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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 31, 1899)
( YMATTA TA1TY ) lUiJKs STXDAV. . ' 11. lfi ! . LINCOLN'S ' YEAR OF JUBILEE He Would Hava Abslisued Slavery b ; January 1 , 1000 HIS PLAN OF COMPENSATED EMANCIPATION I'rrnlilriilS MciHiiitc In Con i < * < Pi-ii-i imslni : a. I'rnctlcnl Sclifim- fur I'rrclnur I InNcuru In tin- 1 tilicil Mntri , On December 1 , 1S52 , President Abraham Lincoln sent the following message to con- Rrcss , giving his idea of a practical plan for complete negro emancipation by Janu ary 1 , 1)00 ! ) : On Urn 22d day of September last n procla mation was 1 aucl by the excutlve , n copy of which Is herewith .submitted. In accordance vMth the purpose expressed In the gpcGhd paragraph of that paper , I now respectfully locill your nttcntlon to what may bo rilled "compcntMted emancipation " A nation may be said to consist of Its' ter ritory. Us pcoplo and Its laws. That terri tory Is the only part vhlsh Is of certain durability. "One generation passeth away nnd another gnnetntlon cotncth , but the earth abldeth forever " H Is of the first Importance to duly consider and estimate this ever- enduring part That portion of the carth'n surface which Is owned nnd Inhabited by the people of the Un'trd ' States Is well adapted to bo the home of ono national family , and U Is not well adapted for two or n.ore. Its v.mt. uxtcnt and Us variety of climate and productions mo of ndvnntago In this age for ono people , whatever they might have been In former ages. Stcnm , telegraph nnd In telligence have brought thcso to bo an ad vantageous combination for ono united people ple- In the Inaugural adclms I briefly pointed out the total Inadequacy of disunion ns n remedy for the differences between the people ple cf the two sections. 1 did so In lan- Kttago which I can not Improve , and which , there-fore , I beg to repeit lllNiiiiliin | IIIIIIMNI | < - . "Ono section of our country believes slav ery is right nnd ought to bo extended , while the other believe It Is wrong ind ought not to be extended This Is the only substantial dispute. The fitgltlve-slivo cliuso e > f the constitution and the law for the supprcfitlnn of the foreign slave trade nre each as well enforced , perhaps , n' * any law can over bu In a community where the moral scnoa of the people Imperfectly supports the law It self. The great body of the people abide by the dry legal obligation In both cases , and a few break over in each. This , I think , cannot bo perfectly cured , and It would bo woiho In both cases after the separation of HIP sections than before The foreign slave trade , now imperfectly suppressed , would be ultimately revived without restriction In ono hectlon , while fugitive slaves , now only pir- tlally surrendered , would not be surrendered at all by the other. 'Thysic.illy speaking , wo cannot separate Wo cannot remove our respective sections from each other nor build an Impassable wall between them. A uuaband and vvlfo may bo divorced nnd go out of the presence nnd bejond the reach of each other , but the different parts of our country cannot do this. They cannot but remain face to face , and Intercourse , either amicably or hostile , must continue between them. It It possible , then , to make that Intercourse more advantageous or more satisfactory after Bcpaiatlon than before' Can aliens make treatlca easier than friends cau make laws' Can treaties bo more faithfully enforced be tween aliens than laws can among friends ? Suppose you go to war , ) ou cannot light nl- iwas , and when , after much loss on both sides and no gain on either , jou cease fightIng - Ing , the Identical old questions , as to terms of Intercourse , are again upon you " ; NO im Icllnc I.Inc. There is no line straight or crooked , suitable able- for a. national boundary upon which to divide Trace through , from east to west , upon the line between the frco and slave country , nnd wo shall find a little nioro than ono-thlrd of its length are rivers , easy to bo crossed , nnd populated , or soon to be populated , thickly upon both sides , while nearly all Itn remaining length are merelj surveyors' lines , ovci which people may walk back and forth without any conscious ness of their prcbcnce. No part of this line can bo made any moro dllllcult to pass by writing It down on paper or paichmcnt ns a national boundaiy The fact of separation , If It comch , gives up on the part of the seceding section the fugitive-slave clause , along with all other constitutional obliga tions upon the tectlon seceded from , while I should expect no trc-aty stipulation would over bo made to take Its place But there Is another difficulty. The great Interior region bounded cast by the Alle- ghanlcs , north by the British dominions , wcut by tbo Itocky mountains and south by the line along along which the culture of corn and cotton meets , niul which Includes part of Virginia , part cf Tennessee , all of Kentuckj , Ohio , Indium , Michigan , Wis consin , Illinois , Missouri , Kansis , Iowa , Minnesota , and the territories of Dakota , Nebraska , and part of Colorado , already Ins above 10,000,000 people , and will have 50- 000,000 within llftj jears if not prevented by nny political folly or mistake. It c-jn- tains nioro than one-third of the countiy owned by the United Stntes eurtulnl ) more than 1,000,000 square mlle.