The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-07-16
LIHCOLN'S SPEECH.
The Short Address That He Made ut
Gettysburg In 1863.

The following is taken from the New
York Herald OF July 4th:
Few of the present generation know
that Edward Everett. and not Abraham
Lincoln, was the selected orator Of the
day at the dedication OF the National
Cemetery on the battlefield Of Gettys-
burg in November. 1868.
The Massachusetts, scholar was then
famed as one Of the foremost representa-
tives OF American oratOry He then de-
voted himself TO the preparation OF the
Gettysburg grafton with the ambition Of
making II the effort OF his life. II was
delivered with that courtly grace for
which the orator was distinguished and
published in bulky tome. Few have ever
read II; II is never quoted, and not
passage in IT is familiar 10 the public.
When asked 10 speak at Gettysburg as
the Chief Magistrate Of the nation, Mr.
Lincoln was overwhelmed with the du-
ties Of his high Office and the RESPONSE
biities OF the war. He could give little
time or thought TO the matter before he
left Washington for the scene Of the com
memoration. 1t has been a matter Of
dispute whether ne jotted down on the
journey or after his arrival at Gettys-
burg what he intended ts say.
He spoke but few minutes. and utter
ed less than three hundred words. What
he said produced little or no impression
at the time. and when he sat down many
felt that he had made a failure.
Ii was soon discovered that his short
speech was an inspiration. classic which
has since been, as il ever Will be, priced
as one Of the brightest gems 0: human elO-
quence. or 1t Mr.. Lincolns words did
not prove prophetic-"the world will little
VI
here"
Below is a verbatum copy Of his
speech:
-Four score and seven years ago our
fathers brought fol n on this Continent
a new nation. conceived in liberty and
dedicated TO the proposition that all men
are created equal.
Now we are engaged in a great civil
war, testing whether that nation, or any
nation SO conceived and so dedicated
can long endure. We are met on great
battlefield Of that war. We have come
TO dedicate a portion Of that field, as a
final resting place FOR those who here
gave their lives that that nation might
live. 1t is altogether fitting and proper
that we should do this.
But, in a larger sense, we cannot
dedicate. we cannot cOnsecrate, we can
not hallow this ground. The brave men,
| living and dead, who struggled here, have
! cOnsecrated il. far above our poor powers
70 add or detract. The world will little
note, nor long remember what we say
| here. but II can never forget what they
did here II Is for US, the living, rather
| to be dedicated here TO the unfinished
work which they who fought here have
/ thus far SO nobly advanced. 1t Is rather
/ for us TO be here dedicated TO the great
/ task remaining before US; that from
/ these honored dead we take increased
/ devotion to that cause for which they
gave the last full measure OF devotion:
that We here highly resolve that these
dead shall not have died In vain; that
this nation. under God. shall have a
new birth OF freedom, and that govern
ment of the people by the people, for
the people, shall not perish from the
earth"