Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1878-02-15
cAape.IEws PICTURE.

H...|
Mr.. 0araefa's and MIR. Stephen'A Speeches
ON the Occasion.
Washington, Feb. l1.-Soon after the
committee rosa and the senate and house
went into convention and received Carpen.
penter's painting.
Mr.. Garfield made the presentation
speech. He said: This tablet conuemo
rates the third greatest act In the history Of
America-the fulfillment Of the promise Of
the declaration. We were perhaps still TOO
near the great events Of which this act
formed q part to understand fully its deep
aigniticance and consequence, but It's i'm.
poitance is partially, at least, realized BY al
present, as indicated by the vote of accept.
ance Of the picture. He paid . glowing
tribute to the patriotism, statesmanlike quail.
tiles and reputation of the cabinet, Seward,
Chase and Stanton being eulogized particu
larry, and passed on with fttisg words Of
praise to the great, heroic character of the
martyred Lincoln. He said: To-day but
one witness of the signing of the procla-
nation survives. Let the nation accept the
picture with the love and faith with which
tne artist and donor present it to the nation.
The presentation ceremonies were closed
With an eloquent speech by MI. Stephens.
He sad every fountain of Lincoln's heart
overlooked with the milk of human kind.
ness, and so much deeper was the pane of
bis ~(StephensO heart at the terrible manner
Of his death. From that event came un.
numbered woes. As regards the event
which this picture recalls we may o
Judge correctly. If emancipation was Z
boon to the colored race, aud providence
has yet to determine that, it depends much
on themselves. If 1t is, I, representing the
southern states here, may claim in their be.
half that freedom was never finally consum.
mated until the southern states sanctioned
the thirteenth amendment. which they did,
every n of them, and by their own con.
s~tltuencies. l car say for myself and for
those OF my Immediate circle of acuuaint.
ance, and for the whole southern people,
that there is not one who would now change
the condition of things and resubjugate the
colored maR or put him in the condition
he was 10 before. If there is one in al the
south who would desire such a charge,
am not aware of it. Men of the north, oil
the south, OF the east and of the west,
would to-day, On this commemorating &C
casion say, let US one and all, within oul
sphere OF duty, whether in public or il
private life. see to itsthat We do not vic
late that divine trust committed to us
Down south We are doing the best We car
for the colored prople, hoping earnestly
that they will fit themselves for q highe,
civilization. The flag no longer floats over
provinces: but over states; no longer ovel
subjects, but oyer citizens. white and black
Why can wenot look hopefully to the flu
ture and let harmony and peace prevail?
Let sectional strife be done away with, AMI
then there is a higher and q grander futur'
for US; but if the embers of the last mos
lamentable war are left little additional fue
comes to flame them up again. If a con
fict Of classes, a conflict of labor and cap
ital, a conflict of race-that profoun,
chronological question which We have all 20
to settle, and the most difficult one eve
committed 10 the consideration of statesmen
or philanthropists- shall break OUT, an,
these dangerous elements be again aroused
l greatly fesr that the recen, troubles ant
disasters through which we have Just pass
ed will prove to be but a shadow, the pen
umbra of a deeper and more dreadful eclips
which will come upon this continent, bligh,
ing and blasting the brightest and bes
hopes Of mankind. Should that be SO
then some future bard NAV sing,
THE star OF hope shone brightest in the west
The star OF liberty, the last, the best
1t, too. has set upon her darkened shore,
And life, hope and freedom light up earth II
more"