-i , Once half ns populous ns Massachusetts alrcasy is , It would have moro than 70,000,000 people A glance at the map shovs that , terrltoilall ) HpcnUIng , It In the great body of tbo re public. The othei parts are but marginal borders to It , the magnificent lesion sloplne ; wefct fiom the Hock ) mountains to the Pa cific being the deepest and nl o the ilcheMt in undeveloped icsourccu. In the production of provisions , grains , irraKses and all which proceed from tlic-m tliU great Inteiioi legion Is naturally ono of the most Impsitnnt In the world. Ascertain from the statistics the small proportion of the reglcn which has as yet broil brought Into cuUlvitlun. and also the largo and inpldly Increasing amount of Its products , nnd wo shall be ucm helmed with the magnitude cf the prospect pre sented. And jet this reglun has no seacoaut touchcti no ocean an ) n here As part of ono nation , its people now find , and may forever llml. their way to Kuropo by New York , to South America nnd Africa b ) New OrlcatiH , and to Asia by Sun PrancUco , but Rcptirnte. our common country into two na tions , at designed by the present rebellion , nnd every man of this meat Intcrl.r region is thereby cut elf from eomo one 01 nure of theFo nutlets , not perhaps b ) i phv.Mcal barrier , but by embarrassing and oneroua Undo regulntlcno Our Niitlnii'i ! 4-llfc Tciuimriir ) , And thin ' < t-ue , wherever a dividing or bnuudai ) line imi ) bo fixed. Place It between the now fie-o and bluvo uutitry , or place It fciuth of Kentiu'k ) or nerth cf Ohio , and I still tbo truth lemalim that iienp K nth nf ; It can trade to uny port or place north cf It , and none north of U ran Uude tj any jurt ; or place Houlli eif It , except upon tarnu , dic ' tated by a gnvernifiit foreign to ihem Tli e ' outlet. ! , eiast , woit and routh. aie IndUpcn- nablc to tbo vuill belli ? if the pa-pie in habiting and to Inhabit this van interior region Which of the three ) may lathe b < , t I is no proper quasi Ion All are bjttc'r thin > either , and all of right belong to that peMc ' and to tl'elr gucccanors forevur Tine in thenuelve * ' , the ) will not .ibk where a line > of sc-parallcn " ' 'ill be but > UII vow lather that there ahull be no such Hue Nor are the marginal regions Ifw Interested in thcso communications to and through them tn the great outside world The ) , too , and each of tho"i , mist haveaoce a to thin Kspt of the west without paying toll at the crossing of nny national boundary. Our national Btrlfo * * irlng not from oui permanent part , not frcm the land we In habit , not from our national homestead. There Is no po'slblo sr-vrrlni ? of this but would multiply and not militate evils among up. In all Its adaptations and aptitudes It dcmandH union and abhors sppjrnllon In i fact , It WDM M-O long force leiinlnn , however - , over much of blood and treasure the separa tion might have cost Our ctrlfo pcrtilns to ourselves n the fisulng Bonrratlno of mm nnd It can v Ith-nt convulsion bo hushed forever with the pflfslns rf ono generation. In this vlovv I rpcom-rietU the ndomlon ol fho following resolution and nriHrs nmend- nlory to the Constitution of the Unltml State"- | I Inrolu'i 1'liui for ( "itiu"Mixiiltoii , "tlcpolv-pd by the senat" vid hou'o of representatives of the United Stitcs of Anxtlui. In congress assembled ( two-thirds of both houejs concurring ) , Thnt the follow ing articles bo proposed to the legislature for conventions ) of the several Mates ns amendments to the cormiltutlon e > f the i j ! United States , nil or an ) of which nrtlclc' , I i v , lien rntlfled by three-fourths of the * cald 1 legislatures ( or convention1) ) , to bo vnlld as J i part or parts of'tlf snld constitution , viz [ j "Article Kvery Btalo wherein slav- j cry now ( < its which shall nbollsh the same I the'reln at any time or times before the 1st ! day of Janunr ) , A. 1) . 