Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1912-05-23

| occasionally expressed fear lest the
future hold for the emancipation proc.
lamation the unlucky fate that threat
ems our other momentous manuscript,
the Declaration of independence.
The latter, be it explained, is in re-
grettable condition. Indeed, the ink
has so faded that, as the only means
OF staying the ravages of time, the
secretary of state has had the docu-
ment sealed in an air-tight, light-tight
safe that may not be opened except
upon his written order. However, the
condition of the Declaration of indie
pendence is due largely to lack Of
proper care earlier in its existence and
there Is little danger that the expert
ences which the Declaration has I'M
dergone will find a sequel in the case
Of the emancipation proclamation.
For one thing the emancipation proc
clamation is almost never publicly ex-
hibited and it Is never exposed for
long intervals to a strong light as
some of our other precious documents
have been when displayed at exposi-
tons, etc. On the contrary the eman-
cipation edict is bound, together with
specially designed volume which Is
Just about the best imaginable way to
preserve it.
The book in which this epoch-mak-
ing document has place is one of the
most sumptuous volumes which Uncle
Sam has ever produced. This de luxe
volume is fourteen and one half by
seventeen and one-half inches in size
80 as to accommodate the proclama-
ton without folding and Is luxuriously
bound in the richest red leather This
goldedged volume was not prepared,
1t may be added in Uncle Sans regu-
lar book bindery attached to the u. 8.
government printing Office but was
bound by hand by the expert book.
binders that are kept regularly In the
employ Of the state department for
Just such work as this,-that is, the
preparation of volumes too elegant to
be produced In the routine Of a CON-
mercial plant.
There was another consideration
that prompted the officials of the de-
partment of state to have the Lincoln
proclamations including the supreme
ly important one on emancipation,
bound by their own experts In their
own building. This was the fear lest
something should happen to the valu-
able documents IL they were allowed
TO pass out of the state department.
There Is always a chance of acciden-
tai loss when official papers have to
pass through many hands, as would
be the case were the precious sheets
to go to the big bindery, and then, too,
1t Is impossible to ignore an element
or danger of theft by a chance dis
honest person, for an autograph Of
Lincoln always commands a big
enough price to prove tempting, and
the autograph Of Lincoln's signature
attached to his emancipation procla.
nation Is particularly clear and char
actertistic.
The issuance of Lincoln's enamel
patton proclamation was, of course,
one Of the most important events of
his entire administration and the cir
cumstances of the submission of this
document for the approval of his cabi-
net are, as history relates them.
among the most dramatic of the en-
tire war period. AS the story goes
Lincoln. on this occasion, sent word
to the members of his cabinet that he |
wished to see them. Secretary Chase. |
the first member to arrive at the |