The Washington critic., 1888-07-05
WASHINGTON, JULY 5, 1855.
LINCoLN, 1soa-GoRDoN, 1883.

LINCOLN, 1853 GORDON, 1888.
The address of Abraham Lincoln at
The dedication of the Gettysburg Gem
etery, November 10, 1868, and the adj
dress Of Governor Gordon of Georgia,
spoken upon the same field July
2, 1883, will pass into history as two
Of the memorable speeches of the
quarter of q century which began with
the one and ended with the other.
Although the one was uttered by
the Commander-in-C Chief Of the armies
Of the Union while the conflict was
still in progress and the other by a
Confederate officer of high distinc-
tion long years afterward, when
peace was demonstrating her greater
victories than those of war, there are
many points of simiitude between
1.-The two. -
'ct-@4,---..s,.s l~,vvi' dehvercd from
notes hastily made upon a railroad
train but few hours prior to their
ntteranee. The sentiments they ex.
press are alike in magnanimity and
forecasts of the future. Even in
phraseology they are not wholly dis
similar. Though Lincoln's grand
apostrophe was to the Federal dead,
as not having died in vain, and Cor
don's to the American blood that,
spilled upon the "battle-hallowed
hills" constitutes a fresh pledge of
fidelity to ''the life, freedom and
unity Of this cherished Republic"
they both bespeak a patriotism that
we may rest assured will abide with
us henceforth and forever. Mr.. Lin
Celn's speech was as follows:
-Four score and seven years ago our fathers
brought forth upon this continent new ma
tion, conceived in liberty and dedicated to
tho proposition that all men are created
equal. Now we are engaged In great civil
war, testing whether that nation, or any
other nation so conceived and so dedicated
can long endure. We are met on great bat
tle-feld Of that war; we are met 10 dedicate
portion Of as the final resting-place OF those
who here gave their lives that that nation
might live. II Is altogether fitting and proper
that we should do this. But In a larger sense
we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate
we cannot hallow this ground. The brave
men, living and dead, who struggled here
have conseerated 1t far above our power to
add or to detraot. The world will little note
nor long remember what we may say here,
but II can never forget what they did here.
il is for us, the living, rather to be dedicated
here TO the unfinished work that they have
thus far so nobly carried on. It is rather for
us here to be dedicated 20 the great task re-
ntsats
dead we take increased devotion TO that
cause for which they here gave the last full
measure Of devotion; that we here highly re.
solve that these dead shall not have died in
vain. That the nation shall, under God.
have new birth OF Freedom; and that gov
ernments of the people, by the people, and
for the people, shall not perish from the
earth.
The remarks of General Gordon on
Monday last, who at the time when
Lincoln spoke was still foremost
leader in the Confederate cause-a
commanding figure in its military an
na1s-show clearly enough that he has
reached A full realization of the "new
birth of freedom" to which the
President prophetically alluded, and
that both of them-both Of the sec
tions they. repfesent--now occupy COM
mon ground, surround the same camp
fire, and drinking from the same
fountain of heroic remembrance, look
forward to the same perpetuity of
brotherly peace. We quote as fol-
lows: l.
There is one suggestion which dominates
my thoughts at this hour to present which
ash brief Indulgence. OF all the martial vlr-
tues the one which is, perhaps, more charac
teristic Of the truly brave Is the virtue OF
magnanimitv.
Ny fairest earldom would give
To bid Clan Alpine's chieftain live
was the noble sentiment attributed 10 Scot
lands magnanimous monarch as he stood
gazing into the face Of his slain antagonist.
That sentiment, immortalzed by Scott in his
musical and martial verse will associate for
all time TO come the name OF Scotland's king
with those OF the great spirits Of the past.
How grand the exhibitions of the same gem
erous impulses that characterize the vlctors
upon this memorable field.
Ny fellow-countymen of the North, II |
may be permitted 10 speak for those whom !
represent, let me assure you that In the
pr6foundest depths OF their nature they re.
ciprocate that generosity with all the manli
ness and sincerity of which brave men are
capable. In token Of that sincerity
they Join in consecrating for annual
patriotic pilgrimage these historic
heights, which drank such copious draughts
OfAnerican blood, poured so freely in dis
charge Of duty, as each conceived tia Mecca
Tor the North, which so grandly defended IL
Mecca for the South, which so brayey and
persistently stt rmed il We Join you IN set
ting apart this spot as an enduring monu'
ment Of peace brotherhood and perpetual
union.
repeat the thought with additional EN-,
phasls, with singleness of heart and of pur
pose, In the name of common country and
Of universal human liberty, and by the blood
of our fallen brothers, we unite In the solemn
conservation of these battlehallowed hills
az a holy eternal pledge of fidelity 20 the life
freedom and unity Of this cherished Republic
WHY DON'T THEY let up on Blaine
-~yAld the Chicago Conyention2 lie
WASH I nominated,