1000 , shall receive ' comporiPatloti from the United State * as fol- IOWH , to-.vlt "Tho pirsldent of the United States shall deliver to nvcry such state bends cf the United States benrlng lntprc"t nt the rate of per cent per nnnum to animount equal lo the aggregate sum of for each slave | ( shown to have been therein b ) the eighth census of thu United State * , Mid bondo to bo delivered to such state by Installments erIn i In cue parcel nt the completion of the abolj j 1 Uhmt'iit , accordingly ns the biniu shall have been gradual or at ono tlmr > within such state , nnd Interest shall begin to run upon any pitch bond only from thu proper time of ll.s delivery ns nforesald An ) state hiv ing received bonds as aforesaid and after- wirds icintroduced 01 toleiatlng slavery therein lib-ill icfiind to the Unltc-d States the bonds ao received , or the value thereof , mid all Interest paid thereon 'Article . All slaves who shall have cn- Joed actual freedom by the chances of the war at any time before the cud of the re bellion shall be' forever free , but all own ers of such who shall not Ime been dls- loal shall be compensated for them at the same rates as provided for states adopt ing abolishment of slavery , but In such way that no alnvo shall be twice accounted for "Article Congress may appropriate money and otherwise provide for colonizing free colored persons with their own consent nt any place or places without the United States. " IllH Vrj iiiiifMt < K for H. I beg Indulgence to discuss these proitoscd articles at some length. Without slaver ) the rebellion could never have existed , with- ou slavery It could not continue Among the friends of the union there la n great diversity of sentiment and of policy In regard to slavery and the African race amongst us Some would perpetuate slavery , some would abolish it suddenly and without compensation , BO mo would abolish It gradu ally and with compensation , some would re move the freed people from us , nnd some would retain them with us , nnd there- are ) et other minor diversities. Because of these diversities. we wanemuch strength In struggles among oui- selves. By mutual concession vvo should harmonize and act together. Thlb would bo compromise , but it would be compromise among the friends and not with the enemies of the union These articles are- Intended to embody a plan of such mutual conces- slrns. If the plan shall be adopted It Is nbBumcd that emancipation will follow , at Icctit In seveial of the mates As to the first article , the main points are , first , the emancipation , secondl ) , the length of tlmo for consummating It ( thlity-suven ) ears ) , nnd , thirdly , the compensation. The emancipation will bo unsatisfactory to the advocates nt perpetual blavery , but the length of time should greatly mitigate their dissatisfaction. The tlmo sparce both races from the ovlls of midden derangement In fact , from the necessity of any derange ment while most of those whose habitual course of thought will bo disturbed by the measure will have passed away before its ccrftummatlon They will never see it An other claps , will hall the prospect of emanci pation , but will deprecate the length of time. They will feel that It gives too little to the now living slaves.But It really gives them much. It saves them from the vagrant des titution which must largely attend imme diate emancipation In localities where theli numbers are very great , and It gives the In spiring assurance that their posterity shall be free ) foi ever. The plan leaves each wtate choosing to act under It to abolish slaver ) now or at the end of the ccntuiy , or nt any Intermediate time , or by degrees extending over the whole or any part of the period , and It obliges no to states to proceed alike. U also provlle for compensation , and gen erally the mode of making U. This , It would set in , must futthc'r mitigate the dissatisfac tion of those who favor perpetual Hlavery , snd esprcl il'j ' tf those who are to iccelvo the compc'ii atlon Doubtless some of those who are to t ay and not to receive will object. I rireN UN I'i'niioiii } . Yet the niciHiiro IP both Just nnd econom ical. In icrtaln sense the libera tion of slaves is thu destruction of property property acquired by descent or by pur chase , the nnmo as any other propert ) . It Is no less true for having been often said that the pcoplo of the south are not mote lof-ionslblo foi the original introduction of tl.ln property thin aio the > people of the rnrth , and when It Is remembered how un- hcbltatlnKl ) we ill use cottun and sugur and bl.are thu piollli , of dealing In them , U nny not be finite a.ifo to say tint the smith Ins been moro ictpoiulble than the north for its continuance If , then , for a common object thin ptopcrty Is to bo bacrlllced , la It not Just that It bo done nt a common charge ? And If T.ith less money , or mone ) mom ca lly paid , vvo can preserve the bcncllts of thu unU'ii b ) tbU means than we * can by tap wai alone , Is It not economical to do If Lot UH consider it , then L ' tin tib- certaln the i litti wo have oNpcndcd in the war Blnco compensated emancipation was picj.need l.ifct March , and consider whether If that me'abUie had been prompt ! ) accepted by oven bamo . .f the nlnvo states the same Hum would nut have done more to close the war than IIHH been otherwise done If so. tlu mc'asuic ) nutild nave nionc ) , and Jn that VOA would be a prudent and economical measure' . Ccru-lnly It In not BO eas ) to pa ) uoiacihliin as It U to pa ) nothing , but it Is i& > lir to pay a large sum than It U to pay ' larger " ° And It Is easier to pay any Kill' when we > io nblo thin It Is to pay it befcio we are , u le. The war requires large Mali's , and rr'iJlriu .ht-tl it once The ag- gugato sum i , i.ajy for compensated ( . ' -iinclpallon of coijffl would bo large. But it would rc/juiic no resdy caah , nor the ! > onJs iie-n AD ) f ; < n i than the emanclpa- lion projfrfasi1. TliU iht | not , and prob- b ! > .vould JHK cc.i ! In-fore the end of the llilriy-Mun vr ra. At that limn no shall pinbably Im.c a huiUrnd millions of people to ehaio the l > ; : Jou , Instead of Uilrtonu ir.l'.llLiini at n H And not onlj ao. but the lu.uast' of our population ma ) be e-xpected tn KJiuI'.nic fer a long time after ( hat period as rapidly as before , because our terrltorj will not have be omo full I do not state this Inconsiderate ! ) At the samn ratio ot Increase which we have maintained , on an average , from our first national censusi ' 1700 , until thnt of 1SCO , wo should in 19PO Imvo a population erf If ! 20 .11 > And vvliv may vvo not continue thnt ratio far bejond thM period ? Our abundant room , our broad nt.tlor.il homestead , Is our ample resource. Our 'IVrrttnr : A.itinilnni. V CTO cur territory a limited as are the lliithh l le , very certainly our population could not evprtiid as stated. Instead of re * ccivlni ; the foreign-born as now , vvo should bp compelled to send part of the native-born avvaj. But such Is not our condition. We have 2,06,1,000 squire miles Hurope has 3,500,000 , vlth a population averaging 73 > a pctbons to the square mile.Vh > may not our country at some time average as many * li It less fertile ? Has It moro waste sur face by mountnlns , rivers , lakes , deserts , or otber causes' Is It Inferior to I'urope In auj natural advantage * If , then , we are at seme time to bo as populous as Kurope , how seen ? As to when this may bo we ran julgo b ) the past and the present , as to when It will be. If ever , depends much on whether vvp maintain the union. Several of our states are already above the average nt nvrope 73l to the square mlle Massa- chuteiU has 157 , Hhode < Island , 133 , Con- ne'ctlctit , fin , New York and New Jersey , each SO Also two other great states , I'cnn- sIvanla and Ohli , nre nut far below , the ifonrer having C3 and thr- latter 51 The htales alrcnd ) above the Kuropean average , except New York , have Increased In ns rapid n ratio since passing that point as ever be fore , while no one of them Is equal to some other parts of our countiy lu natural capac ity for sustaining a dense population. riutirr * mi I'oDiilntliin. Taking the nation In the aggregate , and vvo llml Its population and ratio ot Increiso for the several decennial periods to bo as follows : Hitlo oC Incroioo Year. Population Tor Cent. 17UO 3/21 , 27 1SW ) 53.KJ037 .BO. ! 1S10 7,2.,9,31I 3Mi is2j xiis.ni rsn 1K30 12SGfiOJO S10 ) 1S10 , 17,063 15.1 3.07 'O S3,10J.S7fi r.S7 l J 31,113,700 S3 3S Thin shotts nn average decennial Increase of 34 CO per cent in population through the tovcnty ) ears from our first to out last ccn- siM ) et taken It Is seen that the ratio of incrciso at no one of these seven peilcds Is either 2 icr ccr below 01 2 per cent nbovo the nverage , thus showing how Inllexible , nnd consequent ! ) how tellable , the law of Increase In our ca&o Is Assuming that It will continue , It gives the following results. Yi > nr. Population 1S70 .323Jll 11(10 ( JO 251.1SO'111 These llgurca show that our country may be as populous ns Kurope now Is at some point between 1920 and 1030 say about Il2"i ! oui territory , nt 73'4 persons to the square mile , being of capacity to contain 217,186,000. And we will reach this , too , if we do not ourselves relinquish the chance by the folly and evils of disunion or by long and ex- 1 austlng war springing from the only great element of national discord among us. Whllo It cannot be foreseen exact ! ) how much one huge example of secession , breeding lesser ones indefinitely , would retaid population , civilization and prosper ! ' ) , no one can doubt that the extent of it would be very great and Injurious Hi-Hull * of niiiniirlnntlon. The proposed emancipation would shorten the war , perpetuate peace , Insure this in crease of population , and proportionately the wealth of the country With these wo should pay all the emancipation would cost , together with out other debt , easier than we should pay our other debt without It. If we had allowed our old national debt to run nt fi per cent per annum , simple Interest , from the end of our i evolutionary struggle until today , without paying anything on either principal or interest , each man of us would owe less upon that debt now than each man owed upon It then , and th's be cause our Increase of men tluough the whole period has peen grciter than 6 per cent has run