Posted on 11/22/2006 6:50:47 AM PST by presidio9
On Nov. 19, 1863, Abraham Lincoln delivered the dedication remarks at the opening ceremonies of a cemetery for soldiers of the Civil War in Gettysburg, Pa. This "Gettysburg Address" -- a gem-like model of conciseness, passion and political eloquence -- quickly became a fixed feature of McGuffey's Eclectic Readers and triple-decker Fourth of July orations, even the soundtrack of the first "talking" motion picture in 1922. It was read once again to dedicate a block of burnt earth in Manhattan during the solemn first anniversary of 9/11 at Ground Zero.
Lincoln wrote a great many other memorable speeches, from his two inaugural addresses to the proclamation that, a week after the Gettysburg Address, made Thanksgiving a national holiday. Why was the Gettysburg speech so much more important? The answer would be easier if his words had not become so worn with familiarity. Time has done more than just heal the wounds of the Civil War. It has grown moss over prose that captured, in a shorter compass and with greater power than any others, the three fundamental challenges of the American experiment.
In 1863, the United States was the only significant democracy in the world. The French Revolution had drowned itself in blood; the democratic uprisings of the 1820s and 1840s had been easily and successfully repressed by kings and emperors; and everywhere, it was power and hierarchy rather than liberty and equality which seemed the best guarantee of peace and plenty. Americans remained the one people who defined themselves by a natural proposition, that all men are created equal, so that no one was born with a superior entitlement to command.
But this republic of equal citizens had two basic weaknesses. The first was its tolerance of slavery, which drew the line of race across the line
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
I'd love to read this whole article, but it is for subscribers only. Drat!
Try bugmenot.com
Nope, bugmenot won't work on WSJ.
I find the Gettysburg Address to one of the most succinct and moving communications of American history.
My other two favorites are Lee's farewell address and General McAuliff's reply to the German's surrender demand during the Battle of the Bulge.
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 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 cannot dedicate. . .we cannot consecrate. . . we cannot 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 here dedicated 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 this government of the people. . .by the people. . .for the people. . . shall not perish from the earth. "
History ping.
I need not tell the survivors of so many hard-fought battles who have remained steadfast to the last that I have consented to this result from no distrust of them; but feeling that valor and devotion could accomplish nothing that could compensate for the loss that would have attended the continuance of the contest, I determined to avoid the useless sacrifice of those whose past services have endeared them to their countrymen. By the terms of the agreement, officers and men can return to their homes and remain until exchanged.
You may take with you the satisfaction that proceeds from the consciousness of duty faithfully performed, and I earnestly pray that a merciful God will extend to you his blessing and protection.
With an unceasing admiration of your constancy and devotion to your country, and a grateful remembrance of your kind and generous consideration of myself, I bid you all an affectionate farewell.
R.E. Lee
Commanding General
General McAuliff
The principal speaker at the ceremony at Gettysburg was the famous orator (at that time) Edward Everett of of Massachuetts. He spoke for two hours. It's hard to find what he said.
He was followed by Lincoln. His two minute speech has been memorized by countless American schoolchildren.
The story of General McAuliffe continues with the German commander asking what "Nuts" meant. McAuliffe replied, "It means go to the devil," at least that's what the history books say.
How few people today understand this concept. Look at how many in America want to leave before the job is done. The sacrifice of our brave men and women can only be in vain if we give up the fight. It is OUR responsibility.
Thanks for posting it.
Absolutely. Mark Steyn said that a civilization that will not die for anything is dead already. I am afraid that we are reaching that state.
Yeah, those Southerners had absolutely nothing to do with it, did they?
I think it meant: not no, but Hell no!
You are so very welcome. I also like Jackson's farewell to the Stonewall Brigade as well.
I guess you missed my sarcasm and comparison to today's situation...
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