Historical voices

The friends of freedom in England saw in the negro a man, a moral and responsible being.

The world needed just such a revelation of the power of conscience and of human brotherhood, one that overleaped the accident of color and of race, and set at naught the whisperings of prejudice.

It shows that men have in their own hands the peaceful means of putting all their moral and political enemies under their feet, and of making this world a healthy and happy dwelling-place, if they will faithfully and courageously use them.

It shows what can be done against wrong in the world, without the aid of armies on the earth or of angels in the sky.

It came, not by the sword, but by the word; not by the brute force of numbers, but by the still small voice of truth; not by barricades, bayonets, and bloody revolution, but by peaceful agitation; not by divine interference, but by the…

They have, however, come not at the command of reason and persuasion, but by the sharp and terrible edge of the sword.

Its best lesson to the world, its most encouraging word to all who toil and trust in the cause of justice and liberty, to all who oppose oppression and slavery, is a word of sublime faith and courage--faith in the truth and courage in the…

Like the glorious sun of the heavens, its light shines for all.

It is bounded by no geographical lines and knows no national limitations.

Human liberty excludes all idea of home and abroad.

That message liberated, set free, and brought within the pale of civilization eight hundred thousand people, who, till then, had been esteemed as beasts of burden.

Whoever else may forget or slight the claims of this day, it can never be other to us than memorable and glorious.

Emancipation in the West Indies was the first bright star in a stormy sky; the first smile after a long providential frown; the first ray of hope; the first tangible fact demonstrating the possibility of a peaceable transition from slavery…

The emancipation of our brothers in the West Indies comes home to us and stirs our hearts and fills our souls with those grateful sentiments which link mankind in a common brotherhood.

The day we celebrate is preëminently the colored man’s day.

But while I have the sympathy and approval of men and women like these before me, I shall give with joy my latest breath in support of your claim to justice, liberty, and equality among men.

Within that circumference, there resides a people which have no superiors in point of enlightenment, liberality, and civilization.

In doing honor to the memory of our friend and liberator, we have been doing highest honors to ourselves and those who come after us; we have been fastening ourselves to a name and fame imperishable and immortal; we have also been…

But dying as he did die, by the red hand of violence, killed, assassinated, taken off without warning, not because of personal hate--for no man who knew Abraham Lincoln could hate him--but because of his fidelity to union and liberty, he…

He knew the American people better than they knew themselves, and his truth was based upon this knowledge.

The trust which Abraham Lincoln had in himself and in the people was surprising and grand, but it was also enlightened and well-founded.

His moral training was against his saying one thing when he meant another.

He had not been taught that treason and perjury were the proof of honor and honesty.

He had not been schooled in the ethics of slavery; his plain life had favored his love of truth.