[He pauses again.]
But our country's worth it, my boy, if we can only save it! Out of this agony will be born a united people. There has never been a democracy in this world because there's never been one without the shadow of a slave. We must build a real Government of the people, by the people, for the people. It's not the question merely of four million black slaves. It's a question of the life of freemen yet unborn. I hear the tread of these coming millions. Their destiny is in your hands and mine. A mighty Union of free democratic states without a slave—the hope, refuge and inspiration of the world—a beacon light on the shores of time!
[Pauses.]
—There's but one tragedy, that can have no ray of light, and that is that this blood we are now pouring out shall have flowed in vain, and these brave men shall die for naught, that the old curse shall remain, the Union be broken into hostile sections and these battles must be fought again.
[He pauses, breathes deeply, and lifts his figure as if to throw off another nightmare and slips his arm around Vaughan.]
My enemies call me a tyrant and usurper! I who came up here from a pioneer's cabin in the wilderness, out of rags and poverty——
[Pauses.]
—How well I remember when my mother looked at them and said—"This is nothing—it doesn't count here—it's what you feel—it's what you believe—it's what you see that counts——"
[Struggles with his emotions.]
Now I'm going to show you something, my son, and I'll let you be the judge as to whether I'm a tyrant—