The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1878-06-12
SPEECH OF HON. FRED
ERICK DOUGLASS,
AT NEW YORK,
ON DECORATION DAY.

FRIENDS AND FELLOW CITIZENS
In this place, nsllowed and mad,
glorious by statute of the best man
truest patriot, and wisest statesman
of sis time and country, | have beer
invited-I might say ordered-by
Lincoln Post of the Grand Army o
the Republic, to say a few words tt
you in celebration of this annua
national memorial day. Deeply sen
sible of tie honor thus conferred, ant
properly impressed with the dignity
of this occasion, | accept the invita-
lion cheerfully and gratefully ; bu'
not so much as an honor to myself
as a generous recognition of that
class of our fellow-citizens to which
belong class hitherto excluded by
popular prejudice from prominent
participation in the memorial glories
of our common country. Lincoln
Post-most wortbily named-will
pardon me if | stop right here to
commend it for this innovation upon
an old custom for its moral courage
and soldierly independence. Abb
raham Lincoln was the first Presi-
dent CT the United States brave
enough to invite colored gentleman
to sit at table with him, and the post
that bears his honored name is the
first in this great City to invite any
coiored man to deliver an address
on Lational memorial day.
But the duty you have imposed
upon me is far more honorable in the
distinction it confers upon me and my
race, than easy of happy and sue
cessful performance. All that can be
pertinently said on this occasion, has
been said a thousand times before, and
thousand times better said, than
anything | can now hope TO say. Be.
sides, and above all, the noble quail,
ties and achievements to which we
are here to do honor are of an order
which transcends the narrow CON-
pass of speech. The eloquence Of
the most gifted orator of our country
would fail to illy and fully illustrate
the heroic deeds and virtues of the
brave men who volunteered, fought,
and fell in the cause Of the Union ard
freedom. For greater love hath no
man that this, that man lay down bis
life for his friends" The topmost
height of this greatness was touched
by those who, in our national ex-
tremity, nobly died. that our Re
public might live We need some
thing broader, mere striking and
impressive than speech, to express
the thoughts and feelings proper to
these memorial occasions. We need
banners, badges, and battle flags;
drums, flies aud bugles signs, sounds,
and symbols; the clang of church
going bells; the demonstrating
thunder of cannon the steady and
solemn tramp of armed men the
pomp and circumstance of glorious
war; the shouts of a great nation
rejoicing in its salvation, to express
a proper sense of the worth of men
TO whose patriotic devotion and
nob'e self-sacri6ce the integrity of
the nation and the existence of free
institutions on this great continent
are due.
scENEs THE DAY RECALLS.
For such high discourse, pageant
ry is better than oratory. 1t can be
heard and scene by all. II speaks
alike to the understanding and the
heart. II carries US dreamily back
to that dark and terrible hour of
peril, when the heart and
the hope of great people were smit-
ten, stunned, and almost crushed by
the stern pressure of determined
and widespread rebellion when the
enemies of free government all over
the world watched, waited, desired,
and expected the downfall of the
grandest Republic in the world. 1t
tells US of time of trial and danger,
" hen the boldest held their breath
and the hearts of strong men failed
them through fear; when the very
earth seemed to crumble beneath
cur feet; when the sky above US
was dark, and sinister whispers filed
The air when one star after another
in rapid succession shot madly from
The blue ground OF our national flag,
aud this grand experiment of self
not yet 100 years old,
torn and rent by angry passions, had
fallen asunder st the centre, and our
once united country was converted
into two hostile camps. 1t is well
once year to contemplate that dis
nal panorama. But not alone to the
gloom and disaster of rebellion and
treason does this grand display re-
call US. 1t is the province OF ram
pant evil to cs.l out the latent good,
and this day reminds Us of the good
as well as the evil 1t reminds us Of
patriotic fervor, of quenchless srdor,
Of heroic courage. of generous self
sacrifice, Of patience. skill, and forti-
tude, Of clearness Of vision to discern
tigbt, and invincible determination to
sustain it at every cost. 1t brings to
mind the time wbea each day of the
week saw thousands of brave men
ia he full fresh bloom of youth aud
manly vigor. the very flower and
hope of the heartbs aud homes of the
Ioyal and peaceful North, deliberate
ily sundering the ties that bound