Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1907-06-08
Saturday
Night Talks
LEI BY PEOPLE co.


The Passover was the EmanciDa-
ton Proclamation Of the Israelites.
written In blood Il was the crown-
ing act in the long series OF events
which eliminated in the deIiyerance
Of a race Of slaves, 400 years before
their ancestors had come into Egypt
a little handful Of immigrants and
20 rapid had been their nIuIsipIica-
ton that there were 1000 600 people
who marched out Of Egypt on that
memorable night
The story IS familiar TO all. The
book OF Exodus records the tragic
events that led up to the breaking
OF the shackIes. Slavery, although
II Is an ancient institution has always
been curge, both 10 the
STAKEHOLDER and the slaves. And the
world has come at last 10 realize
that Il is an unnatural condition.
There was a time when men objected
TO the ten plaques OF Egypt as be-
ing unduly severe, but since this
nation has passed through a like ex
perience that objection Is no longer
offered. The emancipation Of the
bondman in this country was net
effected until America had been
smitten with ten plaques as gre
vious as any that swept over Egypt
Plague OF discordant public
opinion, plague OF newspaper con-
troyersy, plague Of sermonic iargOn.
plague OF opposing platform orator 3.
plague of legislative enactment,
plague Of tears and dungeon shrieks,
plague of auction block and slave
drivers whip. plague Of sister states
glowering at each other, plague Of
Missouri Compromise. bleeding
Kansas" and Mason and Dixon's line.
plague of "aboIitionist" and copper
head" epithets, plague Of the hang
ing in efiigy and threats OF roll call
OF slaves at the foot of-BunkeT Eill
monument. plague OF secession, and
the rending agunder Of mutual In
terests. plague Of traitors and spies
and thieves, plague Of draft riots in
Northern cities, and depopulated
towns in the South, plague OF boom
ing cannon, and marching men, and
blood drenched battle-felds, and 4
million-voiced shrek Of angnish
North, South, East and West, plague
Of sword stroke and bayonet thrust
and sabre slash, and brother clutch
ing at the throat Of brother, one,
two, three, four years Of plague,
black, deyiiish, horrible, then,
md not till then came eman-
ciDation and freedom.
Emancipation II always connected
with some great name. The poet
sings who would be free. themselves
must strike the blow" but history
tells Of no nation marching out OF
bondage by their own power. The
letters Of slavery yield not to the
contortiong Of the victim. they must
be pounded of by some hammer %
Their. And 80 II comes to pass that
the deliverance OF the captive is al
way indlssolubly associated with
some immortal name. The Egyp-
tian captivity was ended by The
heroic Moses, 50 million Russian
serfs marched out OF bondage at the
fat Of Alexander II, and slavery 10
America came 10 an end ~ the
hands OF Abraham Lincoln. While
the world stands the names Of thege
men Will be synonymous with
emancipation. They seem 10 have
been born like Hercules with TIE
Cod-aDpolnted design Of strangliDg
fbe Institutions which had been the
despair Of the philaDtbropist and the
humanitarian. All eIge that they ac-
comDlisbed may be forgotten, but
this work will never fade from the
memory OF men.
Such men are able 10 produce d.
vine credentials. The rod in the
hand OF Moses was the mlgbticst
weapon that was ever forged.
When he waved II, disesgc broke
forth, qeDomous and unciean rep
Ties crawIed and hoped and wrig-
gIed, baD pounded, darkness settled,
death tapped its black wing. That
r0d was the mighticet acepfer Of
power the world has ever known.
And when Abraham Lincoln sat
down IN the White House 70 write
the Emancipation Proclamation the
gcFafch ~ his pen was heard 1D every
fiyoBc room Of Europe and b. cgery
10ndman on the planet. n was the
tandwriuDg on the wall 10 every
opprcGsor while the world stands.
vcngence could BE- poured out upon
f1e EmancipstoF, but bfg work
could not be undone. n would BE- =
moral imposslbliify 10 put 1906 back
into 1861. Once out OF Egvpf the
Israelites can never return Ncw
experiences bring new drfiee, 1nd al
nations have mighty problems set 70
soI9e. but slavery IL not one u them,
n VIII never again BE- true that
there ~ lone dead IN every house.
on account Of human bondage, The
year Of Jubilee has come 70 sbattcls.
Tie ten plaques ncceszarf 70 bFeals
the power Of the 0ppressor VIII never
more be invoked. The message has
been heard and needed. AZ around
the world, Let ny people go"
BIT though slavery Is dead,
Emancipation IL still needed. There
ere state, national and world eviis
that must have their hands anfast>
eued from the fhroatE Of men Tho
pulpit must thunder the press muet
rumble. the platform must quake