faster tl'an the Intel est upon the debt. Thus time alone- relieves a debtor nation , so long .IB Ittt population Increases faster than unpaid Interest accumulates on Us debt. Thlb fact would be no excuse for delaying payment of what Is justly due , but it shows the great importance * of timein this connec tion the great advantage of a policy by v.hlch wo shall not have to pay until we number 100,000,000 what by n different policy wo would have to pay now , when we number but 31.000,000 In a word , it sl-ows that a dollar will be much hauler to pay for the war than will be a dollar for emancipation on thn proposed plan And then the latter will cost no blood , no preciouw life. It will be n saving of both As to the second article , I think It would bo Impiactlcable to lotuin to bondage the claib of poisons therein contemplated. Some of them , doubtless , In the property sense , belong tj loal owncro , nnd hence provision Is made In Ihla article for compensating such The thlid article relates to the future of Iho freed people H does not oblige , but moicly authorizes congress to aid In coloniz ing .such as may consent This ought not to bo icgarded as objectionable on the ono hind or on the other , Insomuch SB It comes to nothing iinhns by the mutual consent of people to be deported nnd the Unerlcan voters tliiou h their re-present itlves in con gress I'llOIX Nl'lilll Cllllllll/IICllll. I cannot make It better known than it nilcndy Is that I strjugl ) favor colonization , and jet I wish to say there Is an objection urged against free colored pei < nti3 remain ing In the otinti ) which Is largol ) Im aginary , If not sometimes malicious. H Is Insisted that their presence wn'uld Injure and displace whlto laborers. If there ever could be a proper tlmu foi mere catc't arguments , that time surely Is not now. In times Ilku the prc-sent men should utter nothing for which they would not willingly I bo re'sponslblo through time nnd eternity , Is It true , then , that colored t'eople can dla- j pluco any more white labor by being free than by lenmlnliiB slaves' If they stay In | their old places , they JcMIe no white labor- era , If they leave tholi old places , they , have them open to whlto laborers Lo lc- j ally , there is neltbci moro nor lein of it Kinanclpation , even without deportation , would protnbly enhance the wages of whlto labor , and very gurely would not reduce them Thus the rustomar ) amount of labor would still have to bo performed the fiecd people would surel ) not do mere than tla'lr old proportion of it , and very piobu'.ilj for . time would do less , leaving un Increased part to v/hltp Hlorers. blinking their labor Into greater demand , and consequently cn- hanclng the wages of It. With deportation I ] even to a llmlled extent , enhanced wages 10 white labor | 8 math'-matlcally certain 1 Labor lit like anv other c < mrnodlt > in the market Increase the. dema < d for It and you Increase the price of It Iluluce the suppl ) of black labor by colonizing the black labor er out of the c'untr ' ) , nnd by precise ! ) to much ) ou Increiso the demand for and wages ef wUlte laboi. 1 Hut It la drcided 'hat ' the freed people will swarm forth nnd cuvpr ihp whole land. Ar. ' the ) njt already In the land' Will libera tion make ttiem any mare numerous7 Kquall ) M trlbutod among the whites ef the vvlioo count ) ) and them would not bo but one colored to seven wbl'Cb Could the ono in an ) way great ! ) disturb the oevcn ? There are mail ) communities now having mrre than ono frco colired person to seven whites nnd this without nny appnreti rin- sclousncws cf evil from It The Dl'trict of Columbia nnd the states of Maryland and Delaware are nil In this condi tion. The District hap more than ono free colored to six whites , nnd yet In Its frequent petitions to congress 1 believe It has nevpr presented the presence of free colored per sons ns one of Its grievances Hut whv e'.iould emnne'pntlon south send the free people north * People of nnj color seldom run unless there be something to run from j i \ lolonnr ? IIUIR < T . ' 1 Heretofore colored people to some extent have ( led north from bondage , nnd now , per- hips , from both bandage and destitution But If gradual emancipation nnd deportation be adopted , they will have neither to lleo fran Their old maPlrra will give them wages at least until new laborers can bo pro- eurcd , nnd the freedmcn.ln turn will gladlv | give \hclr labor for the wages till new homes cm bo found for them tn congenial cllmco and with people of their own blrod and race I This proposition can be trusted on the mu tual Interests Involved. And In any event , cannot the north decide for Itself whether 1 to receive them * I Again , as practice proves more than tho'rv In nny case , han there been any Irruption of colored people northward because of the , abolishment of slnverj lu this District last j spring * | i What 1 hnve said of the proportion