...trial through which we pass will light us down, in honor or dishonor, to the latest generation. . . . We shall nobly save, or meanly lose, the last, best hope of earth. The way is plain, peaceful, generous, just — a way which, if followed, the world will forever applaud,...

...permanent and perfect Union, to voice our gratitude to him who studied out the way, to him who said " We shall nobly save, or meanly lose, the last, best hope of earth." [Applause.] He came into the contest as a countryman, out of the loins of labor and from the very heart...

...permanent and perfect Union, to voice our gratitude to him who studied out the way, to him who said " We shall nobly save, or meanly lose, the last, best hope of earth." [Applause.] He came into the contest as a countryman, out of the loins of labor and from the very heart...

...trial through which we pass, will light us down, in honor or dishonor, to the latest generation. ... In giving freedom to the slave, we assure freedom...nobly save, or meanly lose, the last, best, hope of earth.7 Lincoln shared with his contemporaries a belief in the special destiny of America. Where he...

...blacks was linked to the success of the American mission in guaranteeing equality to all human beings: "In giving freedom to the slave, we assure freedom...shall nobly save, or meanly lose, the last, best hope on earth."40 While en route to his inauguration, Lincoln delivered a speech at Trenton, New Jersey,...

...concession, however, was coupled with a call for action. "In giving freedom to the slave," he insisted, "we assure freedom to the free - honorable alike in...save, or meanly lose, the last best hope of earth." American nationalism was again part of an ideal for the entire world. 27 Lincoln, Works. 5 : 338-9....

...common end, and prefer the interests of mankind to any narrow interest of their own." — Woodrow Wilson "In giving freedom to the slave we assure freedom...honorable alike in what we give and what we preserve." — Abraham Lincoln "None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free."...

...We of this Congress and this administration will be remembered in spite of ourselves. We — even we here — hold the power and bear the responsibility in giving freedom to the slaves, we assure freedom to the free, we shall nobly save or meanly lose the last, best hope of earth."...

...rei'olution [of] the public mind. What did he mean by that? And what did Abraham Lincoln mean when he said, In giving freedom to the slave, we assure freedom to the free? In 1862 Robert Smalls (inset) was a slave pilot on the Confederate steamer Planter (below). One night...

...new way of life that more nearly matched the idealistic vision of the Declaration of Independence. "In giving freedom to the slave, we assure freedom to the free." The destruction of slavery, he had come to realize, constituted a vital step in saving the Union.34...