Fourscore and seven years ago our
fathersbrought forth on this continent a new nation,conceived in liberty,
and dc dicated to theproposition that all men are created equal
Now we are engaged in a great civil war,testing whether that nation, or
any nation soconceived and so dedicated, can long endure
We are met on a great battlefield of thatwar We have come to dedicate a
portion ofthat field as a final resting-place for those whohere gave their
lives that that nation mightlive It is altogether fitting and proper that
weshould do this
But in a larger sense we cannot dcclicate,we cannot consecrate, we
cannot hallow thisground The brave men, living and dead,who struggled here
have consecrated it, farabove our poor power to add or detract
The world will littlc note, nor long remcmber, what we say herc, but it
can nevel forgetwhat they did herc It is for us the living,rather, to be
dedicated here to the unfinishedwork which they who fought here have
thusfar so nobly advanced
It is rather for us to be here dedicated tothc great task remaining
bcfore us, that fromthese honored dead we take increased clevotion to that
cause for which they gave thc lastfull measure of devotion; that we hcre
highlyresolve that these dcad shall not have died invain—that this nation,
under God shall havea new birth of freedom—and that government of the
people, by thc people, for thepeople, shall not perish from the
carth |
Back to Our American Heritage Library |