of free colored persons to the whites In the District la from the census cf 1S60 , hiving no refer ence to persons called contrabands nor to , those made free by the act of congress abolishing ishing slavery here The plan consisting of these articles Is leconimcnded , not but that a rcstontlon of the national authority would be accepted , w llhout Its adoption , \ j ' Nor will the war nor proccedlngo under the proclamation of September 22 , 1SGJ , be stn.ved because of the recommcndath n cf thU plan. Its timely adoption , I doubt not , would bring restoration , and thereby st.iv bth And notwithstanding this plan , the recom mendation that congtess provide by law for compcnsntlng 11115 state which may ml opt emancipation before this plan shill lime been ncted up-n U ? hcrebv earnestly 10- nowcd Such would bo onljn advance pirt of the flan , nnd the same arguments npply to both. ! Will l'risrc the I nlon. j This plan Is recommended as n meiiis , not In exclusion of , but additional to , nil others for restoring nnd preserving the natloml authority throughout the uiil n The ub- ject Is presented exclusive In Its pc3iiomlc.il aspect. The plan would , I am confident , secure peace more , speedily nnd maintain It more pe/manentlv than can be done b > fcrce nlcni , wh'le nil It would cost , consid ering nmrunts nnd manner of pavmcnt an I times of pijmcnt , would bo easier paid than will bo the additional cost of the war if we icly solely upon force. It is much moio likely that It would ccht no blood nt all The plan Is proposed as permanent consti tutional law U cannot become ouch without the concurrence of. first , two-thirds cf con gress , and nfteiwntds three-fourths of the states. The requisite thiec-fourths of th stutes will neccssarlli Include seven of the slave states. Their concurrence , If obtained , will give assurance of their severallj adopt ing emancipation at no verv dlctaut dny upon the new constitutional terms This as surance would end the struggle now nnd save the un'on ' forever I do not forgot the gravity which should characterize n paper addressed to the con gress of the nation by the chief magistrate of the nation , nor do I forget that some of > ou are my sjnlors , nor that rainy of jou have more experience than I In the conduct of public nffnlrs Yet I trust that in view of the great responsibility resting upon mo jou will perceive no want cf respect to jour- selves in anj undue enincstness I may seem to dlspln ) . . Is it I'rnetic'iililc ; Is It doubted , then , that the plan I propose , If adopted , would shorten the vv.it , and thus lessen Its expenditure of mcnej and of blood' Is it doubted that It would restoio the national authority and national prco- perity and perpetuate both indefinitely' Is It doubted that we here congress and execu tive can secure Its adoptlcu' Will not the gocd people respond to a united nnd earnest appeal from us ? Can we , can thej , by nny other means so certatnlj or so speedily as sure ) tl'csc vital objects' Wo can succeed only by concert. It Is not "Can nny of us Imagine better' " but "Can we all do bet ter' " Object whatsoever is possible , still the question recur ? , "Can we do better' " The dogmas of the quiet pist nre Inadequate to the stormy present. The occasion | s piled high with difficultj % and wo must rise with thu occasion As our case Is new , bo wo must th'nk ' anew nnd act nnew We must disenthrall ourselves , nnd then we ehnll save our country Tellow-citizens , we cnn not escape hlstoiy. We of this congress and this administration will be lemcmbcicd In spite of ourselves No personal significance cr Insignificance can spare one or another of us The fiery trial through vvh < ch we pats will light us down In honor or dishonor to the > latest generation. Wo say we are for the union The world will not fargot that we say this We Know how to save the union The world knows we do know how to save it Wo , even wo here , hold the power nnd beat the responsi bility. In giving fieedrm to the slave we assure freedom to tl'e free honorable alike In what we give and whit wo ptcservc. Wo shall nobly save or incnnly lese the last best hope of earth Other means may suc ceed ; this could not fall. The way 19 plain , peaceful , generous , Just a waj which If fol lowed the world will forever applaud and God must forever bless. ABRAHAM LINCOLN' . CONMJlllAl.lTins. Kvcij unmarried woman of 10 ran to- rneinber at least n do/en men who. In her judgment , would luivo ptopo r-d to her If Hlif hnd on ! ) Klvoti thorn encouragement. An old man of 70 venrs , n widowCT. who advoitlxcd for a w'fo In n I'ennsjlvnnla I in ill o.iper , Is said to have iceelved over 1,000 replies from w onion In all parts of the country who were willing to become No 2 Ho had lived apart from his first wife for forty jears Shu died two jcats I\K \ Love Inughs at more than lockMiiltln C'lmrles Day nnd Amm Maltby , who wcro quarantined In an Iowa