Oration in Memory of Abraham Lincoln [at the Dedication of the Freedmen’s Monument in Lincoln Park, Washington, DC]

Teaching American History ^ | April 14, 1876 | Frederick Douglas

[C19fan]

Friends and Fellow-citizens: I warmly congratulate you upon the highly interesting object which has caused you to assemble in such numbers and spirit as you have today. This occasion is in some respects remarkable. Wise and thoughtful men of our race, who shall come after us, and study the lesson of our history in the United States; who shall survey the long and dreary spaces over which we have traveled; who shall count the links in the great chain of events by which we have reached our present position, will make a note of this occasion; they will think of it and speak of it with a sense of manly pride and complacency. I congratulate you, also, upon the very favorable circumstances in which we meet today. They are high, inspiring, and uncommon. They lend grace, glory, and significance to the object for which we have met. Nowhere else in this great country, with its uncounted towns and cities, unlimited wealth, and immeasurable territory extending from sea to sea, could conditions be found more favorable to the success of this occasion than here. We stand today at the national center to perform something like a national act — an act which is to go into history; and we are here where every pulsation of the national heart can be heard, felt, and reciprocated. A thousand wires, fed with thought and winged with lightning, put us in instantaneous communication with the loyal and true men all over the country.

[C19fan]

This is the speech given by Frederick Douglas at the Freedman's Monument that BLM and Antifa want to tear down. I wish Mr. Douglas would come back and spit in their faces.

[DoodleDawg]

I wish Mr. Douglas would come back and spit in their faces.

I rather think that Mr. Douglass would be more likely to kick their asses rather than spit in their faces.

[a fool in paradise]

They’d consider him a race traitor and sellout today for not getting behind WHATEVER the Democrat Party is selling any day past present or future.

[gattaca]

Thanks for posting.

[Perseverando]

Bump

[foreverfree]

Bump

[sphinx]

The demonstrators have announced that they will return at 7:00 Thursday to tear down the Lincoln statue. A rumor floated around last night that they will get there even earlier — 4:00 was mentioned — to try to hit before counter-demonstrators show up. I will be there early. Join me if you can.

[pegrae]

What an amazing speech! I read the whole thing. Frederick Douglas was a wise man. Someone should do a video reenactment of this for the whole country to see and understand. Not that all are willing to understand and some would find points to criticize, but Douglas is being realistic about the society at that time and is thankful for the greatness of Abraham Lincoln.

[E.Allen]

Even more impressive is the fact that Frederick Douglas taught himself to read while a slave, and was self educated. IIRC he was the most photographed man of his time.

[SunkenCiv]

[Frederick Douglas:] Friends and Fellow-citizens: I warmly congratulate you upon the highly interesting object which has caused you to assemble in such numbers and spirit as you have today. This occasion is in some respects remarkable. Wise and thoughtful men of our race, who shall come after us, and study the lesson of our history in the United States; who shall survey the long and dreary spaces over which we have traveled; who shall count the links in the great chain of events by which we have reached our present position, will make a note of this occasion; they will think of it and speak of it with a sense of manly pride and complacency. I congratulate you, also, upon the very favorable circumstances in which we meet today. They are high, inspiring, and uncommon. They lend grace, glory, and significance to the object for which we have met. Nowhere else in this great country, with its uncounted towns and cities, unlimited wealth, and immeasurable territory extending from sea to sea, could conditions be found more favorable to the success of this occasion than here. We stand today at the national center to perform something like a national act — an act which is to go into history; and we are here where every pulsation of the national heart can be heard, felt, and reciprocated. A thousand wires, fed with thought and winged with lightning, put us in instantaneous communication with the loyal and true men all over the country.

[SunkenCiv]

Viewed from the genuine abolition ground, Mr. Lincoln seemed tardy, cold, dull, and indifferent; but measuring him by the sentiment of his country, a sentiment he was bound as a statesman to consult, he was swift, zealous, radical, and determined.

Oration in Memory of Abraham Lincoln | Frederick Douglass | April 14, 1876

[mass55th]

"They’d consider him a race traitor and sellout today for not getting behind WHATEVER the Democrat Party is selling any day past present or future."

That fact that his second wife was white, made his own children angry, but if it wasn't for Helen Pitts, Cedar Hill, his home in Washington wouldn't have become the museum it is today.

[mass55th]

I just tried calling Norton’s office in D.C. Of course they’re still not working or taking calls, but the stupid bitch can stand out in the middle of a street in Washington, and be interviewed by Andrea Mitchell. I called my current Democrat Congressman, and his office too is closed, but I left a raging phone call, and gave him a piece of my mind, and said if anyone in Washington really cares about the history of this country, then they might want to read the speech that Frederick Douglass gave on the day the Freedman’s Monument was dedicated, and I gave them the website. Not that any of them care, but it pissed me off enough to call him. His opponent in November will be Republican Claudia Tenney, who previously lost the seat to him by 1%. I hope we can send his ass packing back to Utica, NY.

[mass55th]

I wrote to a friend who is an historian, and the curator of the Marine Museum at Parris Island. I told him about Norton's plans of submitting legislation to get it removed. He wrote back to tell me that word was it was supposed to have been torn down last night, but it turned out to be open season on Norwegian abolitionists in Wisconsin. He also said he heard a talk on Douglass by African-American historian/professor David W. Blight, who is a big anti-Trumper, and that he will probably now support its removal. Blight is from Flint, Michigan. Brain damaged by the lead in the water no doubt. Here's his wiki page:

David W. Blight

I've never joined any of the other social media sites since they've been around, but I signed up for Parler yesterday, and submitted a post regarding Norton's plans to have the statue removed, and included the link to Douglass's speech. Thanks for the link.