The Savannah tribune. [volume] (Savannah [Ga.]) 1876-1960, 1888-01-07


ed. No man is more willing to
honor the means which God used in
our emancipation than but ] arm
not wiling to give any man more
honor than ! candidly believe he
deserves. Our people have learned
to think that Abraham Lincoln was
the greatest champion Of our cause.
But such is not true The thing
that was uppermost in the mind Of
Nj Lincoln was the salvation of the
Union So far as Mr.. Lincoln was
concerned the Emancipation l'rocla-
nation was purely war measurc--
for he would 'save the Union with
OF without freeing the slaves" From
this single statement, ii must be
cloarto YOU that our freedom was
not lirstin Mr.. Lincoln 5 mind, yet
i thank God for Mr.. Lincoln for his
election which had much~to do with
kindin2 the fire between the two
sections which resulted IN bloody
war whose crimson stream washed
away the black stain Of slavery. !
thank God for Charle- Sumncr.
whose persistent efforts, sweeping
influence. true patriotism and far
seeing sagacity almost compelled
Mr.. Lincoln to issue the Enancipa-
ton Proclamation which we celc-
brate to-day We have never had
a truer nor ADLER friend than Charles
Sumner. ] honor Mr.. Lincoln, but
! honor Charles Sumner more. !
thank God for that brave man and
soldier Jeff Davis | thank God for
his election Had the Southern
Confederacy placed a coward at its
head, we would not have been freed
as the results of that four wears OF
bloody war. If Jeff Davis had not
been brave, great man fighting
from what he conceived to be, a
principle of right and justice al
though he was wrongl he would
have accepted Lincoln's offer OF
surrender in ninety days. If he had
accepted, it is hard for me to see
from a human standpoint how OF
when we would have been freed
The odds were against Jeff Davis
lie confronted a greaterxarmy than
his, far more skilled in the science OF
war and far more skilled in ho
manufacture of arms and with all
the power the shattered government
had. 1t Its back. This would have
been sufficient induccment for
perhaps any body but Jeff Davis tc
have accepted Mr., hincohi $ (inglo-
rious otier). call itinglorious from
my stand point, for had Jeff Davis
accepted it j do not see how | could
have been freed. The. truth of il is
that God-wae using both Abraham
Lincoln and Jeff Davis to. bring t.
light this child of freedom the birth
Of which we celebrate TO-DAY. Our
past is shrouded in shame. degrade
Ip6n, ignominN. ignorance, outrage>
On our virtue and ineNplicable sur
termg, The Emancipation ProcIa-
nation has only served to check
SONG of this treatment In many
instances the suffering has only heca,
changed in form. Emancipation
anlN gave Us the KEY to greatness
but,did not make Us great 1t did
not unlock the great house of honor
fame, wealth, culture, elevation
moral stamina; civil rights, socia
equality nor responsibility. This we
must do for ourselves The mother
may give birth to the child, but can
not give it growth and strength
The Federal army nor the Grand
Old Party can give us these things
They are not given They must bl
dearly bought by diigent applica
ton to business, economy, truthful
ness, soberneSs, honesty and virtue
For the kingdom of prosperity, in
fucnce elevation, culture and wealth
'sufercth violence and the violent
takeit by force" Let us go up a,
a united army and take the city
God has wilIcd il and II shall be
ours. ..~ s.,. So. ......:
rHE PRESENT.
y people cannot he collcctivel>