town on IK count of tiinallpox managed to e jininunli itu vvltS Hev I' II Miison , who nppp.itcd just out- Hide the quarnntlnn I'mlts ax innrKt'il by the jollow lings nnd from thnt point united thrm In man Intro TJiern WHH u curious double vveddlni ; In Howard. Kan , a few dajs ago , J ITUM and jAII'Hon Mdell , brother" mnnli.l Jdc' and Mulgaret Camobi-ll , Hlnters 'Ilia Brtionifi were iiRod IS nnd 17 roiportlvelv , as v.Jre also the btldes The patents ( if nil tb parties anpenrcd before the locnl ptobato jmlk'f and gave consent , to the double union. The supreme court of I'eiinbvlvanlu has decided that th marriage 01 A'iimler I Scott , aged 3J > earn , to a Kill of 13 | legal beruuse the common law e"tabllBhe ! the as B an II ) ears fnr the husbund and U foi tlm vvlfo and while the- stain Htaliilo fixes Ihew agc-s at Ib nnd 15 reflectively It does n Jt provide that .1 marriage other- vvliccuntiacted filial ! be vuld The Association for the Pre -r\atlon of the Hlehttt of I'nmarr'td Young Women has neun oiennlzeci In Boston with tile fttnda- ' nwiitnl principle that married women Hlinll itfrulu from accenting einnlonunt In any of the various uvtnuos open to women HO long im an ) of the hplnxters aiu without work Who the olltcerp of the CM K inlzntlon nr * > Is kept secict b > the member * of the iisboe'atlon , but then do not hesitate to o.x. prt-ns their view * They sa > the c hlof ob- JcHtlun to married women IK the fnc-t that the > nre able and willing to work for leas wage14. A simple protection against dangtiouti tin rat nffei tlonh uro Dem * in ululate I cough drops. ( jMly u ten is , at drugjUsts. I / As a fitting celebration of the New Year , we inaugurate a stock mincing sain of Domestic Rugs. Aftoi * inventory \vo Hud \vo have thousands of rugs that should help furnish thousands of homo ? v Sale commences Monday morning at 8 o'clock and wh.ilc the sup ply is almost unlimited and we do not expect to close out tlm vast assortment of Hugs in one day , yet we ask you to com- early and iral -election ( virile stock is most com- WE CLOSE AT NOON MONDAY. e note a few of the standard itmke Rugs , patterns thnt arc made private to us. 2-SNl-fi rrcnch Wilton Hug $5 ? > 0 "Voiir opportunity to obtain a high .1-0\C.-0 Kie-ncli Wilton UUg fS 00 1 grade Rug for little Extra money l-6\7-G Trenrh Wilton Uug $2175 2-PM-O Uundhar Wilton Rug $3 RO tra special offerings. 3-Oxfi-O llumllur Wilton HUR ? 3'0 Sli0x20 ! ! Imperial Simrni Rugs , i-aeh $ , ' , 'ro 4-C\T-fl Dundhir Wilton Iltli ; $13 T.I Six 7-fixlOxC on - Imperial Stn\rna Rugs , each $ -M 4-6x12-0 llundhar Wlltun Hug $31.00 Ono t ) > 0\12-0 Ilyzanllno Hug $ i.oo C-Oxt-0 Uundhar Wilton Uug $21.50 Te'ti ! i-0x2-0 Khorassen AMiilnstcr Rugs , vvofcn In S-3\10-0 Wilton - \ - Hundhir Hug ? 3GOO ! t-0\12-0 llundhar Wilton Uug $4000 ono piece , each $32 r.O Two 7-fitlO-ti KhoraBMcti Hugs , each $2650 reversible One 11-3M3-G Axmlnstcr Hug , Bllghtl ) Boiled , goes at $20 no Smyrna Rugs- Two very line Scotch AMiilnstcr Rugs , ! ) -0\12-0 , c.i. , $3J 60 1-6x3-0 Imperial Snnrna Rug $1.3" 3 Hermnn Axmlnster Ruga , woven In ono piece , veiy 2-2x4-C Imperial Smyrna Hug $2.75 2-Gxo-O Impcilal Smjnm Uug $375 choice. S-SxlO-10 , each $18 SO 3-OxG-O Imperial Sin ) rna Hug $3.00 4-0x7-0 Imperial Sm > rnn Hug $ S.OO tigs Made from 6-Ox'-o ) Imperial Sin ) rna Hug $1800 Remnants of Carpets 7-CvlO-G Impel lal Km ) rna Hits $3000 0-0x12-0 Imperial Sm.vrtin Hup $37.SO 8-3xS-n Hodv llrussels $1400 S-3\S-0 Ilrussols $10 r > 0 dd Shape Rugs for 1-0x12-0 Wilton $ . ! 700 Odd Rooms Shape S-3X12-G Urtisscls $1250 C-0\fi-0 Imperial Smyrna HUR $13.60 S-.M2-0 Axmliibter $21 00 r-nxs-0 Imperial Smyrna Rug $14.50 'l-CxI-O 9-.l\ll-0 Moquctto $ Ui 5U - - Imperial Snirna Rug $3000 10UG Imperial Snirnn Rug $47.00 S3UOGmlii8tcr § 16'0 S-3xll-9 Brussels $ lb 00 ade Rugs ti-3\ll-0 mussels $2000 - \ - from Carpet 8-3\10-6 Moquctto $1800 10-Gxll-7 Moquette $19 Ou Hrussela S-SxlO-6 $1300 10-6x12-0 Ilittsaels $2500 10-fi.\12-G IlntEbclB $1SEO S-SxlO-t ! Velvet $1650 10-0\ll-fl Axmlnstcr $20.00 S\3\1'J-0 Axmlnster $1050 10-fixl3-G Velvet $24.00 8-JK10-3 Moquote SIS CO 10-G\12-6 Axmlnster , $2400 10-Gxll-O Ilrtl-bplB S1GOO 10\C\12-I nrtissels $2400 10-G\12-0 AxmliiB cr $2100 10-fixlO-O Urusscls $21 PO 10-6x12-9 Axminstet $2500 10-tj\l.