Abraham Lincoln's Lost Speech, May 29, 1856: A Souvenir of the Eleventh Annual Lincoln Dinner of the Republican Club of the City of New York, at the Waldorf, February 12, 1897Lincoln, Abraham
History
Abraham Lincoln's Lost Speech, May 29, 1856: A Souvenir of the Eleventh Annual Lincoln Dinner of the Republican Club of the City of New York, at the Waldorf, February 12, 1897
Lincoln, Abraham
Slavery -- Kansas
Now, let us harmonize, my friends, and appeal to the moderation and
patriotism of the people; to the sober second thought; to the awakened
public conscience. The repeal of the sacred Missouri Compromise has
installed the weapons of violence: the bludgeon, the incendiary
torch, the death-dealing rifle, the bristling cannon--the weapons
of kingcraft, of the Inquisition, of ignorance, of barbarism, of
oppression. We see its fruits in the dying bed of the heroic Sumner;
in the ruins of the “Free State” hotel; in the smoking embers of the
“Herald of Freedom”; in the free-State Governor of Kansas chained to a
stake on freedom’s soil like a horse-thief, for the crime of freedom.
[Applause.] We see it in Christian statesmen, and Christian newspapers,
and Christian pulpits applauding _the cowardly act of a low bully_,
WHO CRAWLED UPON HIS VICTIM BEHIND HIS BACK AND DEALT THE DEADLY BLOW.
[Sensation and applause.] We note our political demoralization in the
catch-words that are coming into such common use; on the one hand,
“freedom-shriekers,” and sometimes “freedom-screechers” [Laughter];
and, on the other hand, “border ruffians,” and that fully deserved.
And the significance of catch-words cannot pass unheeded, for they
constitute a sign of the times. Everything in this world “jibes ” in
with everything else, and all the fruits of this Nebraska bill are like
the poisoned source from which they come. I will not say that we may
not sooner or later be compelled to meet force by force; but the time
has not yet come, and if we are true to ourselves, may never come. Do
not mistake that the ballot is stronger than the bullet. Therefore let
the legions of slavery use bullets; but let us wait patiently till
November, and fire ballots at them in return; and by that peaceful
policy I believe we shall ultimately win. [Applause.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account