President Lincoln attended a Ladies’ Fair for the benefit of the Union
soldiers, at Washington, March 16th, 1864.
In his remarks he said:
“I appear to say but a word.
“This extraordinary war in which we are engaged falls heavily upon all
classes of people, but the most heavily upon the soldiers. For it has
been said, ‘All that a man hath will he give for his life,’ and, while
all contribute of their substance, the soldier puts his life at stake,
and often yields it up in his country’s cause.
“The highest merit, then, is due the soldiers.
“In this extraordinary war extraordinary developments have manifested
themselves such as have not been seen in former wars; and among these
manifestations nothing has been more remarkable than these fairs for the
relief of suffering soldiers and their families, and the chief agents in
these fairs are the women of America!
“I am not accustomed to the use of language of eulogy; I have never
studied the art of paying compliments to women; but I must say that if
all that has been said by orators and poets since the creation of the
world in praise of women were applied to the women of America, it would
not do them justice for their conduct during the war.
“I will close by saying, God bless the women of America!”