Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-31

This plan is recommended as a means, not
in exclusion of, but additional to, all others
for restoring and preserving the national
authority throughout the uhl2n. The sub
ject is presented exclusive in ito economical
aspect. The plan would, | am confident,
secure peace more speedily and maintain
it more permanently than can be done by
fierce alcnc, while all it would cost, consid-
ering amounts and manner of payment and
times of payment, would be easier paid
than will be the additional cost of the war
if we rely solely upon force. 1t is much
more likely that it would cost no blood at
all.
The plan is proposed as permanent consti-
~tuticnal law. II canno become such without
the concurrence of, first, two-thirds Cf con-
gress. and afterwards three-fourths of the
states. The requisite threc-fourthS OF the
states will necessarily include seven OF the
slave states. Their concurrence, If obtained,
will give assurance OF their severally adopt
ing emancipation at no very distant day
upon the new constitutional terms. This as
surance would end the struggle now and save
the union forever.
! do not forget the gravity which should
characterize a paper addressed to the con-
gress of the nation by the chief magistrate
of the nation, nor do | forget that some Of
you are my seniors, nor that many of you
have more experience than l in the conduct
of public affairs. Yet I trust that in view
of the great responsibility resting upon me
you will perceive no want CT respect to your
selves in any undue earnestness | may seem
to display.
Is it Practicable:
Is it doubted, then, that the plan | propose,
if adopted, would shorten the war, and thus
Lessen its expenditure of money and Of
blood? Is it doubted that it would restore
the national authority and national pres
perity and perpetuate both Indefinitely? Is
it doubted that we here-congress and eXecu-
tive-Can secure its adoption? VIII not the
coed people respond to a united and earnes.
appeal from us? Can we, can they, by any
other means so certainly or so speedily as
sure these vital objects? We can succeed
only by concert. 1t is not Can any of us
imagine BETTER" but "Can we all do bet
teri" Object whatsoever is possible, still
the question recurs, Can we do BETTER"
The dogmas Of the quiet past are inadequate
to the stormy present. The occasion is piled
high with difficulty, and we must rise with
the occasion. AS our case Is new, so we
must think anew and act anew. We must
disenthrall ourselves, and then we shall save
our country.
Fellow citizens, we can not escape history.
We of this congress and this administration
will be remembered in spite Of ourselves.
No personal significance or insignifcance can
spare one or another of us. The fiery trial
through which we pass will light us down
in honor or dishonor to the latest generation.
We say we are for the union. The world
will not forget that we say this. We know
how to save the union. The world knows
we do know how to save it. We, even We
here, hold the power and bear the RESPONSE
bility. In giving freedom to the slave we
assure freedom to the free-honorable alike
in what we give and what we preserve. We
shall nobly save or meanly lose the last
best hope of earth. other means may sue
coed; this could not fail. The way Is plain,
peaceful, generous, just-a way which If fol-
lowed the world will forever applaud and
God must forever bless.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.