-0 Velvet $23 00 Street. NINE FIREMEN ARE INJURED Caught by Palling Walls in Eirly Moruinp ; Fire at Chicago. LOSS FOOTS UP TO ABOUT A MILLION T nntlro \ \ holfNiiIc niMlrlcl TlireiitPiiPil for : Tlmo Tlilrti-Ululit I - liliun nnd 'l\\o PinTIIKH p Plaj IIIK nil the riiuiiCM. i ii i CHICAGO , Dec 20 Fire at an early hour todaj completely gutted the buildings ex tending from 21C to 222 Monroe street , badly damaged the building at 212-214 Monroe street , caused a loss aggregating $1)30,000 ) nnd icsulted In the injur ) of nine firemen , two of them serious The injured Captain Robert O'Connor , serious. Jamch Wolley , serlousl ) . William Paddcn. Michael O'Haia Captain John Cvans. Captain William Carej- . Captain Thomas O'Connor. Luke Hajes. Lieutenant Oswald , The fire Is supposed to have originated on | the second floor In the workroom of Woolley i & Co. , wholesale woolens , at 220 222 Monroe , btrcct , nnd , fanned by a fierce northwest wind , spread so rapidly that when the first file companies airived on the scene the whole south end of the building was a mats of llamee A uccond and then a third alaim wa sent In , but , In spite of the tons of watei thrown Into the buinlng buildings by thlrtj- clght engines and two fire tugs , the wind and the bitter cold so hindered the firemen , that for a time the entlro wholesale district was In danger The names quickj ! commu nicated to the building at 216 and 21S Monroe - j roe street , giadually spioadlng east to 212 and 214 Monroe , where Its spreading was finally checked. Immense biamls were cairlcd as far as Twelfth street and the Hi omen were Kept hue ) extinguishing sin ill fireb on the roofs of sui rounding buildings. SCIIIK * ( if ( llC > I.IIHKCM , The principal losses are lUtlldlng at 220-222 Monioe Rtreet , $225,000. IM wards , Stanwood .t Co , successors lo I'hclps , Dodge . Palmer , boots and shoes , third and sixth floors , $200,000 Woolley fi Co , llrfct and second floois , woolen goods , $13.'i,000. Schwartz A ; Kline , shirts , fourth floor , $0,000 John Harper , cloak manufacturer , fifth Koor , $5,000. j Hulldlng nt 21C-218 Momoo stiect , occn- | j'lc-d by the J. W. Hutler Paper company , ' $25.001' . , J SV , Duller Paper company , damage on block , $250,000. fully Insured. . Henry 0 Shepard company , printers , oc- cupIng building at " 12-211 .Monroo street , ? 100,000 'ilia building nt 17 Fifth avenue wab damaged S2.GOO. 1'ealdes the o there weio several minor leases caused by smoleo and water. Figures un the Insurance are not as jet obtainable , but It Is ptobable that most of the Icxues are \ c 11 covered. i Mill OH I VII I'll Till IMI N : - ! | < , | lite escape from death of Captains O'Con- | not. i\nim nnd Carey and Firemen Paddcn , c O'Hara nnd three others who escaped Injury j was little abort of miraculous All of the men vere working on the roof of the buildIng - Ing at 216-218 Monioe. street , and , aa the llro crept closer to the vrrt side of the otructurc , the men were gradual ! ) driven towa.rd the middle of the roof Suddenly thti t-cHt wall of tlm building adjoining fell v ! | h r teirlfic crash An Immense mass of brick and tlmbeit , cruehrd Into the roof wheie Captain O'Connor and bl men were at worl , Iho roof tore aua > fruu the sides and fell with a crash to the floor beneath ' iaroing Plpemen O'llard and Paddcn don ! in the dcbilH and leaving the oth-rs on ( he i frail broken edge of ttic roof high above t Leaves Omaha at 8:50 : a , m , Daily Arrives San Francisco 5:15 : p , m , Portland 6:45 : p , m , Afternoon of Third Day , ONLY TWO NIGHTS ON THE ROAD , DliiliiK < 'nr , MenU Served n-ln-onrtr HiiirVI , SinuUlim nnd Ulirnry Car Vl Illl Ililrlicr Shop DduliliDrlMvlim Hooin I'ulnue bleeping Cam 1'luinuli I.lKli < Sleain Ilent llronil Vi-nlllmli d 1'nNNi'iiKtTH IdUliiK "Tin * Ovcrliinil tiliultfil" for < lif I'urlflo < oant oaii ( nrl iiflL-r brouUfnnt In ( lie iiiurnlnu uml micli IIi -lr ilc'Mtlnntlon n KOIIII an tliom * vho le-u\e tlo other line * gm m tm m a n Oily Ticket 1382 Farnam Si Telephone 3(6 ( tlio llamcs. Captain O'Connor Kleutenunt CalUhan nnd Pliumen Kcuntaln and Hor- gan finally Huccecdud in reaculiij ; the two unfortunate plpemcm and crawllni ; along the Khaklng wallc they made thcli way to a lire. Cdcapo and descended eafcly to Iho ground After the lire hud been raging about an hour and n half the walls began falling and neveial firemen were moro or ICBS Injured , James Woolley BU Hcrloubly that ho wai > taken to the hospital. The flro was one of the wnrbt the fire de partment IIUK had to contend with In years. The cold was lntonne , the thermometer being uovoral degrees below zero , and a number cf firemen were Beverly frostbitten. \ ( ( IHJ ( 'III' The New York Stock exchange having acquired all the land It ncodH IK ntn.nl to put up a $3,000.000 building on the st- of tlio old one Many of the closer-fluted member * ! are finding fault with the govern ore for embarking on the enterprlHe ul this time , when material Is the highest U has been In many ) C'am They have mabied figures which uhow that the now building will cost at leiiHt { 500,000 cnoro than U could have been erected for two jeari * ago , and call attention annolngly to the fact that tlio body wax financially ut. aldo to build then a now Having put off the work BO long why nrt wait a while longer and take ad vatnage > of the ' Inevitable re-action In Iron " they auk The limurgcnts do not KCCIM to bo making much of an Impre-Halon , and con fctrui lion on thu now cx < haiige will begin early next spring , barring