was concerned was the preservation Of the
Union. Ii the emancipation of the colored
race be q boon to that race, and Providence
has yet to determine that, it depends much on
themselves. 1t it is, I, representing the South
ern States here, may claim III their behalf that
freedom was never finally cOnsummated until
the Southern States sanctioned the Thirteenth
amendment, which they did every one of them,
and by their own constituencies.
| can say for myself, and for those Of my
Immediate circle of acquaintance, and for the
whole Southern people, that there is not one
who would change the condition of things. re-
subjugaCe the coored man, or put him III the
condition he was in before. If there il one in
all the South who would desire such change,
| am not aware of it.
Men of the North and of the South, Of the
East and OF the West, I would to-day on this
COMMUNICATING occasion, say: "Let us one
and all within the sphere Of our duty, whether
in public or in private life, see to it that we
do not violate that divine trust committed to
us" Down South we are doing the best we
can for the colored people, hoping earnestly
that they will fit themselves for higher civil
izatior. The flag no longer floats over prov
lnces, but States no longer over subjects, but
over citizens white and black. Why can we
not look hopefully to the future? Let har-
mony and peace prevail let sectional strife
be done away with, and then there is a higher
and grander future for us. But if the embers
OF the late most lamentable war are left, and
Little additional fuel comes TO fame them up
again If the conflict Of classes, the conflict of
labor and capital, the conflict Of race, that
profound chronological question which we have
all got to settle, and the most difficult one
ever committed to the consideration of states
men and philanthropists, shall ever break out,
and these dangerous elements be again
aroused. I greatly fear that the recent troubles
and disasters through which we have just
passed will prove to be but the shadow, the
penumbra of deeper and more dreadful
eclipse which will come upon this continent,
blighting and blasting the best hopes of man
kind. Should that be SO, then some future
bard may sing:
The star of hope shope brightest in the West
The star Of liberty, the last, the best
1t, too, has cot upon her darkened shore,
AnG lie, hope, freedom light up earth no more.