Oration in Honor of Universal Emancipation in the British Empire, Delivered at South Reading, August First, 1834 (Classic Reprint)

Excerpt from Oration in Honor of Universal Emancipation in the British Empire, Delivered at South Reading, August First, 1834

Next to doing good and great actions ourselves, the best thing is to appreciate them duly when done by others. A frank commendation of goodness affords a strong presumption of a wish to imitate it. We participate the glory which we celebrate. On the other hand, self-praise is real reproach, and a man's true worth will commonly be found to be inversely as his own vauntings. No merit is so great that vanity cannot debase it, and none so little that humility may not exalt it. Our assem bling together at this time, if we are actuated by the spirit which the occasion supposes and demands, cannot fail to be profitable in every view. It is an occasion of self-examination, not of self-applause; of commemorating a great civil achieve ment of another nation, not the military or political glory of our own of serious and humble preparation for following, not of self-complacent pride for setting, a noble example.

The act of the British Parliament, and we may add in this case with peculiar emphasis, of the British nation, passed on the 28th day of August, 1833, to take effect ON this first day of August, 1834, enfranchises West India slaves, and confers for the first time the full fruition of civil rights upon West India freemen. It is an event sublime in its nature, comprehensive and mighty in its immediate influence and remote consequences, precious beyond expression to the cause of freedom, and encouraging beyond any measure of any government on earth to the hearts of all enlightened and just men. Angels have more joy for this than for the lost, found.

They hold celestial jubilee for the stolen, restored, for him who stole, but shall steal no more, for the sons of God, their brethren which were dead, and are now alive again.'

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