National Republican., 1885-04-18

On the occasion Of tho twonty second
anniversary Of tho abolition of slavery in
the District Of Columbia, the celebration
was we'll aud appropriately concluded last
Thursday evening by an able and elo-
qu mt oration delivered at Lincoln Memo
rial Church by the Hon. Frederick Doug
lass His story of the abolition of slavery.
All event which he correctly characterized
as one of the most important aud signih-
cant events in our national history. shows
tho wonderful changes for the better that
have taken place in the condition Of tho
colored people and of the country gem
orally. The oration is worthy of tho
space which we devote to verbatim ro-
port a. follows:
FRiESDs AND FELLow.CiTizESs: Your com.
mittee of arrangements were pleased to select
me rs your orator OF the day, on an occasion
similar to this, two years ago. Al that time,
while appreciating the honor conferred upon
me, | ventured to express the wish that some
ono Of the many competent COlored young
men Of this city mud District had been chosen
to discharge this honorable duty in my stead.
There were excellent reasons for that wish
then, and there are even much better reasons
for the same wish now. Time and cultivation
have largely added to the number Of those
from whom suitable selection might have
been made, and one of these silent, yC,
powerful, agents whose mission II is tu create
much less desire for such distinguished ser.
vice now than two years ago. Happily, how.
ever, the burden is not heavy or grievoua, and
the proper story of this occasion Ia simple,
familiar, and easily told. In observing the
anniversary OF the abolition OF slavery In the
District Of Columbia wo attract the attention
ofthe American people TO one OF the most i'm,
portant and significant events in their national
history, and at the same time evince CRATE.
ful and proper sense Of the wonderful changes
for the better that have, taken place in our
pf n q -
Though in its immediate and legal operation
this act of emancipation was local in It's range
as to territory and limited in is application
MS TO the number Of persons liberated by 1t,
morally II looms upon us ns grand, compre-
hensvG, and iar.reaching measure,
TO appreciate its Importance we must not
consider II Ms single Independent act stand.
ing alone, nor as one pertaining to this District
only, nor TO the colOred people only. We
must regard II as part Of series Of splendid
public measures, as one OF so many steps In
tho national progress looking to one benciicent
and glorious result large contribution to the
honor and welfare OF the whole country. 1t
was the auspiCious beginning of great move.
ment in the councils of tho nation, made
necessary BY the war, and one which finally
cuiminated IN the complete and permanent
abolition OF slavery, not only In the District of
Columbia, but In every part OF the republic.
Thus viewed 1t was the one act which broke
the gloomy spell that bound the nation in the
bonds OF servile, unnatural reverence md awe
for slavery, II withdrew the sympathy of
European nations from the rebellion; II
brought the moral support OF the civilized
world TO the loyal cause; II erased the iOulcst
blot that ever stained our national osCutcheon;
1t gave to the war for the Union IL logical hu.
name, and consistent purpose 1t solved
problem which was the standing grief of good
mon. and the perpexity of statesmen TOR ages;
II gave courage and hope to our armies in the
feld 1t weakened the rebellion; 1t raised the
whole nation to higher and happier plane of
civilization, and placed the American people
where they never were before, in n position
where they could consistently and effectively
preach liberty to all the nations of the world.
The 10th of April, the anniversary of this
great act OF the nation strangely and crrone-
ously enough, hos been considered simply as
the colorcd mans day only. The business of
consecrnting and preserving its memory has
been, by common consent relegatcd to him
exclusively. But, in this, our felow-citzens
themselves. Colored men have very little
more reason TO hallow this day than have
white men. If 1t brought freedom TO us, it
brought peace and safety TO them and hence
celebrations, and regard the day nS theirs us well
asours. No truth taught by our national history
Is more evident than this, that while slavery
dominated the southern half Of the republic
aud free institutions prevailed in the north.
Crn half, peace and harmony between tho two
sections were utterly anu forever impossible.
tempt of our government TO do this was q
stupendous failure. The union between
liberty and slavery was marriage without
unequally .yoked together, held together by
external force, not by moral cohesion; Il
brought happiness TO neither, and MISERY to
both.
Like any other embodiment of social and
material interest peculiar to given commu.
nifty, slavery generated its own sentiments, its
own morals, manners, and religion; and begot
character In all around 1t in favor of its own
existence.
ln nearly everything indigenous and pccu.
linr to society in the two Sections they were
hs separate and distinct as are any two nations
on the globe. The longer they were thus
linked together In the bOndsof outward union,
the more palpable became their points of diff.
ference, and the moro passionate became their
hostility TO each other. Liberty became more
aud more the glory of the NORTH and slavery
more and more the Idol of the south Not
even the bonds of Christian fellowship were
strong enough to hold together the churches OF
the two sections.
In view of this settled and growing antago.
nism, only one OF three courses was open to
the nation The trst was 10 make the country
all slaves the second was to make II all free
and the third was to divide the Union and lei
each section set up a government OF it's own
the one based upon the system of slavery, aud
the other based upon the principles Of the
Declaration of American Independence.
Thanks to the wisdom, loyalty. patriotism
courage, aud statesnanship developed by the
crisis, the nation rejected equally the Idea o
two separate nations with hostile ciyiliza
tions, side by side, with u chatting, bloody
border between them, but chose TO give us one
country, one citizenship, aud one liberty fo
evening, There was never any physica
reason for the dissolution of the Union The
geographical and typographical conditions o
the country all served TO unite rather than I,
divide the two sections, II was moral no
physical dynamite that blew the Two sections
asunder,
We are told by the poet that
LANDS intersected by narrow firth abho
each other;
Mountains nterpused make onemie OF nations
Which else, like kindred drops, had mingled
into one
But in this case there were neither firth
nor mountains TO separate the south from III,
north or to make our southern brethren hat,
the people Of the north. The moral cause o
trouble in the system OF slavery being nov re
moved peace and harmony are possible, and
doubt not these blessings, though long de
layCd, Will finally come. Ia calling attention L
the event which makes this day precious W.
honor ourselves, and honor the noble auC
brave men who brought 1t about, We rende
our humble tribute of gratitude to-day, no
only TO those whose yalOr and whose blood OF
she battle field brought freedom TO the Alneri
CHn slave not only to the grcnt generals who
led our armies but TO our great statesmen NJ
well who framed our laws; and not 10 lhesI
only, but also 10 the noble army Of men RnC
women which preceded both hlatcsmen ant
warriors In the cause OF emancipation, auC
made these warriors and statesmen possible
Neither would our gratitude forget those who
supplemented the great act OF emancipation
by carrying the blessings Of education to tn,
benghted south, thus preparing the Liberated
freedman for the duties of citizenship.
] need not stop here to call tile roll Of any o
these clusscs. The nation knows the debt 1
owes them, and will never forget them. VI
have but to mention the hOnored name o
Abraham Lincoln In the presidential chair, -
Ulysses :. Grant in the held, at whose bedsid,
grateful nation now stands mute IN Sympath!
aud sud expectation; Of William Lloyd Tar
Tison In the columns of the LiberdiOr, of Wen
dell Phillips on the rostrum, of Charles sum
ner In the Senate, TO cause a host Of noble mCI
and women TO start up and pass in review be
fore us,
But drop this brief reference TO the hisIor!
and personnel OF the anti'SlaYUry movement
and will speak of matters nearer our times an(
equally pertinent to this occasion. Those VIII,
aLnlislel hluyeTv did their work and did