Abraham Lincoln - A Memorial Discourse by Thomas Mears Eddy
page 22 of 26 (84%)
page 22 of 26 (84%)
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"We'd jump the life to come. But in these cases
_We still have judgment here._ We but teach Bloody inventions, which, being taught, return To plague the inventors. Thus even-handed justice Commends the ingredients of our poisoned chalice To our own lips." We are told that he excelled in the part of Richard III. Did he not remember the tent scene-- "My conscience hath a thousand several tongues, And every tongue brings in a several tale, And every tale condemns me for a villain-- Perjury, perjury, in the highest degree, Murder, stern murder, in the darkest degree; All several sins, all used in each degree, Throng to the bar, crying all--Guilty! guilty! I shall despair. There is no creature loves me; And, if I die, no soul will pity me." He has murdered the Lord's Anointed, and vengeance shall pursue him. Tell me not, in deprecation of this sentiment "Vengeance is mine, I will repay saith the Lord." Human justice has its work and must follow the assassin, if need be, to the very gates of hell! It is God's edict that he who causelessly takes any human life, "By men shall his blood be shed"--how much more when it is such a life! [FN#1] |
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