Here, late in the autumn of that year of battles, a portion of that
battle-ground was to be consecrated as the last resting-place of those
who there gave their lives that the Republic might live.
There were gathered there the President, his Cabinet, members of
Congress, Governors of States, and a vast and brilliant assemblage of
officers, soldiers, and citizens, with solemn and impressive ceremonies
to consecrate the earth to its pious purpose. New England's most
distinguished orator and scholar was selected to pronounce the oration.
The address of Everett was worthy of the occasion. When the elaborate
oration was finished, the tall, homely form of Lincoln arose; simple,
rude, majestic, slowly he stepped to the front of the stage, drew from
his pocket a manuscript, and commenced reading that wonderful address,
which an English scholar and statesman has pronounced the finest in the
English language. The polished periods of Everett had fallen somewhat
coldly upon the ear, but Lincoln had not finished the first sentence
before the magnetic influence of a grand idea eloquently uttered by a
sympathetic nature, pervaded the vast assemblage. He said:--
"Fourscore and seven years ago, our fathers brought forth 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 a great battle-field 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. It is altogether fitting and
proper that we should do this.
"But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate--we can not consecrate--we
can not hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who
struggled here, have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or
detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we _say_
here, but it can never forget what they _did_ here. It 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.
"It 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
government of the people, by the people, and for the people, shall not
perish from the earth."
He was so absorbed with the heroic sacrifices of the soldiers as to be
utterly unconscious that he was _the great actor_ in the drama, and that
his simple words would live as long as the memory of the heroism he
there commemorated.
Closing his brief address amidst the deepest emotions of the crowd, he
turned to Everett and congratulated him upon his success. "Ah, Mr.
Lincoln," said the orator, "I would gladly exchange my hundred pages for
your twenty lines."
1864.
On the first of January, 1864, Mr. Lincoln received his friends as was
usual on New Year's day, and the improved prospects of the country, made
it a day of congratulation. The decisive victories East and West
enlivened and made buoyant and hopeful the spirits of all. One of the
most devoted friends of Mr. Lincoln calling upon him, after exchanging
congratulations over the progress of the Union armies during the past
year, said:--
"I hope, Mr. President, one year from to-day, I may have the pleasure of
congratulating you on the consummation of three events which seem now
very probable."
"What are they?" said Mr. Lincoln.
"First, That the rebellion may be completely crushed. Second, That
slavery may be entirely destroyed, and prohibited forever throughout the
Union. Third, That Abraham Lincoln may have been triumphantly re-elected
President of the United States."
"I would be very glad," said Mr. Lincoln, with a twinkle in his eye, "to
compromise, by securing the success of the first two propositions."