great patience and great anguish. And when he did
first announce his purpose of emancipation it was to apply only to those
"persons held as slaves within any state or designated part of a state
the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United
States." Thus sparing the loyal border states holding slaves, and
allowing a way of escape for others that should cease their rebellion.
It was conservative but wise. On the one hand the radical abolitionists
were not satisfied, and on the other hand the masses were not all ready
to give him hearty support in it. But he said, "I must do the best I can
and bear the responsibility of taking the course which I think I ought
to take." It was thus this silent self-reliant man, without intimates,
without supporting friends, bore almost alone on his resolute shoulders,
the mighty weight of responsibility. Once more he urged upon Congress
his old policy of gradual compensated emancipation. He plead:--"We say
that we are for the Union. The world will not forget that we say this.
We know how to save the Union. The world knows that we know how to save
it. We--even we here--hold the power and bear the responsibility. In
giving freedom to the slave we assure freedom to the free,--honorable
alike in what we give and what we preserve. We shall nobly save or
meanly LOSE THE LAST BEST HOPE OF EARTH. Other means may succeed, this
cannot fail. The way is peaceful; generous; just; a way which, if
followed, the world will forever applaud and God must forever bless."
But they would not, and the lonely man in the White House,--kind eyes
more deeply sunken, bronze face more deeply furrowed, sad tones more
deeply affected--went about his duties asking sympathy nor counsel of
anyone.

On New Year's Day, 1863, after the great reception was over, he signed
the final Proclamation of Emancipation. Though at home there was still
ridicule and abuse, in England the effect of the Proclamation was
significant; for there the laboring men were in dire distress because
they could get no cotton for their mills; but these English
laborers--hearing of the Emancipation Proclamation--felt that the cause
of the Union was the cause of freedom and of labor--and though the
wealthy mill-owners of England, who were not suffering would, some of
them, gladly have destroyed the Union and perpetuated slavery to get
cotton; the laborers--even while starving--brought pressure to bear upon
the English government to prev