Posted on 02/12/2006 1:46:59 PM PST by Kimmers
Nov. 19, 1863 Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth, upon 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 battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of it, as a final resting place for those who died here, that the nation might live. This we may, in all propriety do. But in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow, this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have hallowed it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here; while it can never forget what they did here.
It is rather for us the living, we here be dedicated to the great task remaining before us--that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they here gave the last full measure of devotion--that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth."
Thank you for posting.
I think the secret was that it was purely from his heart, not just some 'cunning words', crafted together by a 'professional'.
"...government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth."
Bears repeating.
It is amazing, the citizens of our country during Lincolns' time did not have the education that we have. Their use of the English language when you read their letters or read this speech is sheer poetry!....It certainly says a lot about the direction education has gone....I also believe that much of their reading came from the KJ bible.
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Wow thank you....
You're welcome...
May God give lasting peace and rest to all those brave soldiers , of both North and South , that gave their lives
on those sad and bloody days , inspiring President Lincoln
to pen these immortal words. May we never forget.
Gettysburg College Alumni Bump!
Thanks, Abe...for nothing.
It is important because the language, "fitting and proper," comes from the Latin phrase dulce et decorum est, pro patria mori. Loosely translated, it means "it is altogether fitting and proper that a man lay down his life for his country." A particularly appropriate theme for the dedication of a cemetery.
On the Library of Congress website, the Nicolay draft includes the words, In all propriety. But it also says it is not known if this was the speech that was read.
Old Abe could turn a phrase, couldn't he?
That is the way I learned it. I, too, hesitated over the new phrase but then passed it by.
Rebel!
And proud of it! Deo Vindice!
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