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LIFE AND TIMES OF FREDERICK DOUGLASS 323

allowed people to call me what they have pleased, and as there is nothing
necessarily dishonorable in this, I have never taken the pains to dispute its
application and propriety; and yet I confess that I am never so spoken of
without feeling a trifle uncomfortable—about as much so as when I am
called, as I sometimes am, the Rev. Frederick Douglass. My stay in this leg-
islative body was of short duration. My vocation abroad left me little time to
study the many matters of local legislation; hence my resignation, and the
appointment of my son Lewis to fill out my term.

I have thus far told my story without copious quotations from my letters,
speeches, or other writings, and shall not depart from this rule in what
remains to be told, except to insert here my speech, delivered at Arlington,
near the monument to the "Unknown Loyal Dead," on Decoration Day,
1871. It was delivered under impressive circumstances, in presence of
President Grant, his Cabinet, and a great multitude of distinguished people,
and expresses, as I think, the true view which should be taken of the great
conflict between slavery and freedom to which it refers.

"Friends and Fellow Citizens: Tarry here for a moment. My words shall
be few and simple. The solemn rites of this hour and place call for no length-
ened speech. There is in the very air of this resting ground of the unknown
dead a silent, subtle, and an all-pervading eloquence, far more touching,
impressive, and thrilling than living lips have ever uttered. Into the measure-
less depths of every loyal soul it is now whispering lessons of all that is
precious, priceless, holiest, and most enduring in human existence.

"Dark and sad will be the hour to this nation when it forgets to pay grate-
ful homage to its greatest benefactors. The offering we bring to-day is due
alike to the patriot soldiers dead and their noble comrades who still live; for
whether living or dead, whether in time or eternity, the loyal soldiers who
imperiled all for country and freedom are one and inseparable.

"Those unknown heroes whose whitened bones have been piously gath-
ered here, and whose green graves we now strew with sweet and beautiful
flowers, choice emblems alike of pure hearts and brave spirits, reached in
their glorious career that last highest point of nobleness beyond which
human power cannot go. They died for their country.

"No loftier tribute can be paid to the most illustrious of all the benefac-
tors of mankind than we pay to these unrecognized soldiers, when we write
above their graves this shining epitaph.

"When the dark and vengeful spirit of slavery, always ambitious, prefer-
ring to rule in hell than to serve in heaven, fired the Southern heart and stirred

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